MATTER (Materials Technology & Environmental Research) Team

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Team Lead


Dr. Hossein Kazemian (Principal Investigator and MATTER's Supervisor)
Email: hossein.kazemian@unbc.ca


Post-Doctorates


Saeed Bagherifam

Saeed Bagherifam, Ph.D. (Mitacs Accelerate Industrial Post-doctorate, 2023-2024)

  • Ph.D.: Environmental Chemistry (University of New England, Armidale, Australia)
  • Ph.D.: Environmental Soil Chemistry (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran)
  • MSc, BSc: Agricultural Engineering (Soil Science)

Research project: Arsenic Removal from Contaminated soil and its potential reuse

Email: saeed.bagherifam@unbc.ca


Hossein Roohollahi, Ph.D. (Mitacs Accelerate Industrial Post-doctorate, 2023-2025)

  • Ph.D.: Chemical Engineering (Amirkabir University of Technology -Tehran Polytechnic-, Tehran, Iran)
  • MSc, BSc: Chemical Engineering

Research project: Plant-based Biopolymer for different applications

Email: hossein.roohollahi@unbc.ca

Hossein Roohollahi


Sunil Walia, Ph.D. (Mitacs Elevate Industrial Post-doctorate, 2022-2024)

  • Ph.D.: Material Chemistry (CeNS, affiliated to Manipal Academy of Higher Education-MAHE-, India)
  • BSc, MSc: Chemistry

Research project: Development of novel adsorbent from foam glass for nutrient recovery from industrial and municipal wastewater effluents: steps towards

Email: Walia@unbc.ca
 


Aatif Ali Shah, Ph.D. (Mitacs Elevate Industrial Post-doctorate, 2022-2024)

  • Ph.D.: Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Science and Technology (UST), South Korea)
  • MSc, BSc: Chemical Engineering

Research project: Development of a pilot-scale system to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen production using a combined water electrolysis and wastewater treatment modular plant.

Email: shah3@unbc.ca
 


Mohammad Kavand, Ph.D. (Mitacs Elevate Industrial Post-doctorate, 2022-2024)

  • Ph.D.: Chemical Engineering (Laval University, Canada)
  • MSc, BSc: Chemical Engineering 

Research project: Engineered clay as novel phosphorus (P) sorbent

Email: Mohammad.Kavand@unbc.ca
 


Nasim Ghavidel, Ph.D. (Mitacs Elevate Industrial Post-doctorate 2021-2024)

  • Ph.D.: Chemistry & Material Science (Lakehead University, Canada)
  • MSc, BSc: Applied Chemistry

Research project: Eco-Friendly Styrofoam Substitute for Sustainable Food Packaging

Email: nasim.ghavidel@unbc.ca
 


Hoorieh Jahanbani (Djahaniani)

Hoorieh Jahanbani, Ph.D. (Djahaniani) (Research Associate and Post-doctoral fellow 2021-2024)

  • Ph.D.: Organic Chemistry (Tarbiat Modares University, Iran) 
  • MSc: Organic Chemistry
  • BSc: Pure Chemistry

Research project: Bio-MOF synthesis and applications

Email: hoory.jahanbani@unbc.ca
 


Dominic Reiffarth, Ph.D.(Mitacs Accelerate Industrial Post-doctorate 2023-2025)

  • Ph.D.: Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (UNBC, Canada)
  • BSc, MSc: Chemistry

Research project: Solid Waste Management Best Practices: Cost-effective options to sustainably manage solid waste in rural regions of BC

Email: dominic.reiffarth@unbc.ca


Graduate Students


Ann Duong (Ph.D. student, 2023-)

  • BSc: HONS. BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (UNBC)
  • BA: GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, BADER INTERNATIONAL STUDY CENTRE, UK AT QUEENS UNIVERSITY)

Research project: Validating the use of a Multi-Fraction sampler for recovering inhalable and respirable dust mass, and metals in Workplace Air

Email: ann.duong@unbc.ca

Link: Click here for a TEDx talk related to her work.

