Rate My Professor Wael Abdel Samad

Dr. Wael Abdel Samad is the Department Chair and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Mechanics and Astronautics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013, his M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the same institution in 2009, and his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut in 2007. Since joining RIT Dubai around 2014 as an assistant professor, he has advanced to his current leadership role, overseeing programs in mechanical and industrial engineering. Dr. Samad serves as Principal Investigator for the Experimental Mechanics and Material Characterization (EMMC) Research Group and contributes to the Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Research Center. His career includes fostering collaborations with industries such as Emirates Global Aluminum, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), contributing to sustainable practices in aluminum production and advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Samad's research specializes in experimental solid mechanics, smart cities, and material characterization of 3D printed artifacts. He has authored over 50 publications, including peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Key works include editing the books Smart Cities in the Gulf: Current State, Opportunities and Challenges (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) and Carbon Neutrality in the GCC: Between Good-Intentioned Pledges and the Harsh Reality (Cambridge University Press, 2025). Notable journal papers feature 'Recycling plastic water bottles into high-quality filaments for sustainable 3D printing' (Discover Mechanical Engineering, 2025), 'Investigation of Shape Memory Recovery in Thermally Activated PLA-TPU Blends Using Fused Granular Fabrication (FGF)' (Progress in Additive Manufacturing, 2025), and 'The Effect of Specimen Thickness on the Lüders Phenomena in AISI 1524 Steel Alloy: Experimental Observations using DIC' (Experimental Mechanics, 2023). His projects explore sustainable 3D printing filaments from recycled materials, Lüders phenomena in steel alloys, and additive manufacturing techniques. Dr. Samad has presented at construction technology expos and moderated panels on climate change, enhancing discourse on sustainability and innovation in the Gulf region.