Faculty & Staff Member Profile

Professor Bassam Alameddine is the President of Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), where he has earned distinction as a transformational leader in higher education. His strategic vision and executive leadership have been pivotal in advancing academic excellence, institutional growth, and operational innovation. With a rich career spanning research, teaching, and administration, Professor Alameddine has consistently driven systemic improvements that align with global standards and sustainability imperatives. Over his progressive tenure at GUST, from Director of Graduate Studies and Research to Vice President for Academic Affairs, Acting President, and ultimately President, Professor Alameddine has catalyzed numerous initiatives. His leadership led to the creation of the College of Engineering and Architecture, the launch of interdisciplinary programs tailored to market demands, and the implementation of the Students’ Performance Enhancement and Active Retention (SPEAR) system, which improved student retention and outcomes by 56%. Under his stewardship, GUST has substantially improved its global and regional ranking and achieved remarkable growth. His governance reforms enhanced institutional transparency and streamlined academic operations. Internationalization efforts have flourished under his leadership, through formal partnerships with globally respected universities enabling faculty exchanges, joint research, and cross-border innovation. Professor Alameddine has overseen major institutional accreditations such as QAA, AACSB, ABET, and ACA. He initiated research fellowships and mentorship programs that resulted in a five-fold increase in scholarly output. As Principal Investigator of the Functional Materials Group, his research addresses global challenges in carbon capture, gas separation, hydrogen storage, and environmental remediation, aligning closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He has secured over $2.5 million in competitive funding and authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings. Before joining GUST, Professor Alameddine held academic and leadership positions at Columbia University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), and the University of Fribourg, further shaping his expertise in program design, academic governance, and strategic planning. He holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Fribourg, an M.Sc. in Materials Science Engineering from ENSIACET in Toulouse, and a postgraduate certificate in senior leadership from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Beyond academia, he consults for key players in the oil, cosmetics, and scientific sectors, and serves on several advisory and scientific boards. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an active member of various professional organizations, he remains committed to diversity, sustainability, and talent development in higher education.