The Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at the University of Balamand proudly celebrates the inspiring return of distinguished alumnus Engineer Elie Almurr, who reunites with his alma mater to embark on a pioneering research embraced by Dr. Jean Claude Assaf, Associate Professor at FOE.

Now based in London and serving as a Principal Mechanical/Hydraulic Engineer at the British Pipeline Agency (UK), Elie has built an impressive international career since earning his MSc in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Balamand back in 2015. Alongside his professional engineering achievements, he has a lifelong hobby and a passion for cosmology, which he took a step further leading to the development of an innovative theory that challenges conventional understanding of the universe. His pioneering work has already gained international recognition With a paper that was published in Galaxies in January 2026). Elie used extensive cosmological datasets to validate the model, while a second paper, currently under review, demonstrates the theory’s accuracy in predicting the motion of 175 galaxies. Notably, the theory also makes testable predictions that upcoming missions, such as the Euclid satellite, may soon confirm.

With the guidance of Dr. Assaf, Elie is now exploring finite-range scalar-tensor gravity, an alternative framework that could explain cosmic phenomena traditionally attributed to dark matter and dark energy. Instead of relying on unseen substances, their theory proposes a subtle modification to gravity itself at large scales, offering a unified explanation for both galaxy behavior and the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Reflecting on his journey, Elie stated:

I left Lebanon, built a career across three countries, and now I am circling back to where it all started. Balamand gave me a solid engineering foundation, and from there I kept on building, started in Dubai and then in London, teaching myself the physics alongside the engineering work. When the idea came together, I wanted to bring back here to Balamand. Balamand is where I got my engineering degree, and it gave me a strong start. When I had this idea and wanted to take it further, coming back to the university felt like the right thing to do. Working with Dr. Jean Claude Assaf and the university feels just right. There is something personal about coming back."

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement commended Elie Almurr for his inspiring work and Dr. Assaf for his invaluable input to help Elie make his dream come a reality. Prof. Abboud is looking forward to the continued advancement of this promising research and has pledged FOE’s support in making this research theme a new entity at FOE. Prof. Abboud believes that Elie’s return to Balamand has its own sweet taste and reflects both his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and his strong connection to the university. Elie’s journey stands as a testament to the global impact of Balamand graduates and the power of collaboration between academia and industry and we are eager to hear from our alumni accordingly. ​