Mahmoud Hashem Abdel-Kader

Mahmoud Hashem Abdel-Kader
Born	Egypt
Alma mater	Alexandria University, Stuttgart University
Occupation(s)	Physical chemist, Professor
Years active	1970–present
Known for	Photochemistry, founding European Universities in Egypt, photodynamic therapy

Mahmoud Hashem Abdel-Kader is a distinguished physical chemist and Professor specializing in Photochemistry at Cairo University and the NILES Institute. He is also the founder of the European Universities in Egypt.

Education

Abdel-Kader completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at Alexandria University in 1969. Between 1970 and 1973, he served as a teaching and research assistant in the Chemistry Department at Tanta University's Faculty of Science, where he concentrated on spectroscopic analysis of hydroxybenzanilides. In 1974, he was awarded a DAAD scholarship to pursue doctoral studies in Germany, culminating in a Ph.D. in Spectroscopy and Photochemistry from Stuttgart University in 1979. His dissertation, supervised by Theodor Förster and Horst E.A. Kramer, explored physicochemical aspects of the isomerization processes involving stilbazolium betaine-type merocyanine dyes and their acidic variants.

Career

Following his Ph.D., Abdel-Kader spent three years lecturing in physical chemistry at Tanta University (1979–1982) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Karlsruhe (1982–1983). He then took on the role of Visiting Senior Researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne from 1983 to 1984. His academic journey continued with professorships in Physical Chemistry and Photochemistry at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain (1985–1992) and later at the United Arab Emirates University (1992–1995). Additionally, he has been a Visiting Professor at both the Georgia Institute of Technology and Ulm University in Germany.

Since joining Cairo University in 1992, Abdel-Kader has held leadership positions including Department Chair and Vice Dean of the National Institute of Laser-Enhanced Sciences (NILES) until 2002. He was instrumental in founding the German University in Cairo (GUC), where he served as the first University President until 2017.

Research interests

The primary areas of Mahmoud Abdel-Kader's research include:

• Utilizing Laser spectroscopy to investigate ultrafast chemical reaction kinetics and mechanisms such as photochemical isomerization and electron transfer,
• Harnessing solar energy for photochemical conversion processes aimed at controlling vector-borne diseases like malaria, filariasis, and dengue fever through eco-friendly natural extract photosensitizers,
• Employing nanoparticles for photodynamic diagnosis and therapeutic applications targeting cancer.

Projects, mentorship, published work and communications

Mahmoud Abdel-Kader is acknowledged as an authority on modern photodynamic therapy (PDT). He served as editor for the 2014 publication Photodynamic Therapy: from Theory to Application, contributing chapters that comprehensively cover PDT methodologies.

He has guided approximately 90 graduate theses at both master's and doctoral levels, authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, secured 8 patents, and presented more than 80 invited lectures and keynote speeches at prominent national and international conferences.

Honors and awards

Internationally renowned within photochemistry circles, Mahmoud Abdel-Kader was appointed Officer of the European Society for Photobiology in 1997 and held the position of "Chair outside Europe" until 2001. In September 2024, The University of East London awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Science recognizing his significant contributions to chemistry.

His accolades within Egypt encompass:

• National Incentive Award in Chemical Science (1995)
• Distinguished State Prize in Chemistry (1996)
• Egyptian State Medal in Chemistry (1998)
• Excellence Award for Science from Cairo University (2012)
• State Award for Discretion in Advanced Technological Sciences (2015)
• Membership in the Egyptian Scientific Institute (2015)
• First-Class Medal of the President of Egypt for Science and Arts (2017)
• Nile Award for Advanced Technological Sciences (2023)