Biography

Hussein A. Abdullah’s academic journey is marked by his commitment to academic and professional growth. He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Technology, Baghdad, and an M.Sc. in Robotics, as well as a Ph.D. in Mechatronics, Manufacturing, and Automation, both from the University of Glasgow. He held a faculty position as an associate professor at Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman. In August 2000, Abdullah joined the University of Guelph (UoG), School of Engineering (SOE) as an associate professor. He was appointed Associate Director for Graduate Studies (May 2008– December 2009), promoted to full professor in 2010, and served as School Director from January 2010 to May 2018. His commitment to growth is evident from his decision to take a two-year academic leave from the University of Guelph to serve as Vice President of Academics and Research at the Australian University in Kuwait from January 2020 to December 2021received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Technology, Baghdad, and an M.Sc. in Robotics, as well as a Ph.D. in Mechatronics, Manufacturing, and Automation, both from the University of Glasgow. He held a faculty position as an associate professor at Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman. In August 2000, Abdullah joined the University of Guelph (UoG), School of Engineering (SOE) as an associate professor. He was appointed Associate Director for Graduate Studies (May 2008– December 2009), promoted to full professor in 2010, and served as School Director from January 2010 to May 2018. From January 2020 to December 2021, he took a two-year academic leave from the University of Guelph to serve as Vice President of Academics and Research at the Australian University in Kuwait.

With over 30 years of experience in both academia and industry, Abdullah has made significant and wide-ranging contributions to higher education. His work encompasses teaching, graduate supervision, research and innovation, curriculum development, project management, and higher education policy. Notably, he has actively participated in and chaired key committees related to tenure and promotion, admissions, curriculum design, academic review, engineering infrastructure planning, and faculty recruitment. His committee involvement includes the Graduate Committee, the B. Eng. Program Committee and the School of Engineering Industrial Advisory Board, demonstrating his commitment and influence in shaping higher education policies.

Abdullah’s commitment to maintaining high standards in higher education is evident in his roles as an external reviewer, accreditation committee member and chair for various accreditation and quality assurance audits. His influence extends beyond the University of Guelph, as he has held key roles on numerous advisory boards and councils. These include the Canadian Council of Deans of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Council of Ontario Deans of Engineering, Ontario, the Advisory Board of Canada’s Technology for Food, and the Conestoga College Program Advisory Committee for the Mechanical Systems Engineering program, Ontario, Canada. Additionally, he has played a pivotal role in multiple organizational and technical committees for international conferences.

Abdullah’s research focuses on developing robotic systems for non-industrial applications, with core interests in 1) Therapeutic robots for rehabilitating victims with impaired upper limbs, 2) Assistive robotics devices, and 3) Exoskeleton robotics devices. He also conducted research in the fields of mechatronic systems design and advanced automation technologies. He has led numerous research projects funded by industry and organizations, including NSERC, NRC, OMAFRA, and OCE. His work has resulted in over 90 publications in international journals and conferences. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI. He is regularly asked to review manuscripts for journals, conference proceedings, and applications to research funding agencies.

Abdullah, a dedicated educator, is known for his engaging teaching style and consistently high student evaluations. However, his most significant contribution lies in his mentorship of graduate students. He has supervised 34 master’s and Ph.D. students in multidisciplinary engineering fields, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry in Canada, the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. Moreover, he has been a strong advocate for entrepreneurial training, providing crucial support for graduate students who aspire to start their own businesses.

Highlights

• Research projects funded by industry and organizations such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and Ontario Centers of Excellence (OCE) have resulted in over 90 publications in international journals and conferences
• Member of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)
• Associate Editor of the Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI
• External reviewers for several journals, conference manuscripts, and applications for research funding agencies

Contact info:
Hussein A. Abdullah, Ph.D., P.Eng 
Thornbrough Building 
519 824-4120 ext. 53446
habdulla@uoguelph.ca