Assist. Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem | Planetary Sciences | Excellence in Research
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Egypt
Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem is an accomplished Assistant Professor of Geology at South Valley University, Egypt, with a strong background in economic minerals and planetary geology. His academic and professional journey has been marked by significant contributions to mineral exploration, sustainable resource utilization, and geoscientific education. He has worked as a researcher, scholar, and reviewer for high-impact journals, developing international collaborations such as with Zagreb University, Croatia. Dr. Abdel-Hakeem manages the Central Laboratories at his faculty and mentors graduate students on projects related to mineralogy, radioactive geology, and resource sustainability. A recipient of several prestigious university awards, he actively integrates academic research with field exploration, contributing to the understanding of Earth and planetary processes. His publications and fieldwork across the Egyptian deserts demonstrate a profound commitment to uncovering the geological forces shaping planetary terrains. His multilingual capabilities and diverse teaching portfolio further enrich his academic contributions.
Professional Profile
Suitability for the Research for Excellence in Research Award: Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem
Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem demonstrates a strong profile that aligns well with the criteria for the Research for Excellence in Research Award. His academic journey—from a Bachelor’s degree with honors to a Ph.D. focused on economic minerals and sustainable exploitation—reflects a solid foundation and progressive specialization in geology. His doctoral thesis on the beneficiation and exploitation of mineral deposits for sustainable development indicates a research focus that integrates scientific rigor with practical societal impact, an essential element of excellence in research.
Professionally, Mahmoud holds a significant position as Assistant Professor and Manager of Central Laboratories at South Valley University, demonstrating leadership in academic and research infrastructures. His active involvement as a reviewer for multiple reputable journals, including Arabian Journal of Geosciences and Scientific Reports, signals recognition by the scholarly community and commitment to maintaining high research standards.
Education
Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem holds a Ph.D. in Geology (2020) from South Valley University, Egypt, where he focused on the beneficiation and sustainable exploitation of the Abu-Tartur mineral deposits. His M.Sc. in Geology (2015) emphasized enhancing the industrial value of mineral ores from Egypt’s El-Bahariya Oasis. He earned his B.Sc. in Geology in 2010 with honors from South Valley University. In addition to his Egyptian training, Dr. Abdel-Hakeem undertook a prestigious international scholarship at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, where he engaged in advanced mineralogical and geochemical analyses. His education combined rigorous theoretical training with applied field-based learning across multiple regions of Egypt and Europe. His academic background integrates economic geology, remote sensing, and ore genesis, positioning him as a multidisciplinary geoscientist with strong analytical and mineralogical competencies aligned with planetary science themes.
Professional Experience
Dr. Abdel-Hakeem began his academic career as a Teaching Assistant at South Valley University in 2011. He rose through the ranks, serving as an Assistant Researcher (2015–2020), and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2020. Currently, he also serves as the Manager of the Central Laboratories at the Faculty of Science. His international exposure includes a scholarship at Zagreb University, Croatia, where he specialized in mineral paragenesis analysis. Beyond academia, he is an active peer reviewer for renowned journals such as Scientific Reports, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Arabian Journal of Geosciences. His hands-on experience includes extensive fieldwork in Egypt’s major mineral deposits and mines, and he has led and participated in government-funded geological research projects. His teaching and research focus on mineralogy, optical mineralogy, petrology, economic geology, and ore microscopy—essential disciplines in planetary materials research.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem has consistently been recognized for his outstanding research outputs by South Valley University, receiving the Scientific Publication Award for four consecutive years (2017–2021). He was also honored in 2016 for his distinguished Master’s work. His scholarly reputation has been further solidified through his invitation to review for major journals in geosciences and environmental sustainability. He has supervised graduate theses on resource-rich geological formations, radioactive zones, and economic mineralogy, showcasing his leadership in advancing geological science. He led and contributed to research projects that investigated Egypt’s untapped oil shale and phosphate reserves as potential sustainable energy sources—work which reflects his innovative approach to georesource management. These recognitions highlight his contribution to both applied and theoretical aspects of geology and his broader impact on planetary and Earth sciences through teaching, supervision, publication, and field-based exploration.
