Dr. Sohail Murad appointed Chair of the ChBE Department
Dr. Murad comes to IIT Armour College of Engineering from the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he is a Professor and Department Head of Chemical Engineering. He earned his B.S. from the University of Engineering, Lahore, Pakistan in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Murad then attended the University of Florida, Gainesville, where he received his M.S. in Chemical Engineering before receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.
Dr. Murad’s research interests are in the broad areas of classical and statistical thermodynamics. In classical thermodynamics, he has developed engineering correlations, based on the corresponding states principle for a range of properties, such as surface tension, viscosity, and thermal conductivity for hydrocarbons, polar fluids, and electrolyte solutions.
With extensive teaching and practical experience in chemical engineering, particularly molecular thermodynamics, Dr. Murad uses the computer simulation technique of molecular dynamics to study thermodynamic and transport properties of pure fluids as well as mixtures of many components, sometimes referred to as polydispersed or continuous mixtures. This research has resulted in the development of accurate intermolecular potential models for polar fluids, such as ammonia, that include three body interactions. In addition, he has used simulation to study heat transfer at the fluid-solid interface (Kapitza resistance). More recently, he has also developed a module for examining the microscopic and macroscopic properties of fluids with restricted flow geometries, and used it to study phenomena such as osmosis, reverse osmosis (water desalination) ion and water transport in membranes and electro-osmosis.
His past experience includes serving as a Research Fellow at the U.S. Army’s Ballistics Research Laboratory; Senior Engineer at Exxon Research and Engineering Company, and an Affiliate Professor for Project Lead the Way. Dr. Murad has authored more than 100 research publications. He has served on editorial boards for publications like Computer Applications in Engineering Education, Scientific Journals International, International Journal of Liquid State Sciences, and Research Letters in Engineering. In addition, he has presented numerous invited/keynote seminars, conference papers and other technical reports.
Dr. Murad has also received several academic and professional honors and recognition, including the College of Engineering Excellence in Advising Award (2013); Coleman Foundation Fellow (2009); Research Excellence Award, College of Engineering (1998, 2004, 2006); Harold Simon Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering (2002); University Award for Excellence in Teaching (1999); University Teaching Recognition Award (1997); and Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Chemical Engineering Department (1995). He is an elected Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and a member of numerous professional associations including the American Chemical Society, and the American Society for Engineering Education.
