Chemical Engineering Department Head Dr. M. Nazmul Karim Passes Away

The Texas A&M University College of Engineering announced Friday the death of Dr. M. Nazmul Karim, holder of the T. Michael O’Connor Chair II and head of the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, a position he held since 2012. Karim died Friday, June 21.

Over the course of an impressive 30-plus year career, Karim authored more than 250 refereed publications, and gave over 400 technical invited and contributed presentations at national and international conferences. He was the co-author of the textbook, “Chemical and Bioprocess Control,” which is used in over 50 universities worldwide. He graduated more than 25 doctoral students and was an American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) fellow.

Karim’s research interests were in model-based control, nonlinear control, data-based control and optimization, and bioprocess analysis and control. Last year, the Fuels & Petrochemicals Division of AIChE named an award after him, the Professor M. Nazmul Karim Award in Process Control and Automation.

“Naz was an esteemed researcher and an asset to the College of Engineering,” said Dr. M. Katherine Banks, vice chancellor and dean of engineering. “Under his leadership, the department was among the top chemical engineering programs in the country, and he continuously worked to find ways to improve the program and attract top faculty and students.”

Karim earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and his master’s in control engineering and doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Funeral arrangements are pending.