About
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Egyptian-American Chemist
- Birthday: February 26, 1946
- Website: www.example.com
- Phone: +123 456 7890
- City: Damanhur, Egypt
- Age: 70
- Degree: Master
- PhEmailone: email@example.com
Ahmed Hassan Zewail was an Egyptian scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999 – the first of his race to win such accolade in the field of science. He was known as the Father of femtochemistry (studies of chemical reactions on extremely short timescales) because of his marvelous works in that area of physical chemistry. Zewail was a physics professor, held the Linus Pauling Chair as professor in chemistry and was the Physical Biology Centre director for the UST or the Ultrafast Science and Technology, all at the prestigious school of California Institute of Technology.
Sumary
Ahmed Zewail
Ahmed Zewail can be considered one of the most well-known scientists to be born in Egypt. His work in femtochemistry was quite revolutionary and innovative. His work in this field was so recognized that he received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his accomplishments.
Educational Career
Zewail has a long and storied educational background. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Alexandria and later would go on to receive his Master of Science degree from that very same university. Upon the completion of his M.S. degree, he moved to the United States to enroll in a PhD program. The school he selected to work on his PhD at was the University of Pennsylvania. Upon finishing his PhD, he ventured out to the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship. In 1982, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States, although he still held ties with his home country of Egypt. He has been recognized in the Middle East for his global work. The country of Israel had awarded him the Wolf Prize for his work in the sciences. The award was issued in 1993 and it is one of many he has received throughout his lifetime.
Professional Experience
Chemical physics discipline
In 1976
Caltech
- Zewail was appointed assistant professor of chemical physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1976, and he stayed at Caltech for the remainder of his career. In 1982 Zewail became a naturalized resident of the United States. He was awarded the first ever Linus Pauling Chair of Professor in Chemistry in 1995 and held that position until his death.
- In 1976, Zewail moved on from Berkeley to Caltech where he became a member of the faculty. He remains a member of the faculty to this very day. In 1990, he first occupied a chair for the institution in the chemical physics discipline.
Awards And Special Recognitions
Noble Prize In Chemistry
In 1999
- The greatest award that Ahmed Zewail received was the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was given the award in 1999. The award was given due to the amazing achievements his life’s work in femtochemistry presented.
- Zewail would go on and receive quite a number of other prestigious awards. Among those honors and awards he received were the Franklin Medal in 1998 and the Priestly Medal and the Davy Medal, both in 2011.
- To show how strongly his peers think of his work, Ahmed Zewail was nominated for the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Zewail has agreed to join the council and contribute his expertise to it. This council is a very important one in terms of how it aids in formulating US policy in areas related to science and technology. The council serves in a direct advisory capacity to the president and the vice president.
AWARDS AND HONORS
HONORARY DEGREES
Zewail was bestowed honorary degrees by the following institutions
Honors
Alexandria University in 1999
Ahmed Zewail was born in Damanhur, Egypt, and grew up in Alexandria. His father worked as a bicycle and motorbike fitter before becoming a government official. After studying at the university in Alexandria, Zewail moved to the US to undertake his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Honors
University of Pennsylvania, USA (1997)
Dr. Zewail was a recipient of an honorary degree from Penn in 1997 and was recognized for being the first to realize the significance of ultrafast laser chemistry in the study of the dynamics of individual molecules (Almanac April 22, 1997).
