Get to know Dr. Samira!

Samji Samira is the newest addition to the Department of Chemical Engineering! With a rich academic journey, Dr. Samira earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2013 from a small institution called BMS College of Engineering in Bangalore, India. He then went on to get his master's degree in Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in 2015, where he delved into reaction kinetics and surface science, key areas in the study of catalysis. 

During his time at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Samira discovered his passion for both the fundamental aspects of catalysis and its broader applications, such as efficient energy transformations, surface reactions, and chemical manufacturing. This passion led him to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Wayne State University, which he completed in 2021. His doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on designing and understanding how catalysts powered by electricity, light, or heat work and analyzing their behavior using detailed kinetics, coupled with spectroscopy.

Dr. Samira's extensive experience has positioned him at the forefront of catalyst design for chemical reactions driven by electricity, light, or thermal heat, with a particular emphasis on efficient chemical transformations for energy storage, conversion and platform chemical synthesis. We are excited to see the innovative contributions he will bring to our department!

Why Virginia Tech? What do you love about VT?

The warm collegiality of the faculty and students within the Chemical Engineering department, as well as across the campus, was a major factor in my decision to come here. I am delighted to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed all my interactions with the students and colleagues, which made my decision much easier. Additionally, I was impressed by the department's vision and my potential role in achieving it. I am confident that this is a great decision and that I will enjoy my time here. At Virginia Tech, I have been loving the unpredictable weather of the Blue Ridge Mountains, scenic drives, the beautiful Hokie stone campus architecture, and most importantly, the community of students and scientists.

What is your favorite part about being a professor/faculty member? 

The best part of being a faculty member is the opportunity to pursue research areas that both interest me and benefit society, while also teaching undergraduate and graduate students about chemical engineering, particularly catalysis and reaction engineering. I also appreciate that, regardless of my age, the average age of the people I work and interact with will remain consistent. This dynamic environment fosters innovation and the development of creative solutions to some of our biggest societal challenges. Finally, the chance to shape the careers of bright engineers who will make a difference in the real world is incredibly rewarding.

What is your research focus? What do you hope will come of it? 

My research will focus on gaining a fundamental knowledge of how nanostructured inorganic solid materials work as catalysts during chemical reactions.  In particular, how do these catalysts jiggle and wiggle at the atomic scale to drive chemical reactions when various external energy stimuli such as heat, electricity, or light is used.  By exploring these questions, we can enhance our knowledge of catalyst design at the atomic level, ultimately enabling us to predict a catalyst's behavior, effectiveness, and longevity for specific reactions.

What originally got you interested in your work and/or research?

As an undergraduate student, a research experience truly sparked my interest in catalyst design and development. Initially, I chose to study Chemical Engineering with the hope of securing a job in either the beer manufacturing industry or the oil and gas sector. During this time, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in a lab focused on designing photocatalysts for wastewater treatment at the Chemical Engineering Department of the Indian Institute of Science. This initial research experience set me on the path to pursuing graduate studies in chemical engineering.

I feel a deep connection with the chemistry, physics, and engineering aspects of catalyst design. Since the summer of 2012, this has been the sole research area I have pursued, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in this community.

What advice do you have for students looking to join the chemical engineering field?

In my opinion, chemical engineering is at the heart of our current standard of living. The field significantly impacts everything from the development and large-scale manufacturing of vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs, to the chemicals that maintain our quality of life, to the fertilizers that help grow our food, to the silicon used in modern electronics, and most importantly, the energy that powers everything we do today. These contributions make a chemical engineering degree one of the most valuable and highest-paid degrees available.

This crucial message often becomes clear to students only after they begin a chemical engineering program. Furthermore, I believe that chemical engineering is at the crossroads of a true revolution, where we need to rethink and reimagine all the sectors mentioned above to achieve a truly sustainable society. I cannot think of a better degree or a program than the one at Virginia Tech to meet these enormous societal targets.