Talal Shahwan

Talal Rebhi Abd-Allah Shahwan (May 28, 1968) is a chemist, and a Palestinian university professor. He was appointed as president of Birzeit University from August 1, 2023.

His life
Talal Shahwan was born on May 28, 1968 in Jordan, from a Palestinian family from the town of Hableh in the province of Qalqilya. He acquired his high school degree in the scientific stream from Al Saadya high school in 1986 from the city of Qalqilya.

He studied in Birzeit University but the Israeli lockdown of the university during the first Intifada stopped him from continuing his studies. He later moved to Turkey and acquired his bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering   from the Middle East Technical University in 1994. He then acquired his master's degree in 1997 and doctorate in 2000 from Bilkent University. He worked as a teacher and instructor in the same university in the years 1995-2002, then moving to Izmir Institute of Technology until the year 2008.

He started his work for Birzeit University at September 1, 2008, then becoming an Associate Professor of chemistry in 2012. He was the head of the Chemistry Department in the Faculty of Science  for a year, then became the Dean of Higher Studies and President of the Scientific Research Committee on 2013-2018 while also working as vice president of the university's academic relations president.

In June 12, 2023, Hannah Nasir, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees in Birzeit University announced his decision to appoint Talal Shahwan as the President of University from August 1, 2023 after the former president Beshara Doumani resigned.

Stanford University in 2022 chose him as amongst the 2% of the most quoted scientist in the world in their respective fields. He has over 41 published scientific articles.