Ann Duong


Yingchun Guo

Yinchun Guo (MSc student, 2023-)

  • MSc: Analytical Chemistry (Hong Kong Baptist University-China)
  • BSc: Chemistry

Research project: MOF-based adsorbents for SVOC sampling and measurement

Email: guo2@unbc.ca


S. Fatemeh Nouroozi (Ph.D. Candidate; 2022-)

  • Ph.D.: Inorganic Chemistry (Alzahran University, Iran)
  • MSc, BSC: Chemistry 

Research project: MOF-based sorbent tubes and SPME for VOC sampling and measurement

Email: nouroozi_f@tbsmapna.com
 


Hossein Zeinalzadeh (MSc student 2021-2023)

Research project: CO2 Capturing and ConversioMetal-Organicrganic Frameworks (MOFs)


 

Mya Schouwenburg (MSc Student 2021-2023)
 

Research Project: Chromium Speciation in Workplace Air

Email: mya.schouwenburg@unbc.ca
 


Charles Bradshaw (MSc Student, 2020-2023)

Research project: Nutrient removal and management 

Email: charles.bradshaw@unbc.ca


Helena Mirzabeigi (MSc student, 2022-2024)

  • MSc: Chemical Engineering (University of Tehran, Iran)
  • BSc: Chemical Engineering


Research project: Development and characterization of novel biodegradable polymer for food packaging purposes.

Email: mirzabeigi@unbc.ca

Helena Mirzabeigi


Summer Students

Harsh R Darji (Mitacs Globalink Intern-Summer 2022)

Research project: Using Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for CO2 Capturing and Conversion


Alfonso Diego Garza Isla (Mitacs Globalink Intern-Summer 2019)

Research project: Air pollution monitoring and control for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Melissa Becerril Medina (Mitacs Globalink Intern-Summer 2019)

Research project: Air pollution monitoring and control for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)


Adam Burkitt (Eco Canada Intern, Summer Intern 2022)

Research project: Nitrogen detection in water and soil samples method validations.


Madeline Clarke (Canada Summer job intern, Summer 2022 and 2023)

Research project: Design and construction of a rotating air sampler for workplace air quality research (2022)

Research Project: Development and characterization of novel biodegradable polymer (2023)


Sophie Ngo (Canada Summer job intern, summer 2022)

Research Project: Development and characterization of novel biodegradable polymer for food packaging purposes.


Ahmad Jalil (Undergraduate research student, NSERC-USRA awardee and Eco-Canada Intern; summer 2022 and 2023),

Research project: Working on the road dust  Air sample project

Email: ajalil@unbc.ca

Ryan Koyanagi (Eco-Canada  Summer job intern, summer 2023)

Research Project: Method development for wastewater analysis.

Email: rkoyanagi@unbc.ca   

Ryan Koyanagi



Visiting Scholars/Researchers


Hanieh Askari, (International Visiting Ph.D. student, 2023-2024)

  • PhD Candidate  Analytical Chemistry (Yasouj University, Iran)
  • M.Sc. Analytical Chemistry
  • B.Sc Applied Chemistry

Research project: Synthesis and characterization of novel nano-structured materials and microspheres and preparation of switchable hydrophilicity solvents and their application in preconcentration and removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from water

Email: haskari@unbc.ca


Waranya (Ping) Wataniyakun (International Visiting Ph.D. student, Summer 2023)

  • Ph.D. candidate: Polymer chemistry/microbiology/biochemistry (UiT- The Arctic University of Norway)
  • M.Sc. Food Biotechnology
  • B.Eng. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Ping

Aderonke O. Oyeyiola

Aderonke O. Oyeyiola, Ph.D. Analytical & Environmental Chemistry (Visiting Researcher, 2023-2024)

  • Ph.D: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (University of Lagos, Nigeria; in collaboration with University of Strathclyde, UK)
  • M.Sc:  Analytical Chemistry
  • B.Sc (Hon): Chemistry

Research project: Development, characterization and optimization of low-cost and environmentally friendly adsorbents for the removal and recovery of nutrients in wastewater.

