Davis College Welcomes New Faculty for 2026-2027

The Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering welcomes a new group of faculty members whose expertise spans artificial intelligence, child development, engineering, mathematics and the natural sciences. Bringing experience from leading universities, research institutions and industry, these scholars will expand opportunities for research, innovation and student learning across the college.

Mohammed Al Dushaishi
Associate Professor of Engineering

Mohammed Al Dushaishi joins TCU as associate professor after serving on the faculty at Oklahoma State University. His research focuses on subsurface energy extraction and optimization, including drilling and well design, geothermal energy systems, fluid flow and heat transfer and data analytics. By combining engineering principles with emerging technologies such as machine learning, Al Dushaishi develops innovative approaches to improve energy production and efficiency. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s degree in petroleum engineering and a Ph.D. in petroleum engineering.

 

Afia Anjum
Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Afia Anjum most recently served as a graduate researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory and comes to TCU as an assistant professor of computer science She also holds a bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering from the Military Institute of Science and Technology in Bangladesh and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Texas at Arlington. Anjum’s research focuses on the security and efficiency of next-generation wireless communication and cyber-physical systems, including AI-driven threat detection, secure semantic communication, explainable AI for security-critical systems and LLM-based resource allocation for autonomous vehicle communication.

 

Kelley Cooper
Instructor 1, Biology

Kelley Cooper joins TCU as an instructor after teaching at Baylor University. She holds an Ed.D. in health professions education from A.T. Still University, a master’s degree in anatomy education from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Her recent research explores how anatomy and physiology instructors make content-related decisions, with the goal of informing more effective teaching practices in health professions education.

 

Carol Ann Downes
Instructor II, Mathematics

After serving as an associate professor of mathematics at Hendrix College, Carol Ann Downes comes to TCU as a mathematics instructor II. She earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in mathematics from Rice University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Westmont College. Her research focuses on geometric measure theory, optimal transport networks and their applications to economics and political science. By developing mathematical models for efficient transportation networks, Downes’ work explores how principles found in nature can help solve complex real-world challenges.

 

Ebrahim Fathi
Ross B. Matthews Professor of Petroleum Engineering

Ebrahim Fathi joins TCU as the Ross B. Matthews Professor of Petroleum Engineering in the Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering. He earned a bachelor's degree in mining engineering and a master's degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tehran before completing his Ph.D. in petroleum engineering and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oklahoma. His research focuses on sustainable energy solutions through carbon capture, engineered geothermal systems, artificial intelligence and advanced subsurface engineering. By combining data science, computational modeling and reservoir engineering, Fathi develops innovative approaches to address challenges in energy production, storage and environmental sustainability.

 

Kyralyssa Hauger-Sanchez
Instructor II, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Horned Frog Kyralyssa Hauger-Sanchez ’16 Ph.D. returns to TCU as instructor II in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry after teaching at Trinity University. She earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Edward's University and a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Texas Christian University. She brings experience in chemistry education and is committed to helping students build a strong foundation in the chemical sciences.

 

Kaylee R. Kipp Burnett Ranches Professorship in Ranch Management, Associate Professor of Professional Practice

A livestock parasitologist and animal scientist, Kaylee Kipp earned her doctorate in biomedical science from Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She is the new holder of the Burnett Ranches Endowed Professor in Ranch Management. Her research focuses on improving herd health, productivity and long-term sustainability through science-based parasite management. By translating complex research into practical tools for producers, Kipp helps ranchers make informed decisions while preparing the next generation of ranch managers.

 

Oscar Lopez
Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Oscar Lopez joins TCU as assistant professor of mathematics after serving at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of British Columbia, and a bachelor’s and master's degree in mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on signal processing, information theory and statistical inference, with applications to computational imaging. By developing mathematical methods to process and interpret complex data, Lopez's work advances imaging technologies across scientific and engineering applications.

 

Kasra Momeni
Professor of Engineering

After serving on the faculty at the University of Alabama, Kasra Momeni joins TCU as a professor of engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Sharif University of Technology and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from KNT University of Technology. His research focuses on multiscale computational materials science for extreme-environment materials, combining phase-field modeling, CALPHAD, molecular dynamics, finite element modeling, computational fluid dynamics and AI/ML digital twins. His work supports the development of advanced materials for applications ranging from hypersonic and nuclear systems to in-space manufacturing.

 

Alex Nikulin
Hunter Enis Endowed Chair in Petroleum
Professor of Geophysics

Alex Nikulin joins TCU as the Hunter Enis Endowed Chair in Petroleum. Previously, he served as associate professor and chair of the Department of Earth Sciences at Binghamton University. Nikulin earned his Ph.D. in geosciences from Rutgers University. His research develops innovative geophysical technologies to improve subsurface imaging and characterization, with applications ranging from natural resource management and infrastructure assessment to environmental and humanitarian challenges. He is also committed to providing students with collaborative, hands-on research experiences that apply geophysics to real-world problems.

 

Shuteng Niu
Assistant Professor of Computer Science

After serving as a researcher in the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics at Mayo Clinic, Shuteng Niu joins TCU as assistant professor of computer science. His research combines artificial intelligence and biomedical informatics, focusing on transfer learning, graph representation learning and multimodal electronic health record modeling. Holding a Ph.D. in computer science, he also studies reliable AI-driven drug discovery, drug repurposing and the standardization of heterogeneous biomedical data. His long-term goal is to develop reliable, interpretable and generalizable computational methods that accelerate drug discovery and advance precision healthcare.

 

Angie Proctor
Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Psychology
Co-Director of Graduate Studies, Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development

Angie Proctor joins TCU as assistant professor of professional practice and co-director of the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development’s Graduate She comes to TCU from East Texas A&M University, where she taught after serving in several academic advising and leadership roles. In addition to her higher education experience, Proctor has led trauma competency and professional training initiatives for Boys & Girls Country of Houston, with a focus on trauma-informed care for children and families. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, master’s degrees in marriage and family therapy and psychology, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology. She is also a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor.

 

Jon Wells
Assistant Professor of Biology

After serving on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Jon Wells joins TCU as assistant professor of biology. He holds a bachelor's degree in bioengineering and a Ph.D. in natural resources and environmental management. His research investigates the biogeochemical impacts of changing fire regimes in Arctic-boreal forests. By examining how wildfires influence ecosystem processes, Wells’ work advances understanding of environmental change and its effects on northern landscapes.