Salameh Ahmad Headshot

Salameh Ahmad

Assistant Professor

RIT Dubai

Salameh Ahmad

Assistant Professor

RIT Dubai

Bio

Dr. Salameh Ahmad is an Assistant Professor of Physics in the Mathematics and Sciences Department at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai. He joined RIT Dubai in 2010. Before that, he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physics from Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan, and completed his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Ahmad has also served as a Lecturer at Michigan State University and as an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University’s Dubai Campus before transitioning to his current role at RIT Dubai.

Dr. Ahmad’s primary research interest lies in the theoretical understanding of the electronic structure and transport properties of novel ternary and quaternary narrow band-gap semiconductors, such as PbTe, SnTe, GeTe, and related systems, incorporating various impurity atoms for potential thermoelectric applications. His research involves employing local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) methods within density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

In addition to his work in condensed matter physics, Dr. Ahmad is passionate about research in physics education. He explores the effectiveness of active learning methodologies in enhancing students' understanding compared to traditional teaching methods. His research also investigates students' performance in conceptual versus problem-solving questions and examines how emerging technologies impact students’ comprehension and academic performance.

Select Scholarship

1. Salameh Ahmad, S.D. Mahanti, Energy and Temperature dependence of relaxation time and Wiedemann-Franz law on PbTe, Phys. Rev. B 81, 165203 (2010).
2. S.D. Mahanti, Khang Hoang, Salameh Ahmad, Deep Defect States in Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductors, Physica B 401-402C, 291 (2007).  
3. Salameh Ahmad, S.D. Mahanti, Khang Hoang, M. G. Kanatzidis, Ab initio Studies of Electronic Structure of Defects in PbTe, Phys. Rev. B 74, 155205 (2006).
4. Salameh Ahmad, Khang Hoang, S. D. Mahanti, Ab initio Study of Deep Defect States in Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductors: Group III Impurities in PbTe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 056403 (2006); 96, 056403(E) (2006).
5. Abdel-Fatah D. Lehlooh, Salameh M. Ahmad, Sami H. Mahmood, Mössbauer Spectroscopy Study of Fe-Si Solid Solution Prepared by Mechanical Milling, Hyperfine Interactions 139/140: 335–344, 2002.
 

Currently Teaching

MATH-219
3 Credits
This course is principally a study of the calculus of functions of two or more variables, but also includes the study of vectors, vector-valued functions and their derivatives. The course covers limits, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, and includes applications in physics. Credit cannot be granted for both this course and MATH-221.
MATH-221
4 Credits
This course is principally a study of the calculus of functions of two or more variables, but also includes a study of vectors, vector-valued functions and their derivatives. The course covers limits, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, Stokes' Theorem, Green's Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and applications in physics. Credit cannot be granted for both this course and MATH-219.
PHYS-111
4 Credits
This is an introductory course in algebra-based physics focusing on mechanics and waves. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton’s laws, gravitation; rotational kinematics and dynamics; work and energy; momentum and impulse; conservation laws; simple harmonic motion; waves; data presentation/analysis and error propagation. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings. Attendance at the scheduled evening sessions of this class is required for exams. There will be 2 or 3 of these evening exams during the semester. Competency in algebra, geometry and trigonometry is required.
PHYS-211
4 Credits
This is a course in calculus-based physics for science and engineering majors. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton's Laws, gravitation, work and energy, momentum and impulse, conservation laws, systems of particles, rotational motion, static equilibrium, mechanical oscillations and waves, and data presentation/analysis. The course is taught in a workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses.
PHYS-212
4 Credits
This course is a continuation of PHYS-211, University Physics I. Topics include electrostatics, Gauss' law, electric field and potential, capacitance, resistance, DC circuits, magnetic field, Ampere's law, inductance, and geometrical and physical optics. The course is taught in a lecture/workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses.

Website last updated: December 5, 2024