CURRICULUM VITA FOR NEHAL I. ABU-LAIL
Associate Professor of the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and
Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2710
Phone: (509)335-4961, Fax: (509) 335-4806, Email: nehal@wsu.edu
Website: http://www.chebe.wsu.edu/Faculty/NAbuLail.html
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Worcester Polytechnic
Institute, Worcester, MA
M.S.
Jordan University of Science
& Technology, Irbid, Jordan
B.S.
Jordan University of Science
& Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Chemical Engineering. Thesis title: The effects
of biopolymer properties on bacterial adhesion:
An atomic force microscopy (AFM) study
Chemical Engineering. Thesis title:
Characterization and treatment of olive oil mills
effluent wastewater
Chemical Engineering
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Professor
Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering &
Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Assistant Professor
Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering &
Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Postdoctoral Fellow Center for Biologically Inspired Materials and Material
Systems, Duke University, Durham, NC
Teaching Assistant
Chemical Engineering Department, Worcester Polytechnic
Institute, Worcester, MA
Research Assistant
Chemical Engineering Department, Worcester Polytechnic
Institute, Worcester, MA
Lecturer
Chemical Engineering, Al-Balqa’ University, Irbid, Jordan
Chemistry Teacher
Dar Al-Oloum High School, Irbid, Jordan
Teaching Assistant
Chemical Engineering Department, Jordan University of
Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Chemical Engineer
Jordan Petroleum Refinery, Al-Zarqa’ Jordan
HONORS AND AWARDS
1. Participated in the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering
Education symposium
2. Nominated for American Chemical Society Unilever award for outstanding young
investigator in colloid and surfactant science
3. Nominated for the American Chemical Society Victor K. LaMer award for graduate
research in colloid and surface chemistry
4. Office of Naval Research travel grant to present a paper at the 54th American
Vacuum Society annual meeting held in Seattle, WA
5. Duke University travel award to present a poster at the first international
symposium on biointerface science held in New Bern, NC
6. Sigma Xi PhD research award/ WPI for excellence in a Ph.D. dissertation
7. The American Institute of Chemists award for outstanding Ph.D. thesis, New England
8. WPI graduate student organization travel award to present a paper at the 103rd
American Society for Microbiology meeting held in Washington, DC
9. WPI graduate student organization travel award to present a paper at the 223rd
American Chemical Society national meeting held in Orlando, Florida
10. The Colloids and Surface Science Division award for best poster in the 223rd
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2004
1998
1996
2012present
2006-2012
2003-2006
2002-2003
2000-2002
1999-2000
1998-1999
1996-1998
1995-1995
2011
2010
2008
2007
2005
2004
2004
2003
2002
2002
American Chemical Society national meeting held in Orlando, Florida
11. Roberts S. Park graduate fellowship, WPI , Worcester, MA
12. WPI prestigious graduate fellowship, Worcester, MA
13. Jordan University of Science & Technology graduate M.S. fellowship, Jordan
14. Academic honors with distinction, Jordan Univ. of Science & Technology, Jordan
2000-2001
2000-2001
1996-1998
1991-1996
COMPLETE LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
According to the author search results obtained from the ISI Web of Science on June, 1st 2012, I
have served as the author or co-author of 37 scholarly manuscripts including 15 abstracts and two
reviews, which were totally cited 576 times with an average of 36.2 citations per manuscript
excluding the abstracts. The h-index of my publications is 11. A list of all my peer-reviewed
publications is given below. The impact factor (IF) of each journal is also provided. The first six
listed papers have been submitted for peer review. Publications number 2, 3 and 4 have been
submitted again after revisions. We expect that these will be published soon.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
1. A. O. Eskhan & N. I. Abu-Lail. Cellular and molecular investigations of the adhesion and
mechanics of Listeria monocytogenes lineages’ I and II strains. Submitted to Colloids and Surfaces
B: Biointerfaces, June 15th 2012 (IF 2.78).
2. L. H. Kawas, C. C. Benoist, J. W. Harding, G. A Wayman and N. I. Abu-Lail. Nanoscale
mapping of the Met receptor on hippocampal neurons by AFM and confocal microscopy.
Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, June 9th 2012 (IF 4.882), accepted.
3. I. Al-Hamarneh, P. Pedrow, A. O. Eskhan, and N. I. Abu-Lail. Hydrophilic property of 316L
stainless steel after treatment by atmospheric pressure corona streamer plasma using surfacesensitive analyses. Applied Surface Science (IF 1.793), 2012, In press.
