Asst. Prof Nora Selem: Assistant Professor Chemical Engineering Department at Chemical Engineering, Higher Technological Institute, Egypt
Dr. Nora Yehia Selem is a highly regarded Egyptian academic and researcher in the field of Chemical Engineering, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the Higher Technological Institute (HTI), Egypt. With over 15 years of experience in teaching and applied research, she has developed a strong interdisciplinary background in chemical process simulation, environmental engineering, and membrane separation technologies. Her expertise lies in applying chemical engineering principles to address global sustainability challenges, including industrial waste management, water purification, and renewable energy. Dr. Selem is recognized for her dedication to student development, international collaboration, and publishing impactful scientific work.
Online Profiles
Dr. Selem maintains an active presence in academic networks and professional communication platforms. Her Google Scholar profile showcases her research output and citations across environmental engineering, membrane technology, and clean energy fields. As of 2025, Dr. Nora Yehia Selem has accumulated 14 citations on her primary Google Scholar profile and 13 citations on an alternate profile. Her current h-index stands at 3 on the main profile and 2 on the secondary profile. These metrics reflect her emerging influence in the fields of membrane technology, industrial wastewater treatment, and chemical process engineering.
Education
Dr. Selem holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Cairo University, earned in 2015, where she conducted advanced research on the preparation of geopolymer bricks using industrial waste materials. Prior to that, she received her Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the same institution in 2009, focusing on modeling and simulation of reactive distillation columns for MTBE production. She completed her undergraduate studies with distinction at the Higher Technological Institute, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2005. Her educational background has equipped her with a solid grasp of process design, simulation, and environmental systems.
Research Focus
Dr. Selem’s research encompasses a wide spectrum of themes within chemical and environmental engineering. Her core focus lies in membrane separation technologies, particularly emulsion liquid membranes (ELM) enhanced with nanoparticles and ionic liquids for the efficient removal of heavy metals and pollutants from industrial wastewater. She is also known for her work on geopolymer materials derived from clay and lime-based industrial wastes, contributing to sustainable building materials. In recent years, she has extended her research to include biomass pyrolysis, reactor hydrodynamics using gamma-ray computed tomography, and electrochemical hydrogen production, positioning her work at the intersection of materials science, clean energy, and environmental remediation.
Experience
Dr. Selem began her academic career as a Teaching Assistant in 2005 at HTI, progressing to Assistant Lecturer in 2009 and becoming a full-time Assistant Professor in 2016. Over this time, she has taught a diverse portfolio of courses including heat and mass transfer, polymer chemistry, plant and vessel design, and material and energy balances. She currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate-level subjects, while also supervising student research. Since 2024, she has taken on an additional role as a Part-time Assistant Professor at City University of Cairo, where she teaches general chemistry, environmental impact assessment, and computer-aided design. Her teaching is characterized by clarity, interactivity, and strong linkage to real-world applications.
Research Timeline
Between 2005 and 2009, Dr. Selem conducted her master’s research on reactive distillation modeling, focusing on simulation tools like Aspen Plus. From 2010 to 2015, her Ph.D. research explored geopolymer construction materials from waste sources. From 2016 onward, she delved into wastewater treatment using nanocomposite membranes, advancing her experimental skills and publication record. In 2022, she expanded her international footprint as a Visiting Scholar at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where she collaborated on cutting-edge topics such as trickle-bed reactor hydrodynamics and gamma-ray tomography. Her recent projects (2023–2025) involve phosphoric acid separation, nanocellulose-reinforced membranes, and hydrogen generation from wastewater, aligning with global environmental priorities.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Selem has received numerous national and international recognitions throughout her career. She holds over 20 certifications from institutions such as DAAD, Cairo University, and Missouri S&T, covering topics including radiation safety, university teaching strategies, fundraising skills, and scientific publishing. Notably, she completed a comprehensive laboratory safety training series during her U.S. fellowship in 2022. She has been a member of the Egyptian Society of Membrane Technology (ESMT) since 2023, and has presented her work at prominent conferences such as the International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management (USA, 2014) and the International Conference for Membrane Technology (Egypt, 2024).
Top-Noted Publication
Among her impactful contributions, Dr. Selem’s most recognized publication is the article titled “Emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) enhanced by nanoparticles and ionic liquid for extracting vanadium ions from wastewater,” published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2024). This study combines innovative membrane engineering with green chemistry approaches to effectively separate heavy metals, offering practical solutions for industrial effluent treatment. The paper has garnered attention for its originality, methodological rigor, and potential application in large-scale water purification systems. It reflects her broader commitment to advancing environmental sustainability through chemical innovation.
-
Local hydrodynamics and phase distribution in large-scale trickle bed reactors using multi-detector γ-ray densitometry
S. Uribe, A. Jasim, S.A. Gheni, N. Selem, N. Filali, T.M. Leib, S. Sengupta, M.H. Al-Dahhan
Chemical Engineering Science, Article No. 122095, 2025 -
Emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technique for efficient separation of heavy metals from acidic solutions including phosphoric acid: a review
O. Karai, N.Y. Selem, K. Benabderazak, J. Mendil, H. Mazouz, M.H. Al-Dahhan
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 1–24, 2025 -
Sustainable nanocellulose reinforced polyethersulfone membranes coated with tetraethyl orthosilicate for separation of phosphoric acid from wastewater
N.Y. Selem, E.S.M. El-Zahed, H. Abdallah, S.A. Hawash
Applied Water Science, Volume 15, Issue 4, Article 83, 2025 -
Pyrolysis Kinetics of Pumpkin Seeds
N.Y. Selem
Journal of Advanced Engineering Trends, Volume 43, Issue 2, pp. 205–217, 2024 -
Kinetics of Pyrolysis of Cigarette Butts
N.Y. Selem, N.F. Al Hoseny
Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, Volume 67, Issue 8, pp. 1981–1993, 2020