UVA Engineering is pleased to announce the appointment of Ayman Karim as the new chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering. Karim is a notable catalysis researcher who has significant national laboratory leadership experience and a strong commitment to teaching and mentoring.
Karim is currently a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and will assume his new role on Aug. 1, 2025.
An Accomplished Catalysis Researcher
Karim brings a wealth of experience and expertise to UVA Engineering and will build on existing strengths to accelerate department growth and momentum. With an accomplished background in catalysis, Karim’s research centers on designing heterogeneous catalysts for energy and environmental applications, using controlled synthesis, detailed kinetics measurements, and advanced in-situ and in-operando characterization techniques. His group has made significant advances in understanding the active site's structure of isolated atoms and subnanometer clusters and their reaction kinetics.
Dean Jennifer L. West, Saunders Family Professor of Engineering, expressed her enthusiasm for Karim's appointment. “I am delighted that Ayman has chosen to join UVA Engineering as chair of our highly regarded Chemical Engineering department during this critical era of growth. The department has historic strength in catalysis and his hire will add to that strength and help the department lead in the field nationally.”
Karim earned his Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from Cairo University in Egypt. He then moved to the U.S. and received his doctoral degree in chemical engineering from the University of New Mexico. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Delaware in the Department of Chemical Engineering and a role as senior scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory from 2008-2014. Karim has served on the faculty of Virginia Tech since 2014.
“I am thrilled to join UVA Engineering and have great admiration for the Chemical Engineering Department’s excellence,” Karim said. “I aim to continue the department's upward trajectory by building on existing research and teaching strengths, as well as to increase the visibility of the catalysis community at UVA.”
Karim’s research complements that of the current faculty in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. His work also aligns with UVA’s Catalysis Initiative for Clean Energy and Chemicals, which presents pan-University collaboration and leadership opportunities.
Professor Robert J. Davis, William Stansfield Calcott Professor of Engineering and Applied Science and past Chemical Engineering Department chair, also praised Karim's appointment, noting the depth of his research background. “I have been inspired for many years by Ayman’s outstanding research on isolated metal atom catalysts, in which he combines state-of-the-art synchrotron-based X-ray methods with detailed catalyst performance measurements to unravel important structure-function relationships. Ayman joining us is a double win for UVA – an excellent new department chair and a perfect addition to our growing cross-departmental catalysis effort.”
Karim is currently working on identifying design rules for selective bond activation on supported metal single atoms and subnanometer clusters through multiple funded projects from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Army Research Office.
In addition to his academic experience, Karim’s professional journey also includes six years as a senior scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). At PNNL, Karim gained valuable insights into the operations of national labs, the priorities of funding agencies, and the strategic selection of research directions and initiatives.
“My experience at PNNL strengthened my ability to build collaborations and secure federal funding, both of which will be invaluable in supporting junior faculty within the department,” said Karim.
Karim has received numerous accolades and awards, including the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award and the Virginia Tech Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science Junior Faculty Award, both in 2015; recognition in the 2021 Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research Class of Influential Researchers; and the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research in 2022.
A Leader Focused on Collaboration, Communication and Impact
Karim is a leader who is focused on collaboration, communication and impact. He is a co-principal investigator for the Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium (SCC) and a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Energy Chemistry. He has co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications with an h-index of 41, holds one patent, and has delivered more than 40 invited lectures and presentations.
“My approach to leadership is rooted in a servant leadership style,” Karim noted. “It is an approach focused on building trust, with honesty and transparency as core values, and will allow me to further build the collaborative culture that Dean West has championed at UVA Engineering.”
Karim serves as a teacher and mentor for both graduate and undergraduate students and has been recognized by students for his hands-on and empathetic approach. In 2024, Karim received the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Sporn Award, a student-led award which recognizes a member of the engineering faculty for demonstrated excellence in undergraduate instruction. The winner of this award is selected annually by students across all engineering departments through a nomination and voting process.
Upon joining UVA Engineering, Karim hopes to advance priorities that deliver against his vision for the department and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. “To attract more students to chemical engineering and equip them to solve complex problems and challenges facing our society, it is crucial to incorporate the current diverse applications and career paths into the curriculum. Tackling pressing issues in energy, the environment and health will require interdisciplinary collaboration within the department, across the school of engineering, and beyond. I look forward to working with our exceptional faculty on these important initiatives.”
Karim will succeed William Epling, chair of the Chemical Engineering Department and Ann Warrick Lacy Distinguished Professor, who has served in the role since 2016.