4. F. P. Gordesli and N. I. Abu-Lail. Combined Poisson and soft-particle DLVO Analysis of L.
monocytogenes nanoscale adhesion forces at varying temperatures of growth. Environmental
Science and Technology (IF 4.825), June 9th 2012, accepted.
5. F. P. Gordesli & N. I. Abu-Lail. Impact of ionic strength of growth on the physiochemical
properties, structure and Adhesion of L. monocytogenes polyelectrolyte brushes to a silicon nitride
surface in water. Journal of Colloids and Interface Science (IF 3.066), June 6th 2012, accepted.
6. F. P. Gordesli & N. I. Abu-Lail. A new thermodynamic approach to explaining the molecularscale bacterial adhesion measurements. Submitted to Physical Reviews E (IF 2.352), June 6th 2012.
7. F. P. Gordesli & N. I. Abu-Lail. The role of thermal stresses on the adhesion of Listeria
monocytogenes to silicon nitride: An atomic force microscopy study. Langmuir (IF 4.268), 2012, 28
(2), 1360–1373.
8. B.-J. Park & N. I. Abu-Lail. The role of the pH conditions of growth on the bioadhesion of
individual and lawns of pathogenic L. monocytogenes cells. Journal of Colloids and Interface
Science (IF 3.066), 2011, 358, 611-620.
9. B.-J. Park & N. I. Abu-Lail. Heterogeneities in the adhesion energies measured between Listeria
pathogenic and non-pathogenic species and silicon nitride probed using atomic force microscopy.
Biofouling (IF 3.333), 2011, 27(5), 543-559.
10. B.-J. Park & N. I. Abu-Lail. Variations in the nanomechanical properties of virulent and
avirulent Listeria monocytogenes. Soft Matter (IF 4.457), 2010, 6, 3898-3909.
11. B.-J. Park, T. Haines & N. I. Abu-Lail. A Correlation between the virulence and the adhesion
of L. monocytogenes to silicon nitride: An AFM study. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (IF
2.780), 2009, 73 (2), 237-243.
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12. D. Chang, N. I. Abu-Lail, J. Coles, F. Guilak, G. Jay & S. Zauscher. Friction force microscopy
of lubricin and hyaluronic acid between hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. Soft Matter (IF
4.457), 2009, 5(18), 3438-3445.
13. D. Chang, N. I. Abu-Lail, F. Guilak, G. Jay & S. Zauscher. Conformational mechanics,
adsorption and normal force interactions of lubricin and hyaluronic acid on model surfaces.
Langmuir (IF 4.268), 2008, 24(4), 1183-1193.
14. A. Valiaev, N. I. Abu-Lail, D.-W. Lim, A. Chilkoti & S. Zauscher. Microcantilever sensing and
actuation with end-grafted stimulus-responsive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). Langmuir (IF
4.268), 2007, 23, 339-344.
15. D. M. Loveless, N. I. Abu-Lail, M. Kaholek, S. Zauscher & S. L. Craig. Reversibly crosslinked surface grafted polymer brushes. Angewandte Chemie-International Edition (IF 12.730),
2006, 45(46), 7812-7814.
16. Y. Lam, N. I. Abu-Lail, M. Alam & S. Zauscher. Using microcantilever deflection to detect
HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine (IF
4.882), 2006, 2(4), 222-229.
17. N. Abu-Lail & T. Camesano. The effect of solvent polarity on the molecular surface properties
and adhesion of E. coli. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (IF 2.780), 2006, 51, 62-70.
18. N. I. Abu-Lail & T. A. Camesano. Specific and nonspecific interaction forces between E. coli
& Si3N4, determined by Poisson statistical analysis. Langmuir (IF 4.268), 2006, 22, 7296-7301.
19. N. I. Abu-Lail, M. Kaholek, B. LaMattina, R. L. Clark & S. Zauscher. Microcantilevers with
end grafted stimulus-responsive polymer brushes for actuation and sensing. Sensors and Actuators
B: Chemical (IF 3.368), 2006, 114(1), 371-378.
20. N. I. Abu-Lail, T. Ohashi, R. Clark, H. Erickson & S. Zauscher. Understanding the
elasticity of fibronectin fibrils: Unfolding strengths of FN-III and GFP domains measured by
single molecule force spectroscopy” Matrix Biology (IF 3.328), 25, 2006, 175-184.