Research Skills On Planetary Sciences
Dr. Abdel-Hakeem’s research expertise spans mineral exploration, economic geology, remote sensing, ore genesis, and sedimentary petrography—skills vital to both Earth and planetary sciences. His analytical proficiency includes geochemical modeling, petrographic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and GIS-based resource mapping. He has hands-on experience studying phosphate, glauconite, and oil shale deposits—resources comparable to planetary analog materials. His research emphasizes sustainable resource exploitation, especially in arid and semi-arid zones like the Western Desert of Egypt, which serves as a model for Mars-like environments. His published work and field studies illustrate his capacity to correlate geological features with potential economic value, a principle transferable to extraterrestrial resource assessments. Additionally, his international collaborations and multilingual abilities support cross-border scientific discourse. His integration of field-based techniques with lab-based mineral analysis equips him with a unique toolkit to investigate planetary materials and terrestrial analogs.
Publication Top Notes
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The economic potential of El-Gedida glauconite deposits, El-Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt
G. El-Habaak, M. Askalany, M. Faraghaly, M. Abdel-Hakeem
Journal of African Earth Sciences 120, 186–197
Citations: 28 • Year: 2016 -
Upper Eocene glauconites from the Bahariya depression: An evidence for the marine regression in Egypt
G. El-Habaak, M. Askalany, M. Galal, M. Abdel-Hakeem
Journal of African Earth Sciences 117, 1–11
Citations: 18 • Year: 2016 -
The effect of mineralogy of calcined shales on the alkali activation and geopolymerization reactions: A case study from Abu-Tartur plateau, Western Desert, Egypt
G. El-Habaak, M. Askalany, M. Abdel-Hakeem
Applied Clay Science 162, 90–100
Citations: 17 • Year: 2018 -
The potential production of rock-based fertilizer and soil conditioner from phosphate mine wastes: A case study from Abu-Tartur plateau in the Western Desert of Egypt
M. Abdel-Hakeem, G. El-Habaak
Journal of Cleaner Production 329, 129761
Citations: 14 • Year: 2021 -
Genetic implications of Th/U, Th/K, and U/K ratios for U mineralizations: A case study from El-Missikat and El-Erediya shear zones, Eastern Desert, Egypt
M. Abdel-Hakeem, M. El-Tahir, E.A. Zeid, H. Rageh
Geochemical Transactions 24(1), 3
Citations: 8 • Year: 2023 -
Building up and characterization of calcined marl-based geopolymeric cement
G. El-Habaak, M. Askalany, M. Abdel-Hakeem
Infrastructures 3(3), 22
Citations: 8 • Year: 2018 -
Characterization and exploitation of black shale as unconventional source of biohydrogen: A case study from the Abu-Tartur mine, Western Desert, Egypt
G. El-Habaak, R. Khalaphallah, M. Hassan, M. Askalany, M. Abdel-Hakeem
Arabian Journal of Geosciences 13, 1–15
Citations: 4 • Year: 2020 -
Possibility of mixed origin of rare earth elements in sedimentary marine apatites: A case study from phosphorites in the Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) Duwi Formation
G. El-Habaak, M. Askalany, M. Abdel-Hakeem
The Journal of Geology 127(6), 643–663
Citations: 4 • Year: 2019 -
Characterization and Exploitation of El-Gedida High-Mn Iron Ore, El-Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt
H. Galal, M.S. Askalany, M.G. Farghaly, M.S. Abdel-Hakeem
American Journal of Energy Engineering 4(4), 34–39
Citations: 4 • Year: 2016 -
Textural complications of banded iron formation and the potential production of nano-magnetite: A case study from the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt
M. Abdel-Hakeem, G. El-Habaak
Scientific Reports 13(1), 15158
Citations: 1 • Year: 2023
