Moustafa Ali ’18, ’24's engineering road began his freshman year in college after publishing a poster on the gas-to-liquid GLT process. A professor’s praise gave him pause: “You will be a great engineer one day.”
Though the remark was brief, it shaped his path over the years, ultimately leading him to cross the commencement stage at Texas A&M University to become Dr. Moustafa Ali. The 30-year-old graduated this August with his Ph.D. in interdisciplinary engineering from the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering.
"Texas A&M’s multidisciplinary engineering doctoral program presents an unparalleled opportunity to significantly enhance my skills and broaden my knowledge across various engineering disciplines,” he said. “This program's comprehensive framework is vital for tackling the complex, interconnected challenges in today's energy sector. The industry is increasingly driven by the need for sustainable development, efficient energy use, and stringent environmental and safety standards.”
During his doctoral program, Ali worked as a Texas A&M Energy Institute research assistant with the institute’s director, Dr. Stratos Pistikopoulos, professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Dow Chemical Chair. Ali’s research focused on novel processes in the energy sector and their feasibility, sustainability and commercialization.
He has undergraduate and master's degrees in chemical engineering and received his master's through the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center at Texas A&M with a focus on asset integrity and consequence modeling of subsea gas releases.
Texas A&M’s multidisciplinary engineering doctoral program presents an unparalleled opportunity to significantly enhance my skills and broaden my knowledge across various engineering disciplines
Ali was drawn to an interdisciplinary program that would allow him to integrate his chemical engineering background with specific niches such as process control and optimization, process safety engineering, techno-economic analysis and business compliance.
“Texas A&M’s commitment to cutting-edge research and a collaborative environment offers the perfect platform for exploring these integrative approaches,” he said. “I can work on projects that push the boundaries of what's possible in energy technology — such as improving process designs for better efficiencies or developing new routes for added-value products both on the technical and business side.”
Ali found that his environment as a graduate student both encouraged academic growth and had a practical impact on his career. He secured two summer internships with The Dow Chemical Company – one of the top international chemical manufacturing companies – and gained hands-on industry experience.
“I feel prepared to be at the forefront of engineering innovation in the energy sector,” he said.
Engaging in extracurricular activities outside of the classroom impacted Ali’s critical thinking, leadership and decision skills. He gained valuable experience as the Texas A&M Graduate Consulting Club's vice president of business development and future energy director in the Texas A&M Society of Petroleum Engineers. These commitments resulted in unique sponsorship opportunities and partnerships with energy companies and consulting clubs.
I feel prepared to be at the forefront of engineering innovation in the energy sector.
He also helped organize business competitions with the TAMU Energy Research Society and TAMU Society of Petroleum Engineers to understand global energy markets and technologies and participated in various societies as a Future Energy Director and a pro-bono consultant.
“These roles not only enhanced my understanding of market dynamics and technological innovations but also sharpened my ability to define clear research objectives and hence my career,” Ali said. “Navigating real-world challenges and cultivating relationships with industry leaders helped me develop a robust network and a versatile skillset that equips me to contribute innovatively and effectively in my future career endeavors.”
Ali has joined Dow full-time as a senior automation specialist on the Advanced Control & Optimization team in Houston, Texas. He hopes to develop innovative solutions that increase energy production efficiency and enhance commercial safety protocols and environmental compliance.
He especially appreciates the adaptability he cultivated during his time in MTDE. “It’s a significant asset in roles that require a deep understanding of various engineering principles and their practical implications in the energy sector,” he said.