Nelly Hobeika

Job Title / Responsibilities

Nelly Hobeika is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Université La Sagesse. She holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Université de Haute Alsace (UHA)-Mulhouse in France and Master II in Physical Chemistry, Materials, and catalysis, from Lebanese University in Lebanon.  Her research expertise lies in physical chemistry, complex fluids, photocatalysis, photopolymerization, single molecule fluorescence, petroleum midstream and downstream. Nelly is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and education in chemical engineering, contributing significantly to curriculum development and student mentorship.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physical Chemistry (2013) Université de Haute Alsace (UHA)-Mulhouse (France)
• Master’s degree Physical Chemistry, (2009) Lebanese University (Lebanon).

Professional certifications:

• Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Assessment (with Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie – AUF) – 2024
• Scripting of a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) (with Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie – AUF) – 2024

Professional Experience

Head of the Chemical Engineering Department and Associate Professor

Université la Sagesse (ULS) – Furn El Chebak, Lebanon – 2024 – Present

• Leading the Chemical Engineering Department and overseeing academic programs.
• Currently working on the ABET accreditation file for the Faculty of Engineering.

Head of the Continuing Education Center

Université la Sagesse (ULS) – Furn El Chebak, Lebanon – 2023 – Present

• Managing continuing education programs and initiatives to enhance professional development.

Chemical Consultant

Lebanese Chemical Industries – Lebanon – 2021 – Present

• Providing expert consultancy on chemical processes and product development for local industries.

Lecturer

Notre Dame University Louaize (NDU) – Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon – 2020 – 2021

• Delivered lectures on chemical engineering topics and supervised student projects.

Member, Advisory Committee

Diaries of the Ocean (NGO) – Lebanon – 2018 – 2021

• Contributed to strategic discussions and initiatives aimed at environmental conservation.

Associate Professor

Saint Joseph University (USJ) – Mar Roukoz, Lebanon -2017 – 2024

• Engaged in teaching and research in chemical engineering, mentoring graduate students.

Full Professor

Lebanese University – Roumieh, Lebanon – 2015 – Present

• Conducting research and teaching courses in chemical engineering.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Laboratory of Complex Fluids and their Reservoirs (LFCR), University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) – Pau, France -2015 – 2016

• Conducted advanced research on complex fluids and their applications.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur l’Environnement et les Matériaux (IPREM), CNRS UMR 5254 – Pau, France – 2013 – 2015

• Engaged in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of materials science and environmental studies.

Attaché Temporaire d’Enseignement et de Recherche

University of High Alsace (UHA) – Mulhouse, France – 2012 – 2013

• Assisted in teaching and research activities within the Faculty of Science and Techniques.

Teaching interests

• Petroleum Refining Processes
• Organic Chemistry
• Photochemistry
• Biofuels

Research interests

• Nanocomposite patterning
• Gas hydrate behavior
• Surface/interface chromophore interaction Contact angle studies
• Host-guest binding dynamics.
• Photon absorption properties
• Advancements in stereolithography
• Photochemical surface modifications
• Photoisomerization processes.

Publications

• L. Noel , Y. Ghossoub, H‑W Zan, N. Hobeika, D. Berling, O. Soppera, (2023) «Deep‑UV sensitivity of xerogel thin films prepared from solutions of modified titanium alkoxides» J Mater Sci, Energy materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-08902-9
• R. Mhanna, R. Zhou, M. Jin, Haiyan Pan, D. Wan, D.-L. Versace, N. Hobeika, A. Khitous, O. Soppera, P. Lamielle, J.-P. Malval, , (2022) «Geometry-driven mass transport dynamics within permeable 3D-microstructures fabricated via two-photon polymerization», J. Mater. Chem. C, 10, 11983-11994. DOI: 10.1039/d2tc00331g

