An American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumnus who recently completed a doctoral degree in chemical engineering at Syracuse University, New York, was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in graduate study as well as the All-University Doctoral Prize.

Omar Abdelrahman, who graduated from AUS in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, enrolled at Syracuse University right after his graduation from AUS. Abdelrahman was the only student awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in the chemical engineering department at Syracuse. The award is given once a year to a graduate student in chemical engineering acknowledging their work throughout their stay at Syracuse.

Abdelrahman also received the Doctoral Prize among four other PhD graduates for his doctoral thesis, which focused on using supported metal catalysts to transform biomass resources into renewable chemicals and fuels.

"Earning my Doctorate of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering has been a truly transformative experience; it has allowed me to sharpen my skills both as an engineer and a researcher. Receiving both the awards for outstanding achievement in graduate study and the all-university doctoral prize is a privilege," said Abdelrahman.

"I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the strong undergraduate education that AUS afforded me, where the faculty at the College of Engineering as well as the campus as a whole provided me with a wonderful experience. I would specifically like to acknowledge Dr. Taleb Ibrahim, Dr. Ahmad Aidan and Dr. Raafat Al-Naizy for their support through my undergraduate years and for giving me a chance to work as an undergraduate researcher," he added.