Momayez Named Inaugural Lowell Chair

Moe Momayez has been an MGE faculty member since 2007, and he serves as the energy and geosensing team leader at the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources. In 2020, he was named the interim department head and the inaugural David & Edith Lowell Chair in Mining & Geological Engineering. The chair is named for department alumnus and industry pioneer David Lowell, who passed away earlier this year, and his wife.

“Having known David and Edith Lowell for several years and having had the opportunity to interact with both of them makes me incredibly proud to be the first recipient of this chair,” Momayez said. “It will support the mission of MGE, especially the academic and professional development of our students.”

Momayez centers his research on developing new technologies to improve mine safety and productivity, including methods to mitigate heat-related emergencies. He holds 14 patents and patent applications related to thermally insulating materials, heat stress prediction for mine workers, rock slope stability prediction, comminution, material characterization and renewable energy generation from mines.