• G. El Haber, L. Noel, C-F Lin, S. Gree, L. Vidal, H-W Zan, N. Hobeika, O. Lhost, Y. Trolez, O. Soppera, (2021) «Near-Infrared Laser Direct Writing of conductive patterns at the surface of Carbon nanotubes polymer nanocomposites» ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c12757. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c12757
• N. Hobeika, H. Chaumeil, R. Mhanna, M. Jin, X. Wu, A. Spangenberg, D.-L. Versace, F. Morlet-Savary, J.-P. Malval , (2020) « Two-Photon Initiating Efficiency of a Ditopic Alkoxynitrostilbene Reacting through a Self-Regenerative Mechanism » ChemPhysChem, 21, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202000437
• K. Zhou, P. Bouriat, N. Hobeika, A. Touil, A. Ranchou-Peyruse, D. Broseta, R. Brown (2019) «Small but powerful optically: glass capillaries for studying complex fluids or biological systems with submicrolitre samples under harsh conditions» Instrumentation, Mesure, Métrologie– n° 2/2019. https://doi.org/10.18280/i2m.190307

• Touil, N. Hobeika, D. Broseta, R. Brown (2017) « Roles of wettability and subcooling in gas hydrate spreading over a substrate» Langmuir, 33, (41), pp 10965-10977. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02121
• N. Hobeika, M. L. M. De Baños, P. Bouriat, D. Broseta, R. Brown «High-Resolution Optical Microscopy of Gas Hydrates» Gas Hydrate 1, «Fundamentals, Characterization and Modeling», ISTE London 2017. DOI : 10.1002/9781119332688.ch3

• N. Hobeika, P. Bouriat, A. Touil, D. Broseta, R. Brown, J. Dubessy (2017) « Help from a hindrance: using astigmatism in round capillaries to study contact angles and wetting layers» Langmuir, 33, (21), pp5179-5187. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b01025

• M. L. M. De Baños, N. Hobeika, P. Bouriat, D. Broseta, E. Enciso, F. Clément, R. Brown (2016), «How Do Gas Hydrates Spread on a Substrate?» Crystal Growth & Design, 16 (8), pp 4360-4373. DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.6b00471
• E. Ay, N. Hobeika, H. Chaumeil, T. Tschamber, M. Jin, D.-L. Versace, J.-P. Malval (2016) « Rotamerism-Driven Large Magnitude Host-Guest Binding Change in a Crown Ether Derivatized Pyridinium-Phenolate Series» Chem. Commun, 52, pp4652-4654. DOI: 10.1039/c6cc00684a
• M. N. Nair, N. Hobeika, J-P. Malval*, S.Aloïse, A. Spangenberg, L. Simon, M. Cranney, F. Vonau, D. Aubel, F. Serein-Spirau, J-P. Lère-Porte, M-A. Lacour, T. Jarrosson (2014) «One- and Two-Photon Absorption and Emission Properties of an Oligo(phenylenethienylene)s series». Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 16(25), pp12826-37. DOI: 10.1039/c2cp44365a
• Spangenberg, N. Hobeika, F. Stehlin, J-P. Malval, F. Wieder, P. Prabhakaran, P. Baldeck, O. Soppera «Recent Advances in two-photon stereolithography». Lithography, ISBN 980-953-307-530-8.
• D.L. Versace, J. Ramier, D. Grande, S-A. Andaloussi, P. Dubot, N. Hobeika, J-P. Malval, J. Lalevée, E. Renard, V. Langlois (2013) «Versatile Photochemical Surface Modification of Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s Microfibrous Scaffolds with Photoinduced Silver Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Activity». Advanced Healthcare Materials, DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201200269.
• N. Hobeika, J-P. Malval, H. Chaumeil, F. Morlet-Savary, V. Roucoules, A. Defoin, D. Le Nouen, F. Gritti, G. Guiochon (2012) « Abnormal Enhancement of Photoisomerization  Process in a trans Nitroalkoxystilbene Dimer  Sequestered in -Cyclodextrins Cavities ». J. Phys. Chem. A, 116 (42), pp10328-10337. dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp304852b
• Spangenberg, J-P Malval, H. Akdas-Kilig, J-L. Fillaut, F. Stehlin, N. Hobeika, F. Morlet-Savary, O. Soppera. (2012) «Enhancement of Two-Photon Initiating Efficiency of a 4,4’-Diaminostyryl-2,2’-bipyridine Derivative Promoted by Complexation with Silver Ions» Macromolecules, 45 (3), pp 1262-1269. dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma202224c

Community Services

• Head of the Continuing Education Center at Universite la Sagesse (ULS), 2023-Present
• Chemical consultant for Lebanese chemical industries, 2021-Present
• Member in the advisory committee of the Lebanese NGO
  “Diaries of the ocean”, 2018-2021