SMU Lyle Welcomes Dr. Saeed Salehi as Herman Brown Chair in Engineering, Professor of Mechanical Engineering with courtesy appointment in department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

SMU Lyle School of Engineering is pleased to announce that Dr. Saeed Salehi has joined our faculty, effective August 1, 2024, serving as Herman Brown Chair in Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering with courtesy appointment in department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Salehi brings with him a wealth of experience in both academia and industry, making him a significant addition to our engineering community.

Dr. Salehi’s career spans over a decade of academic excellence, during which he has been dedicated to teaching and delivering university and industry-customized courses focused on energy, sustainability and safety. His practical experience in the oil and gas industry, coupled with his academic insights, positions him uniquely to contribute to the advancement of energy research and education at SMU Lyle.

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Salehi has successfully managed more than $8 million in research and development funding from a variety of federal and industry sources. His prolific output includes over 200 articles published in leading scholarly journals and refereed conferences, particularly in the areas of energy and safety. His contributions to the field have been recognized with prestigious awards from the U.S. Department of Energy, where his teams secured first-place finishes in the Collegiate Competition in both 2022 and 2023.

Dr. Salehi is also recognized for his leadership within the engineering community, having served as the past chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineering sections and earned sustainability awards for his commitment to environmental stewardship. His research interests encompass a broad range of critical areas, including energy sustainability, environmental protection, carbon storage, and the mitigation of surface and subsurface contamination. His work combines field practices, experimentation, modeling, data analytics, and the development of analytical and computational tools, all aimed at providing sustainable solutions for energy production and environmental preservation.

Dr. Salehi’s long-term research goals are centered on creating viable and sustainable solutions that ensure the protection of our environment while securing an affordable and reliable energy supply. His work aligns perfectly with SMU Lyle’s commitment to advancing research that addresses the global challenges of energy and sustainability.

As Dr. Salehi joins our faculty, we are excited about the expertise and leadership he will bring to our programs and research initiatives. His contributions will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our students, faculty, and the broader engineering community.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Saeed Salehi to SMU Lyle. We look forward to the innovative and sustainable advancements he will help us achieve.

About the Bobby Lyle School of Engineering
SMU's Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About SMU
SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.