The Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE) welcomes Dr. Gilles Lubineau, professor of mechanical engineering, to the role of Interim Dean of PSE. Professor Lubineau will ensure a smooth transition following the unexpected loss of our colleague and friend, Dean Ravi Samtaney.

Prof. Lubineau joined the PSE Division in 2009. During his 13 years at KAUST, he has held a number of academic administrative roles, from being the founding chair of the Mechanical Engineering program, starting in 2009, to his most recent appointment as PSE Associate Dean for Faculty since 2020. He has also served on numerous committees and boards and has worked eagerly on disseminating KAUST scientific achievements among academic peers, KAUST colleagues and wider audiences.

Gilles currently leads the Mechanics of Composites for Energy and Mobility Laboratory, an integrated environment for composite engineering. His research group is specialized in the development of smart composite materials with multifunctional capabilities involving the prediction of the integrity of materials and structures. The wide expertise of his team covers diverse aspects of composite engineering, from experimental characterization to dedicated modelling and computational approaches — multidimensional strengths for imagining and applying  composite designs to address real world problems. 

Prof. Lubineau received the Daniel Valentin award in recognition of his work on innovation in the composite area. He has authored more than 280 journal articles, and he is an elected member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He is also recognized for his proximity to industry and supporting translational initiatives. To this end he currently leads the Saudi Society for Composite Materials, which fosters collaborations within a network of academic and industrial collaborators in the Kingdom. 

He earned a PhD degree in mechanical engineering from École Normale Supérieure de Cachan (ENS-Cachan), France. Before joining KAUST, he was a faculty member at École Normale Supérieure of Cachan, and an instructor at École Polytechnique, France. He has also served as a visiting researcher at UC-Berkeley..

In this new challenge, Dr. Lubineau brings with him a wealth of leadership skills, and a strong commitment to excellence in education and research.