21. M. Azzam, K. Al-Malah & N. I. Abu-Lail. Olive mills effluent (OME) wastewater posttreatment using activated carbon. Journal of Environmental Science and Health –Part A
Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering (IF 1.107), 2004, A39(1), 268-280.
22. N. I. Abu-Lail & T. A. The role of lipopolysaccharides in the adhesion, retention, and transport
of E. coli JM109. Environmental Science and Technology (IF 4.825), 2003, 37(10), 2173-2183.
23. N. I. Abu-Lail & T. A. Camesano. Role of ionic strength on the relationship of biopolymer
conformation, DLVO contributions and steric interactions to bioadhesion of P. putida kT2442.
Biomacromolecules (IF 5.325), 2003, 4, 1000-1012.
24. N. I. Abu-Lail & T. A. Camesano. Elasticity of P. putida KT2442 surface polymers probed
with single- molecule force spectroscopy. Langmuir (IF 4.268), 2002, 18, 4071-4081.
25. T. A. Camesano & N. I. Abu-Lail. Heterogeneity in bacterial surface polysaccharides, probed
on a single-molecule basis. Biomacromolecules (IF 5.325), 2002, 3, 661-667.
26. K. Al- Malah, M. Azzam & N. I. Abu-Lail. Olive mills effluent wastewater post-treatment
using activated clay. Separation and Purification Technology (IF 2.774), 2000, 20 (2-3), 225-234.
Peer-reviewed book chapters and review articles
1. N. I. Abu-Lail and H. Beyenal. Characterization of bacteria-biomaterial interactions, from a
single cell to biofilms. An invited-peer reviewed book chapter in “Characterization of Biomaterials”,
edited by Amit Bandyopadhyay and Susmita Bose, Elsevier, Oxford, UK, 2012.
2. N. I. Abu-Lail. An AFM look at the molecular world of bacteria. An invited peer-reviewed book
chapter in “Microbial Surfaces: Structure, Interactions, and Reactivity”, edited by T. Camesano &
C. Mellow, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. Symposium Series 984, 2007.
3. N. I. Abu-Lail & T. A. Camesano. AFM and SMFM studies of biopolymers, invited review.
Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Technology, Dekker Inc. 2004, 119-131.
4. N. I. Abu-Lail & T.A. Camesano, T.A. Polysaccharide properties probed with AFM, invited
review. Journal of Microscopy-Oxford (IF 1.782), 2003, vol. 212, Pt3, 217-238.
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Peer-reviewed conference proceedings
1. N. I. Abu-Lail, F. A. Phang, A. A. Kranov, K. M. Yusof, R. G. Olsen, R. Williams, and A. Z. B.
Abidin. Successful recruitment of women into engineering: A comparison between the United
States, Jordan and Malaysia. Proceedings of the 119th American Society for Engineering Education
annual conference & exposition held in San Antonio, TX in June of 2012.
2. J. Orellana, F. Quiroa, A. I . Abu-Lail & N. I. Abu-Lail, A Step towards the development of a
wet cellular bioengineering laboratory, proceedings of the 118th American Society for Engineering
Education annual conference & exposition, Vancouver, BC, Canada, June, 2011.
3. H. Muksitul, A. Kalyanaraman, A. Dhingra, N. I. Abu-Lail & K. Graybeal. DNAjig: A new
approach for building DNA nanostructures, proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
Bioinformatics and Biomedicine held in Washington D.C. in Nov. 2009.
4. C. Bandaranayaka, N. Srividya, S. Muralidharan, B.-J. Park & N. I. Abu-Lail, Membrane
characterization of normal and cancer cells by AFM, Northwest Biomechanics Symposium,
Pullman, WA, June 2009.
5. B. J. Park & N. I. Abu-Lail. Mechanical properties of Listeria measured by AFM, Northwest
Biomechanics Symposium, Pullman, WA, June 2009.
Non peer-reviewed conference presentations: With my students, we presented our research 91 times
in many national meetings including the American Chemical Society, American Vacuum Society,
Materials Research Society and American Institute for Biomedical Engineering Meetings. Due to
the limited size of the resume, these will not be included.
