Dr. Mojtabai is a full professor in the Mineral Engineering department, New Mexico Tech. Dr. Mojtabai holds BS and MS degrees in Mining Engineering from New Mexico Tech and a PhD in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona.  His PhD studies were concentrated on explosive engineering, drilling, and blasting.  Dr. Mojtabai has 35 years of experience in teaching and research in various areas related to mining engineering.  He has worked in a vast and diverse range of areas related to the mineral industry, including drilling and blasting, rock slope stability, underground mining and construction, mine waste facility and tailings dam design, mineral evaluation, to name a few. Dr. Mojtabai has been able to establish close contacts with other mining engineering programs around the world. He has voluntarily provided several short courses to international students.