My research interests are mostly focused on combustion modeling and the fundamental chemistry associated with it. Specifically, I am interested in developing kinetic mechanisms of fuel molecules’ combustion as well as estimating/calculating rate parameters and thermodynamic data. Mostly, the rate parameters of elementary reactions are estimated by analogy with similar reactions and thermo data are estimated using Benson’s group additivity method. However, when required, the rate parameters and thermo data are calculated using quantum mechanics and transition statetheory. The developed mechanisms are then validated against experimental data such as ignition delay time, flame speed and concentration profiles, using modeling.

• Volatile aldehydes in the mainstream smoke of the nargile waterpipe
  M. Al Rashidi, A. Shihadeh, N.A. Saliba
  Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46, 3546-3549, (2008)
• Comparison of carcinogen, carbon monoxide, and ultrafine particle emissions from narghile waterpipe and cigarette smoking: sidestream smoke measurements and assessment of second-hand smoke emission factors
  N. Daher, R. Saleh, E. Jaroudi, H. Sheheitli, T. Badr, E. Sepetdjian, M. Al Rashidi, N. Saliba, A. Shehadeh
  Atmospheric Environment, 44, 8-14, (2009)
• The heterogeneous photo-oxidation of difenoconzole in the atmosphere
  Al Rashidi, M., El Mouden, O., Chakir, A., Roth, E., Salghi, R
  Atmospheric Environment, 45, 5997-6003, (2012)
• Heterogeneous ozonolysis of folpet and dimethomorph: A kinetic and mechanistic study
  Al Rashidi, M., Chakir, A., Roth, E.
  Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 117, 2908-2915, (2013)
• Heterogeneous oxidation of folpet and dimethomorph by OH radicals: A kinetic and mechanistic study
  Al Rashidi, M., Chakir, A., Roth, E.
  Atmospheric Environment, 82, 154-171, (2014)
• UV spectra and OH-oxidation kinetics of gaseous phase morpholinic compounds
  Al Rashidi, M., El Masri, A., Chakir, A., Roth, E.
  Atmospheric Environment, 88, 261-268, (2014)
• PAH growth initiated by propargyl addition: mechanism development and computational kinetics
  Raj, A., Al Rashidi, M., Chung, S.H., Sarathy, M.
  Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 118, 2865–2885, (2014)
• Kinetics of the high-temperature combustion reactions of dibutylether using composite computational methods
  Al Rashidi, M., Davis, A., Sarathy, M.
  Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 35, 385-392, (2014)

• Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, URCA, France, 2009-2012
• M.S., Analytical Chemistry, AUB, Lebanon, 2006-2008
• B.S., Chemistry, AUB, Lebanon, 2003-2006

• Post-doctoral fellow at the Clean Combustion Research Center at KAUST since January 2013.
• Research assistant at the Analytical and Atmospheric Laboratory at AUB in 2008. Research conducted concerning the identification and quantification of carbonyl compounds in main-stream and side-stream narghile smoke using HPLC/MS.
• Teaching assistant at the chemistry department at AUB during 2007-2008.

• Analytical and Atmospheric Laboratory (AUB), Réactivité des Processus Atmosphériques (URCA), Clean Combustion Research Center (KAUST)