Invited research presentations: I have been invited to present my research since 2006 for 23 times
in universities and in industries. Universities visited include Akron University, Ohio State
University, Auburn University, East Carolina State University, University of Cincinnati, and
Oklahoma State University. Industries visited include 3M global company, Vistakon, Inc., Johnson
& Johnson and Boeing.
TEACHING
Courses taught at WSU: I developed and taught the following seven courses:
1. Introduction to Cellular Bioengineering (BE 350, undergraduate) (Fall 2007-2011). This is a
three credit-hours core bioengineering course that aims at introducing students to engineering
applications in cell biology via an array of topics related to cells such as cellular growth and kinetics,
transport, thermodynamics, signaling, adhesion and mechanics.
2. Cellular Bioengineering (BE 550, graduate) (Fall 2008-2011). This is the graduate version of the
BE 350 course. It is a three credit-hours course. In addition to basic materials covered on cells
engineering, the course aims at improving students’ oral and written communication skills via
asking the students to write and present a literature review article and by summarizing or criticizing
a literature article every week.
3. Innovation in Design (Eng. 120, undergraduate) (Fall 2007-2008). This is an introductory 2
credit-hours course that aims at introducing freshmen engineering students to all disciplines in
engineering via a series of hands-on, learner-centered modules. For the first time in this course, a
one-week bioengineering module focused on bacterial adhesion measurements was introduced.
4. Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (ChE 476, undergraduate) (Spring 2007). This a three
credit-hours elective course offered to chemical and bioengineering students. Topics covered during
the course included single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques and modeling, quantum dots,
implants, artificial organs and biosensors.
5. Unified Systems Bioengineering I (BE 340, undergraduate) (Spring 2010-2012). This is a four
credit-hours core bioengineering course which introduces students to material, energy, momentum
and charge balances of biological systems. Students learn how to solve a set of ordinary differential
equations to predict systems’ behaviors analytically and numerically in a lab that is part of this class.
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6. Biofilm Engineering (ChE 581, graduate) (Spring 2009). This is a 1 credit-hour course that
introduces students to the major steps in biofilm formation.
7. Directed Research/Special Problems (Neuro 499 and BE 499, undergraduate) (Fall 2010 and
summer 2011 and 2012). I have offered this course as a research study to several undergraduates.
Courses taught prior to coming to WSU at Al-Balqa’ University, Chemical Engineering, Jordan
(1999-2000): I taught the following four chemical engineering courses (Process Control, Kinetics,
Unit Operations Laboratory and Industrial Safety).
Teaching Achievements: I developed and taught eleven different courses, improved my teaching
delivery as evident by my continually improved teaching evaluations, contributed two manuscripts to
the scholarship of teaching, actively participated in the improvement of our bioengineering program and
incorporated hands-on active-learning modules in my classes.
Mentoring: I have graduated two Ph.D. students, currently mentoring three graduate students and two
post-doctoral fellows and I am the co-advisor of 9 graduate students. I have mentored two post-doctoral
fellows in the past including a Fulbright fellow from Azerbaijan. I have collaborated with a Fulbright
fellow as well from Jordan and we have a submitted paper under review currently. I have mentored 25
undergraduate students and 4 high school teachers. I serve on the graduate thesis committee of 19
students. Finally, I have hosted 12 graduate students for three weeks each rotations in my laboratory.
RESEARCH
Research areas: I have been running an interdisciplinary, funded research program. The major
research topics that I am interested include but no limited to: molecular mechanisms of bacterial
adhesion to surfaces, relationship between bacterial virulence and adherence, interactions forces and
energies within biological systems, bacterial biopolymers, physiochemical characterization of cells,
bioremediation, control of bacterial adhesion to surfaces via electrochemistry and cold plasma
applications, nanomechanics of bacterial and mammalian cells, proteins’ distribution on cell
surfaces, imaging of DNA nanostructures, molecular mechanisms of enzymatic hydrolysis of
cellulosic and nano-crystalline cellulosic materials, biosensors, ligand-receptor interactions,
proteins’ unfolding, nanoscale characterization of cartilage and chronic wound biofilms.
Research achievements: I secured funding from NSF, NIH, DoD and 3M to support my main
research program. I have published around 30 peer reviewed manuscripts and mentored around 30
undergraduate and graduate students. I have established many interdisciplinary collaborations.
Active research awards: Due to limited space, completed research funding will not be included.
