Faculty Profile
 Zuhair Munir

Distinguished Professor, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Zuhair Munir creates a culture of confidence and collaboration in his classrooms and his labs. He encourages students to learn by doing and gives them plenty of room to succeed. In recognition of his generosity and dedication to teaching, as well as his world-class work as a scholar and researcher, Professor Munir was awarded the UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement.

Professor Munir came to the University of California, Davis in 1972 after holding academic positions at San Jose State University and Florida State University. He served as associate dean for graduate studies in the College of Engineering from 1980 to 2000, when he was appointed as dean, serving until 2002. He was promoted to distinguished professor in 2003.

In his research, Munir has concentrated on how electric fields can create new kinds of materials with unique mechanical, optical or electrical properties.

The UC Davis News Service produced a video profile of Professor Munir's life and his contributions to the campus, his students and his discipline. It was shown at a celebration dinner held in his honor on May 10, 2007.