Degree

Ph.D., 2011, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 

Research Interests

• Statistical Thermodynamics
• Applied Thermodynamics
• Phase Equilibria
• Optimization Methods

Biography

Dr. Nayef Alsaifi has a specialized focus on the development of statistical mechanical theories applicable to a range of fluid systems, encompassing polar, associative, and polyelectrolyte solutions. His foundational work involves creating a general theory to understand various types of polarization arising from polar molecules and ions, grounded in self-consistent mean field theory. Beyond theoretical construction, Dr. Alsaifi is also committed to the quantitative prediction of multiphase systems, utilizing statistical mechanical theories independent of experimental data.

For complex systems, he has contributed to qualitative theory development aimed at elucidating the impact of salt ions on phase separation in polyelectrolyte solutions. Specifically, his work sheds light on the separation of supernatant and coacervate phases. Moreover, Dr. Alsaifi has recently pioneered a novel approach that employs bifurcation analysis to identify unphysical behavior in any thermodynamic model. This methodology has proven effective in mapping artifacts across phase space for various equations of state.