A Royal Decree appointing Professor Riyadh Yousef Hamza President of the University of Bahrain

Sakhir – University of Bahrain

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the kingdom of Bahrain (may Allah protect him) issued a decree on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 appointing Dr. Riad Youssef Hamza President of the University of Bahrain for four years.

Prof. Hamza served as the Vice-president of the Arabian Gulf University from 1994 to 2005.

He obtained his PhD degree in biochemistry (enzymology) in 1984 from the University of Houston, USA, and was promoted to the rank of professorship in 1995.

He joined the Arabian Gulf University in 1985 during its early stages of establishment, where he held many leading positions including the director for financial and administrative affairs (1986-1994) and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science (1990-1994).

Prof Hamza’s scientific research interests include biotechnology and its applications, bio-degradation of chemical pollutants, especially crude oil and its derivatives, and sulfur removal processes using bacteria. He established the biotechnology program, the first academic program in the Arab world offering degrees in this specialty, at the Arabian Gulf Universityin 1987.

He supervised many Master’s and Doctoral theses and has many research articles published in refereed regional and international journals.

In addition, he organized and participated in several regional and international conferences and symposia, and he presented papers in a number of these scientific gatherings.

He is a co-editor of the book National Biodiversity Planning In The Arab World in 2001.

During the period from 1998 to 2006, he was the editor-in-chief of the refereed journal The Arabian Gulf Journal for Scientific Research.

In 2011 His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a decree (number 54) appointing Prof Riyadh Secretary General of the Council of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and granting him the status of permanent undersecretary.