J. Scott Payson, Ph. D.
Department of Physics and Astronomy
payson@physics.wayne.edu
313 577 3280
6 March 2016
U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Texas Service Center
P. O. Box 852135
Mesquite, TX 75185-2135
Re: National Interest Waiver Petition Filed by Dr. Ahmed Hamed
Dear Sir or Madam,
This is a letter of support for the petition for permanent residence status in the United States of
America by Dr. Ahmed Hamed.
I offer this wholehearted support for Dr. Hamed based on my friendship and professional
interactions with him. I am an Academic Services Officer with Wayne State University, in
charge of all of the undergraduate laboratories and the university’s planetarium. I received my
Ph. D. from Wayne State University in 1992. I have performed research in several areas,
notably, in dilute magnetic alloys, amorphous semiconductors and, most recently, in properties
of alkali-metal/ferromagnetic metal interfaces using microwave spectroscopy at lowtemperatures. I have been 12 years in my current position.
Ahmed joined our department in 2001 as a teaching assistant. During the next several years he
taught a full array of physics labs and quiz sections for the algebra- and calculus-based
introductory physics classes. His teaching, in all aspects, was exemplary and he received the
Daniel Gustafson Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003 (the department’s highest award for
teaching.) More recently, he has lectured the Conceptual Physics class (Physics 1020.) I
consider this class the most difficult undergraduate class to teach, since the limited use of
mathematics requires a very sophisticated use of English and a very deep understanding of the
principles. (A lecturer cannot hide behind the math.) Ahmed performed with his usual
excellence. His belief that teaching is critically necessary for a bright future makes him
extremely patient with all his students regardless of their background. He has also taken to heart
the lessons learned by teaching in different countries, which has also contributed to his
communication abilities. You can not find a more thoughtful, intelligent and conscientious
teacher.
His research at Wayne State University was in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions; the
experimental part being done at Brookhaven National Labs. His advisor was Professor Thomas
Cormier, a rather large figure in this endeavor. Prof. Cormier’s approach to students is, what I
call, the sink or swim method. Ahmed was forced to find his own way through the theory and
data. The result was finally excellent; Ahmed developed a new cluster-finder algorithm for the
Barrel Electromagnetic Calorimeter at the STAR experiment. Using this new algorithm, he
succeeded in reconstructing the invariant mass of the neutral pion in the heavy and light collision
systems. This achievement would have been remarkable even if his advisor has been more
helpful. As it is, it is a stunning achievement and clearly shows how creative and persistent
Ahmed is. He is also interested in elementary-particle physics in general. This country needs
serious professionals like Dr. Ahmed and it would be irresponsible if he should be forced to
leave.
I should also like to address Dr. Hamed’s high moral standards. I spent many hours discussing
various subjects with him and found him to hold honorable moral standards without losing
tolerance for other beliefs. I found his Weltanschauung to be fascinating, and wish that more
people were as thoughtful as he. Mental and moral leadership is sorely needed in our
communities and country and I believe Dr. Hamed is, by example, a leader. In addition, he
speaks fluent Arabic, and has a profound understanding of his native country, Egypt. Dr Hamed
would be a splendid foreign-policy consultant.
Dr. Hamed should be awarded permanent residency status. Professionally, he is top-notch and as
a person, I would trust him with my life. It would be a shame to lose such a promising asset to
this country.
If you should like to discuss his case in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,