Dr Wassim Taleb

Profile

Holder of a master degree in biochemistry since 2006 in Montpellier-France, I have specialized in the 3D structure determination of proteins using NMR techniques. I have worked on 2 short projects (6 months each) in Max Plank Institute in Frankfurt Germany (2004) & Pharmacy Faculty in Montpellier (2005) where I practiced most of the biotechniques used in protein synthesis, purification & structure determination.

I then joined a Lebanese EPC  company in Saudi Arabia where I worked for over 5 years as a corrosion engineer with the main responsibilities of scheduling & monitoring the surface preparation & coating of all the above storage tanks (crude oil, potable water, irrigation water) & connecting piping. This has allowed me to gain experience in all the related processes from the design stages, fabrication activities & erection jobs. Three of the main projects were the Community Site Development Phase I with the Royal Commission in 2011; EPWTS II: Eastern Province Water Transmission System Phase II for SWCC Saline Water Conversion Corporation in 2008-2010 and the PP9: Riyadh Power Plant 9 for Saudi electricity in 2007.

I am currently refocusing my studies on the oilfield sector & this is why I have joined the University of Leeds in 2011 and added another degree to my basket which is the MSc in oilfield corrosion engineering. I have directly started after that a PhD position focusing on nanotechnology to provide a suitable corrosion mitigation in sweet corrosion environments before joining iFS as a research fellow in oil and gas.

Responsibilities

• Research in biogenic corrosion mitigation pathways
• Supervision of PhD/MSc students
• Module Assistant Masters/Co-director CPD Corrosion Course

Research interests

My work focuses on the characterisation of corrosion layers that develops in sweet corrosion conditions and their interaction with the underlying steel substrate.

I study the kinetics and thermodynamics of formation of such layers  while trying to assess physico-mechanical properties and ways to improve densification and adhesion for better corrosion mitigation while relying on these naturally growing layers in both biotic and abiotic systems.

Qualifications

• PhD Nanotechnology in oil and gas
• MSc Oilfield Corrosion engineering
• DEA Interface Chimie Biologie
• MASTER in Biochemistry

Student education

I am the co-director of the Oilfield Corrosion Science and Engineering short course and provide the Microbiolly induced corrosion course which is part of its programme. I was also responsible for the module MECH 5021 in 2019.

Research groups and institutes

• Institute of Functional Surfaces
• Corrosion and flow assurance

Current postgraduate researchers

• Mahmoud Saeed