Graduate Students

Yasamin Noorafkan, Ph.D. Student

Contact:

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Yasamin (she) is a polymer engineer with a solid academic and research background in the design and development of biocompatible structures for biomedical applications. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering from Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, and a Master’s degree from Isfahan University of Technology. After beginning a Master of Engineering in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo to further explore biomedical innovations, she transitioned into the Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering. Her current research focuses on the development of advanced polymeric platforms for medical use, with an emphasis on soft and smart materials using Microfluidics and 3D printing techniques.

Research Interests:

With five years of experience as a Senior Researcher at Tehran Heart Hospital, she has led and contributed to interdisciplinary projects in 3D bioprinting, cardiac tissue engineering, and developing hydrogel-based biomaterials . Also she is particularly interested in translating fundamental research into practical, patient-centred healthcare solutions.

Anthony Keen, MASc. Student

Contact:

Email: akeen@uwaterloo.ca

LinkedIn: Anthony Keen

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Anthony joined the lab as a MASc. Student with the aim of creating a company that develops eco-friendly high-tech aerogels, films, and manufacturing processes for commercial electromagnetic interference shielding and thermal insulation applications.

Research Interests:

Anthony’s research interests include porous material and sustainable manufacturing process.

Drew Davidson, Ph.D. Student

Contact:

Email: d2davids@uwaterloo.ca

LinkedIn: Drew Davidson

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Drew joined our group as a PhD student with the support of the inaugural Deep Tech Commercialization scholarship. Drew started his career as an undergraduate in the Nanotechnology Engineering program at the University of Waterloo, where he developed a focus on adapting emerging technologies for health and environmental applications. Over the course of his studies, he worked on projects utilizing nanomaterials in the treatment of cancer, and in the reduction of greenhouse gases, culminating in a project aimed at reducing infrastructure damage from ice storms using superhydrophobic coatings. Drew went on to complete a Masters of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, also from the University of Waterloo, while working on a project devoted to using biodegradable polymers to reduce the negative environmental impacts of chemical fertilizers used in agriculture. After graduating, Drew worked for several small technology companies developing health and environmental applications such as Avro Life Science, before starting his own company in 2023.

Research Interests:

Drew is passionate about developing sustainable, non-toxic materials. His current project is the development of a safe material for firefighter PPE.

Shakiba Samsami, Ph.D. Student

Contact:

Email: shakiba.samsami@uwaterloo.ca

LinkedIn: Shakiba Samsami

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Shakiba is a dedicated Ph.D. researcher who has been an integral part of our lab since 2023. Notably, her doctoral thesis has been jointly developed at the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia. She holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in chemical engineering, acquired from the University of Tehran. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies, her focus was primarily on the synthesis and characterization of MOFs, driven by a passion for water treatment.

Research Interests:

Shakiba's research focus primarily revolves around reticular chemistry, sustainable materials, and additive manufacturing.

Saeed Hadad, Ph.D. Student

Contact:

Email: Shadad@uwaterloo.ca

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Saeed has been the lab's active Ph.D. researcher since 2023. His academic journey commenced with research on the self-assembly of multi-block copolymers for drug delivery while he received his bachelor's degree in 2019. Then, he shifted his focus to synthesizing structured polymers, particularly for use as advanced lithium-ion battery electrolytes, and obtained his master's in 2021, specializing in polymer engineering from Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran. He is now a Ph.D. candidate in the chemical engineering department at the University of Waterloo.

Research Interests:

Saeed's current research interest lies in the fields of smart materials , bio-based polymers, novel polymerization techniques, and sustainable energy storage systems.

Hamzah Curtay, MASc. Student

Contact:

Email: MHcurtay@uwaterloo.ca

LinkedIn: Hamzah Curtay

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Hamzah joined the lab in Jan 2025 as a MASc. Student with the goal of developing an eco friendly and mass manufacturable aerogel with applications in Thermal Insulation. Hamzah looks to create a start-up company from this project.

Research Interests:

Hamzah’s research interests include working on aerogel materials and battery technology.

