He spent three years as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Virginia Tech. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida in 2004 and his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Southern University & A&M College in 1999. During his time at Southern University, Dr. Abiade was also a scholar of the Timbuktu Academy. Generally, his interests are in various areas of thin film deposition, processing, and characterization along with outreach and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Recently, his research has focused on developing novel hydrophobic materials and understanding magnetism in gold nanoparticles.