Prof Elkamel is also cross appointed in Systems Design Engineering. His specific research interests are in computer-aided modelling, optimization and simulation with applications to energy production planning, carbon management, sustainable operations and product design. Professor Elkamel is currently focusing on research projects related to gas production and processing, integration of renewable energy in oil and gas operations, and the utilization of data analytics (Digitalization), machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve process and enterprise-wide efficiency and profitability. Prof. Elkamel activities include supervising post doctorate and research associates, advising graduate/undergraduate students and participation in both university and professional societal activities. Professor Elkamel is also engaged in initiating and leading academic and industrial teams, establishing international and regional research collaboration programs with industrial partners, national laboratories and international research institutes.

Prof. Elkamel supervised over 70 graduate students (of which 30 are PhDs) and more than 25 post-doctoral fellows/research scholars and his trainees all obtain good jobs in the chemical process industry and in academia. He has been funded for several research projects from government and industry. Among his accomplishments are the Research Excellence Award, the Excellence in Graduate Supervision Award, the Outstanding Faculty Award, the Best teacher award, and the IEOM (Industrial engineering and Operations Management) Outstanding Service and Distinguished Educator Award. He has more than 260 journal articles, 137 proceedings, and 30 book chapters, and has been an invited speaker on numerous occasions at academic institutions throughout the world and at national and international conferences. He is also a co-author of four books; two recent books were published by Wiley and entitled Planning of Refinery and Petrochemical Operations and Environmentally Conscious Fossil Energy Production.