Dr. Omar Al-Qudah
Ph.D., P.E
Associate Professor of Practice
Primary area: Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Engineering
Office: EASCB 1.202-M
Phone: (956) 665-2487
E-mail:
omar.alqudah@utrgv.edu Websites:
About
Dr. Omar Al-Qudah received his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering in 2011 from the University of Texas at El Paso in the area of water resources engineering, particularly in groundwater sustainability, surface and groundwater interactions, and hydrological modelling. He furthered his research in the field of geomorphology, Low impact development, stormwater management, discharge predictions and runoff modeling, and spatial and temporal variations of agrochemicals in surface and groundwater with post-doctoral training at Texas A&M University and Lincoln University. Dr. Al-Qudah spent years as a researcher and a professor at Lincoln University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where he taught more than 20 different courses with research interests in environmental remediation using biomass nanoparticles, hazardous waste treatment, management, and disposal technology. Dr. Al-Qudah joined the Department of Civil Engineering as a Visiting Assistant Professor in August 2022 and was promoted to Associate Professor of Practice in August 2024, where he continuing his teaching and research as licensed engineer in the state of Texas. Dr. Al-Quda’s research activities have resulted in more than ~50 scientific publications in prestigious national and international journals and in meetings. Also, he has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards such as 2002-2021 TAMUK Teaching Excellence Award, 2020-2021 Environmental Engineering Department (TAMUK) Professor of the year Award, the Roy G., Post Foundation Award, and the advancement of radioactive waste-materials management superior paper award. He is a member of some national and international professional associations including: SIGMA XI, AGU, and GSA.
Research Interests
- Water resources engineering and management as they relate to climate change and environmental sustainability
- Biochar production and applications
- Membrane treatment using biomass nanoparticles for water purification
- Surface and groundwater interactions as they influence water quality
- Groundwater monitoring and modeling
- Groundwater transport of contaminants
- Contaminants fate and transport in natural and engineered environment
- Spatial and temporal variations of agrochemicals – surface and groundwater
- Channel streams natural design and restoration (geomorphology)
- Low impact development and stormwater management
- Discharge predictions of rainfall storms-driven diffusive hydrograph and runoff model
- Biogas production by fermentation of biomass
- Medical, hazardous, radioactive, and solid waste management and disposal methods
Teaching
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- CIVE 1101 Intro to Civil Engineering
- CIVE 2220 Civil Engineering Measurements
- CIVE 3315/3115 Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics
- CIVE 3331 Environmental Engineering
- CIVE 3440 Civil Engineering Materials
- CIVE 4300 Civil Engineering Fundamentals of Eng
- CIVE 4300 Engr Professionalism - CIVE 4300
- CIVE 4333 Water and Wastewater Treatment
- CIVE 4350 Open Channel Flow/Hydraulics
- CIVE 4391 Civil Engineering Senior Fundamentals
- CIVE 4392 Civil Engineering Senior Design
- CIVE 6399 Advanced Open Channel Flow/Hydraulics
Professional Service
- Civil Engineering undergraduate students advising, mentoring and counseling
- Faculty Co-Advisor, Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) UTRGV student chapter
- American Meteorological Society (AMS) - Climate Studies Diversity, since 2017
- SIGMA XI, the Scientific Research Society, since 2010
- Geological Society of America (GSA), since 2009
- American Geophysical Union (AGU), since 2008
- National Groundwater Association (NGWA), since 2010
Education
- Ph.D., Environmental Science and Engineering, Civil Engineering Department, the University of Texas at El Paso, 2011
- M.S., Chemical Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 2000
- B.S., Chemical Engineering, Mu'tah University, 1997