Home \ Faculty Details \ Dr. Douglas J. Austin Jr.
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  • Phone:

    9368

  • Email:

    daustinjr@pmu.edu.sa

  • Office No:

    F-108

  • Dr. Douglas J. Austin Jr.

  • Job Title :

    Assistant Professor

  • College :

    College of Sciences and Human Studies


  • Department :

    Mathematics & Natural Sciences


 Dr. Douglas Austin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU). He possesses advanced academic training in chemistry and has established a career spanning analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, formulation science, and laboratory-based instruction. His professional experience integrates university teaching, research development, and industry-informed scientific practice, enabling him to support both student achievement and institutional growth.

Dr. Austin has taught General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry Laboratory, Water Chemistry, and Cosmetic Formulation Chemistry. His work emphasizes the connection between foundational chemical principles and real-world scientific applications. He has also contributed to the development of a university-level water quality laboratory grounded in EPA methods and certification-oriented standards, creating valuable opportunities for student training, defensible analytical practice, and environmental testing. His teaching philosophy centers on rigor, relevance, accessibility, and the cultivation of laboratory, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.

 

Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry - Delaware State University, Dissertation: Sulphur Functionalized Biocarbon Sorbents for Low-Concentration Mercury Isolation

B.Sc. - Delaware State University

  1. Austin, D., Jahan, K., Feng, X., Carney, J., Hensley, D. K., Chen, J., Altidor, B. E., Guo, Z., Michaelis, E., Kebaso, M. K., & Yue, Y. (2024). Sulfur functionalized biocarbon sorbents for low-concentration mercury isolation. Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England: 2003), 53(5), 2098–2107. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3dt02625f
  2. Carney, J. B., Mahurin, S. M., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Poirier, G., Zhao, Y., Chen, G., Austin, D., Michaelis, E. G., & Yue, Y. (2023). Highly porous biocarbon monoliths for methane storage. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4608705
  3. Li, H., Ju, M., Kang, J., Zhou, A.-J., Guan, H.-Y., Austin, D. J., & Yue, Y. (2020). Facile cyclization of sodium aminodiboranate to construct a boron-nitrogen-hydrogen ring. Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England: 2003), 49(46), 16662–16666. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0dt03398g
  4. Li, H., Wang, R., Kang, J., Li, S., Zhou, A.-J., Han, D.-X., Guan, H.-Y., Austin, D. J., & Yue, Y. (2021). Syntheses, formation mechanisms and structures of a series of linear diborazanes. CrystEngComm, 23(2), 404–410. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ce01196g
  5. Michaelis, E., Nie, R., Austin, D., & Yue, Y. (2022). High surface area biocarbon monoliths for methane storage. Green Energy & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gee.2022.07.005
  6. Shan, C., Feng, X., Yang, J., Yang, X., Guan, H.-Y., Argueta, M., Wu, X.-L., Liu, D.-S., Austin, D. J., Nie, P., & Yue, Y. (2020). Hierarchical porous carbon pellicles: Electrospinning synthesis and applications as anodes for sodium-ion batteries with an outstanding performance. Carbon, 157, 308–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2019.10.015
  7. Xu, C., Lin, J., Yan, D., Guo, Z., Austin, D. J., Jr, Zhan, H., Kent, A., & Yue, Y. (2020). Pd nanoclusters supported by Amine-functionalized covalent organic frameworks for benzyl alcohol oxidation. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 3(7), 6416–6422. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.0c00884

Over six years of experience spanning academic chemistry, industrial R&D, environmental analysis, and materials research. Expertise includes formulation and polymer science, controlled-release systems, carbon nanomaterials, environmental remediation and sensing, water-quality analysis, analytical method development, and advanced instrumentation including ICP-MS, LC-MS, GC-MS, HPLC, FTIR, SEM/TEM, and spectroscopy. Industrial experience includes agrochemical formulation development and scale-up at FMC Corporation, complemented by university teaching, student research mentorship, and EPA-certified laboratory experience.

  • General Chemistry Lecture I & II
  • General Chemistry Laboratory I & II
  • Organic Chemistry Laboratory I & II 
  • Biochemistry Lecture
  • Biochemistry Laboratory
  • Cosmetic Chemistry
  • Formulation Chemistry
  • Advanced Water Chemistry

Environmental and analytical chemistry; functional nanomaterials and carbon dots; chemical sensing and environmental monitoring; sustainable polymers and controlled-release systems; formulation and colloid science; emerging contaminants including PFAS and heavy metals; and advanced instrumental analysis.