1) DoD-DM110308, Fundamental research at the nano- and microscale to
07/15/2012
understand how biofilms interact with wounds in the presence of hyperosmotic
07/14/2014
agents ($999,999). Role: Co-Principle Investigator (Co-PI).
2) NSF-1067012, CBET-Energy for Sustainability, A new approach to a deep
05/01/2010understanding of biomass recalcitrance ($299,488). Role: Co-PI.
04/30/2013
3) 3M, Industry, Research program on nanoscale characterization of bacterial cells 05/01/2011($30,000). Role: Principle Investigator
04/30/2013
4) NSF EAGER: Synergistic influences of oscillating pressure and growth factor
01/01/2012on chondrogenesis in a novel centrifugal bioreactor ($182,000). Role: Co-PI.
12/31/2014
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS: I am a member of the following research societies:
Biomedical Engineering Society, Materials Research Society, Biophysical Society, American
Institute of Chemists, American Society for Microbiology, American Institute of Chemical
Engineers, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, American Chemical Society, American
Society for Engineering Education and Jordan Engineers Society.
SERVICE: Examples of my service contributions are given below
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National/International service:
1. Co-organized and co-chaired four different symposia in the ACS, MRS and AIChE meetings in
2008, 2009 and 2010.
2. I am on the editorial board for Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (2009), Journal of
Biosensors & Bioelectronics (2010) and Journal of Bioengineering and Biomedical Science (2010).
3. I am an Ad hoc reviewer for Langmuir (2006), Journal of Biomechanics (2006), Journal of
Colloids and Interface Science (2007), Applied Microbiology (2007), Applied and Environmental
Microbiology (2007), Environmental Microbiology (2008), Journal of American Chemical Society
(2010), Environmental Science and Technology (2010), Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2011),
Materials Research Society Meeting Proceedings (2011) and Analyst (2012).
4. An external reviewer for the SEEDS-The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
(OARDC) Research Enhancement Competitive Grant Program (2008).
5. An ad hoc reviewer for the National Science and Research Council proposals/Canada (2009).
6. An ad hoc reviewer for National Science Foundation since 2010 and a panel reviewer since 2011.
Service to the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering:
1. I am the adviser of 20% of the bioengineering students.
2. Served on many committees including the relocation, research infrastructure and support,
undergraduate, graduate, bioengineering curriculum, distribution of scholarships, mentoring, tenure
evaluation, and bioengineering faculty search committees.
3. Wrote recommendation letters to many of our undergraduate and graduate students
4. Participates in the end of year annual assessment meeting.
Service to Washington State University
1. Served as a reviewer for the Rigas Award given for three graduate women students at WSU and
sponsored by the WSU Association of Faculty Women at WSU in February 2007.
2. Reviewer for the undergraduate/graduate NASA awards at WSU, 2011 and 2012.
OUTREACH: The following are examples of my outreach efforts:
1. Visited the Sunnyside high school in Sunnyside, WA for a week in November 2009. During the
visit, we ran three different hands-on experimental modules in 20 classrooms.
2. Introduced Bioengineering to the Latino minority students at WSU, October 2009.
3. Hosted four high school teachers in my lab for six weeks each over the summers of 2009 & 2010.
4. Served as a judge in the WSU’s “Power your future” competition, May 2009.
5. Participated in the WSU’s “Imagine U at WSU” program in March 2009.
6. Gave seminars during WSU’s “Inspire New Generation of Scientists & Engineers” workshop.
7. A panelist, WSU undergraduates “get into Research” program, 2011.
8. Participated in the “Engineering day” at WSU, 2012.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS: Few examples are highlighted below:
1. Participated in the “Guide to a Successful Proposal Workshop” given by Dr. Stephen Russell and
offered by the Office of Grants and Research Development at WSU in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012.
2. Attended the National Effective Teaching Institute held in Austin, TX in June 2009.
3. Participant of the WSU’s Provost Leadership Academy, -cohort, 2012.
4. Participated in the National Academy of Engineering Education three day long program, 2011.
FORMER MENTORS
1. M. O. Azzam, Associate professor, Chemical Eng. Department, Jordan University of Science and
Technology, Irbid, Jordan, M.S. thesis advisor.
2. T. A. Camesano, Professor, Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester,
MA, Ph.D. thesis advisor.
3. S. Zauscher, Professor, Mechanical Eng., Duke University, Durham, Post-doctoral research
advisor.
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