Abdullah Ali Maruf is a UNT graduate student working in the surface chemistry lab of Dr. Jeffry Kelber on two separate but related projects in transition metal carbide catalysts and diamond surface properties. Abdullah recently earned an award for his research from the American Chemical Society’s Division of Catalysis Science and Technology (CATL) at the 2026 ACS conference in Chicago.

 

“I presented my work on transition metal carbide catalysts, specifically how their surface chemistry influences catalytic reactions and what that could mean for many important applications like plastic upcycling,” said Abdullah, who completed his undergrad and master’s degrees at the University of Chittagong in Bangladesh before coming to UNT three years ago. “This award reminded me that persistence in research really matters; it encouraged me to keep asking important questions, improving my work, and sharing it with the broader scientific community.”

 

Abdullah said that he is motivated not just by understanding the fundamental science of surface chemistry but unlocking the mysteries of how these surfaces work at the molecular level. He said this knowledge could eventually allow scientists to develop chemical processes that are cleaner and more energy efficient.

 

“In practice, our research allows us to build catalysts out of earth-abundant elements for carbon conversion and plastic upcycling, improving semiconductor thin-film interfaces at the atomic level,” he said. “This kind of surface science can influence energy, manufacturing, and technology capabilities, and my hope is that my research can bridge fundamental science with real applications in clean energy and advanced electronics.”

 

He credits his advisor, Dr. Jeffry Kelber, for helping him grow as a researcher at UNT, not just by his experienced leadership in ideas and direction, but by pushing him to think independently and look at problems from different angles. Abdullah has also had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Linxiao Chen, another faculty researcher in the chemistry department.

 

 

Another part of his research work is with his lab mate, Renuka Nilmini, focusing on studying diamond surfaces in collaboration with Dr. Nigel D. Shepherd (UNT Material Science and Engineering).

 

“Diamond has unusual properties that make it exciting for next-generation electronics and quantum technology; getting a better handle on those interfaces could improve how reliable and high-performing future electronic devices are,” said Abdullah. “Though they sound like two different projects, they’re built on the same question — what’s happening at a material’s surface, and how do we control it. My hope is that this work can bridge fundamental surface science with real applications in clean energy, catalysis, and advanced electronics."

 

This spring Abdullah received an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, as well as the Dr. Linda Truitt Creagh Travel Award and a UNT College of Science Travel Award, both of which helped fund his trip to the ACS meeting in August. 

“Overall, the conference was not just about receiving an award,” he said. “It was a great opportunity for me to grow as a researcher, make new connections, and become even more excited about where my research can take me in the future.”

 

Abdullah was drawn to UNT when he was searching for a strong graduate program where he could pursue independent research in the field of his choice, with access to state-of-the-art research facilities and instrumentation.

 

"Graduate research comes with a lot of challenges, and while not every experiment works the way you expect, each challenge teaches you something new,” he said. “The opportunities I have had at UNT—to conduct research, collaborate with different groups, attend conferences, and communicate my work—have helped me grow significantly, not only as a researcher but also as a person.”

 

As he moves closer to the final stage of his Ph.D., Abdullah is excited to bring together the different parts of his research by completing and publishing his findings to share with the broader scientific community.

 

“I’m excited to continue collaborating and learning new techniques. One thing I have really enjoyed during my graduate studies is that there is always something new to learn, and sometimes an unexpected experimental result can lead you in a completely new direction,” he said. “I hope the coming year will be a year where I can turn a lot of the work we have been doing in the lab into meaningful scientific contributions and continue growing as an independent researcher.”