Dr. Shiva Mohajernia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta (U of A). Before joining U of A, she was the catalysis group leader at the University of Siegen, Germany. She obtained her Ph.D. in 2020 in the department of Material science and engineering at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. She gained her Master's and Bachelor's degrees in materials science and engineering from the University of Tehran and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Iran, respectively.

mohajernia@ualberta.ca

Dr. Sadegh Pour-Ali is an associate scientist in the NRGMATs group within the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta (U of A). He is also an associate professor at Sahand University of Technology. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2018 from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, with a thesis on the passivity and oxidation behavior of ultrafine-grained stainless steels. He also completed a one-year research stay at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. Currently, his primary research focus is on energy materials.

spourali@ualberta.ca

I grew up in Muscat, Oman where I studied Chemical and Process Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University. My first venture during undergrad into research started with synthesis of carbon nanotubes from date palm stems and their characterization. I started my studies at the University of Alberta in September 2022 as an MSc student prior to switching to the PhD program and joining NRGMATs, where I am studying the fabrication of hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts for water electrolysis. Outside of work I enjoy reading books and painting.

usuliman@ualberta.ca

Growing up in South India, I always had a fascination for science and technology. I pursued my bachelor’s degree in the field of chemical and electrochemical engineering at CSIR- Central Electrochemical Research Institute, where my initial research focused on polymers and MXenes for electrocatalytic Hydrogen production. Later my research focused on catalyzing and characterizing PEM fuel cells. In September 2023, I began my journey as an MSc student at the University of Alberta, where I was thrilled to join the NRGMATs team and continue my exploration of electrochemical technologies and advancements.

sujakani@ualberta.ca

I completed my bachelor's degree at Isfahan University of Technology, where my research journey began and I delved into synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites and nanomaterials, preparing me for my graduate studies. After that, I earned my Master's degree from University of Tehran, where I specialized in photoelectrochemical water splitting. I started my PhD program at the University of Alberta in January 2023 and joined NRGMATs to work on hydrogen generating photoreactors for a greener future. .

tavazohi@ualberta.ca

I grew up in Naein, a small city in central Iran, where environmental issues were as common as morning tea. This exposure probably sparked my interest in environmental research. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Tehran, where my research was microwave-assisted selective leaching of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries, I am now focused on the nanofabrication of nickel oxide (NiO) electrodes using glancing angle deposition (GLAD) for electrochemical water splitting in NRGMATs group. This research aims to enhance the efficiency of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) by creating thin films with increased surface area and active sites for sustainable hydrogen generation application.

borhani@ualberta.ca

I grew up in Tehran and completed my Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology, where I worked on fabricating Zein-Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers using the electrospinning method. I have always been passionate about contributing to environmental sustainability and addressing environmental challenges, which led me to pursue a Master's degree as a member of the NRGMATs group at the University of Alberta, where my research focuses on the nanofabrication of electrocatalysts using the sputtering method to advance water splitting technologies for hydrogen generation.

hajialig@ualberta.ca

I’m currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta alongside a Certificate in Sustainability. I’ve always enjoyed subjects such as chemistry, physics, and math, and I have an interest in pursuing research. Ever since learning about climate issues from a young age, it has been both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. I hope to build my knowledge of clean and sustainable energy sources while improving my lab and research skills. In my free time, I enjoy reading and volunteering for different organizations. I also have an interest in space and history!.

tmahmood@ualberta.ca

In 2019, I was enrolled in the Ph.D. course at the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, India, under the direction of Prof. Ambesh Dixit, at IIT jodhpur my research focused on nanostructured metal oxide-based materials for gas sensing and memory devices beyond von Neumann architecture applications. Currently, I am a SERB-OVDF fellow at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, for a period of one year (sept 2023 to sept 2024) while continuing to pursue my Ph.D. in dynamic group CEAES and NRGMATs whose principal investigators are Dr. Jing Liu and Dr. Shiva Mohajernia, and my study will concentrate on the synthesis of binder-free bifunctional catalysts for electrochemical water splitting.

cprakas1@ualberta.ca

Nastaran Farahbakhsh is a visiting PhD student in the NRGMATs group within the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, funded by the Globalink Research Award (Mitacs). Her research focuses on energy materials, particularly nanostructured NiO for energy conversion. She is also pursuing her PhD in the CSnM group within the Department of Chemistry-Biology at the University of Siegen, Germany. Previously, she conducted research on energy conversion at Isfahan University of Technology. Nastaran earned her MSc in Nanotechnology Engineering- Nanomaterials at Tarbiat Modares University, with a thesis on nickel nanoparticles on CuO foam and their electrocatalytic properties. She completed her BSc in Materials Science and Engineering at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.

Nnfarahba@ualberta.ca

Majid completed his master’s in materials engineering, focusing on corrosion and electrochemistry, at Ferdowsi University. He began his career as a materials and corrosion engineer in the energy industry, including gas, oil, and renewable energies, while also researching at Isfahan University of Technology. After over six years of experience in the energy industry, he started his PhD in Chemistry and Structure of Novel Materials (CSnM) with Professor Manuela Killian at the University of Siegen, Germany. Majid received the Globalink Research Award (Mitacs) for researching novel nanostructured oxides for energy conversion with Professor Shiva Mohajernia in the NRGMATs group at the University of Alberta. He is also a swimming coach and lifeguard.

shahsana@ualberta.ca