Email: aderonke.oyeyiola@unbc.ca


Behrad Mahmoudi Saati (International Visiting Ph.D. student, 2022-2023)

  • Ph.D. Candidate: Coatings Science and Technology (Institute for Color Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran)

Research project: Antimicrobial Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks And Their Composites

Email: mahmoudi@unbc.ca

Behrad Mahmoudi Saati


Leila Doudey (International Visiting Ph.D. student, 2022-2023)

  • Ph.D. Candidate: Chemistry (Sfax University, Tunisia)


Research project: Valorization of Tunisian dam sediments into zeolitic materials and studying their environmental applications

Email: doudey@unbc.ca


Farideh Barghak (International Visiting Ph.D. student; 2022-2023)

  • PhD Candidate, Analytical Chemistry ( Yasooj University, Iran)

Research project: Synthesis and characterization of modified Yolk-Shell and Core-Shell magnetic nanoparticles with a metal-organic framework (MOF), polymeric membranes and COF-MOFs and their application in pre-concentration and removal of some of the dyes and agricultural pesticides by solid phase micro-extraction.
Email: fbarghak@unbc.ca


Habibollah Bahman (International Visiting Ph.D. student, 2022-2023)

  • Ph.D. Candidate: Polymer Engineering-Color Science and Technology (Institute for Color Science and Technology (ICST), Tehran, Iran)

Research project: Using Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) for the removal of Malachite Green, Methylene blue and Rhodamine B dyes from solution

Email: bahman@unbc.ca
 

Mohammad Hossein Aboonasr Shiraz (Visiting Ph.D. student; Summer 2019)

Research project: Facile preparation of porous carbon from a metal-organic framework (MOF) to confine Se (Se/CZIF) and protect the Se/CZIF composite with an alucone coating by molecular layer deposition (MLD


Ali Bumajdad (International Visiting Researcher, Summer 2017)

Professor of Physical Chemistry, Kuwait University

Alumni


Dorna Sobhani (MSc student, 2020-2023)

  • MSc: Environmental Science (UNBC)
  • MSc: Chemical Engineering (Tarbiat Modares University, Iran)
  • BSc: Chemical Engineering (Shiraz University, Iran)


Research project: Development of a dual-functional adsorbent for simultaneous removal of cationic and anionic nutrients from contaminated water bodies.

Dorna Sobhani


Lon Kerr

Lon Kerr (MSc Student; 2019-2022)

Research project: Zeolite-based antibacterial compounds for water purification



Simisola Idim (MSc Student, 2019-2022)

Research project: Modification of composting process of chicken manure using natural and Mg-Modified zeolite to generate a high-nutrient product


Saki Kondo (MSc Student, 2017-2020)

Research project: Modified zeolite for phosphate removal from eutrophic lake water



Anara Omarova International Visiting Ph.D. Student, 2019-2020)

  • Ph.D.: Chemistry (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan)

Research project: Development of MOF-based SPME fibres for volatile organic compounds measurement in air.


Mostafa Marzi (International Visiting Ph.D. student, 2019-2021)

  • Ph.D.: Soil Chemistry & Physics (University of Tehran, Iran)


Shaghayegh Naghdi (International Visiting Ph.D. student; 2021)

  • PPh.D. Molecular Material Chemistry (Technische Universität Wien, Austria)

Research project: Selective ligand removal to improve the accessibility of active sites in hierarchical MOFs


Emily Brown (Summer intern, Summer 2022)

Research project: Synthesis and uMetal-Organicrganic Frameworks (MOFs) for the removal of glyphosate from water


Sara Haghjoo (International Visiting Ph.D. student; 2021-2022)
  • Ph.D.: Material Chemistry (University of Vienna, Austria)

Mandeep Kaur (MSc student; 2019-2022)

Research project: Metal-Organicrganic Frameworks (MOFs) for CO2 Capturing and Conversion


Navjot Kaur (MSc student; 2019-2022)

Research project: Metal-Organicrganic Frameworks (MOFs) for CO2 Capturing and Conversion