Carlos Villafañe, MASc. Student

Contact:

Email: cvillafane20@gmail.com

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Carlos joined the group in the winter term 2025 as a recipient of the Buitrago Opportunity Graduate Scholarship. He completed his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. During this time, he pursued his interest in biomaterials and 3D bioprinting. After graduating, Carlos worked in the orthopaedics medical device industry as a process and quality engineer for 4 years, experiencing the rigor and high standards of this sector. Driven by a passion for biotechnology applications he is currently exploring the synergies of smart functional materials and synthetic biology.

Research Interests:

Carlos is currently working on a project to optimize and characterize the production of a tunable graphene-based hydrogel to print electronics. In the future he will study the rheological properties of living tissue and biomaterials for 3D bioprinting.

Estatira Amirieh, MASc. Student

Contact:

Email: estatiraa@gmail.com

LinkedIn: Estatira Amirieh

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Estatira is currently pursuing a Master's (MASc) degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, having previously completed a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Tehran Azad University South Branch (IAU). Throughout her academic journey, she secured internships in the petrochemical industry, with a primary focus on oil refineries. These experiences equipped her with practical skills in conducting process simulations and safety studies. Driven by a growing interest in sustainability and environmental consciousness, Estatira is currently immersed in research focused on the 3D printing of cellulosic inks. Her work is centered around the creation of sustainable scaffolds applicable in various scientific and industrial domains. The goal is to harness the unique properties of cellulosic inks to promote the development of environmentally friendly structures.

Research Interests:

Her academic pursuits extend to diverse areas, including sustainable materials, additive manufacturing, and carbon capture.

Research Scholars

Jared Beacom, Research Associate

Contact:

Email: jared.beacom@uwaterloo.ca

LinkedIn: Jared Beacom

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Jared joined the lab as an undergraduate research assistant in 2024. He is currently enrolled in Honours Physics at the University of Waterloo, pursuing a double degree in Pure Mathematics and Experimental Physics, with aspirations for graduate school in the future. He will be assisting in the development of microfluidics technology for processing cellulose-based structures, as well as graduate students in their research projects.

Research Interests:

Jared's research interests lie in nano-materials synthesis, materials physics, rheology, condensed matter physics and quantum mechanics.

Ziyu Zhuge, Research Associate

Contact:

Email: z2zhuge@uwaterloo.ca

LinkedIn: Ziyu Zhuge

Brief Biography and Role in the Lab:

Ziyu joined the Multiscale Materials Design Center at the University of Waterloo as an Undergraduate research assistant in 2024. He is studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Besides engineering, he is also interested in calligraphy, and literature and has two published novels

Alumni:

Shayan Ghasemi - MASc Student Fall 2023 - Fall 2025

Now Research Process Engineer at Ionada
Project: 3D printable fungi-based Chitin nanofiber/CNC hydrogels: implication for fabrication of functional cryogels

Monica Ho - MASc Student Winter 2022 - Fall 2025

Project: Chitosan/SIFSIX-3-Cu Cryogels on Printed Laser-Induced Graphene for CO2 Electric Swing Capture

Veronika Polakova - PhD Visiting Scholar Fall 2025

Now working as a PhD student at CEITEC, Czech Republic
Project: 3D printed Polymers for Diabetic Wound Dressings

Rokhsareh Bakhtiari - PhD Visiting Scholar Fall 2025

Now working as a PhD student at Sabancı University, Turkey
Project: 3D printed Polymers for Carbon Capture

Vahmad Faez Abdul Khalil - PhD Visiting Scholar Fall 2025

Now working as a PhD student at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Malaysia
Project: 3D printed Aerogels for Solar Evaporation

Anthony Keen - Research Associate Spring 2024-2025

Now MASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Aerogels for Oil Absorption

Hamzah Curtay - Research Associate Spring 2024-2025

Now MASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Aerogels for Oil Absorption

Aliasgar Bawangaonwala - Research Associate Spring 2024-2025

Now MASc student at University of Toronto
Project: Aerogels for Oil Absorption

Lily Dang - Undergraduate Research Assistant Spring 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: MOF Nanonzyme for Wound Dressing

Joshua Richards - Undergraduate Research Assistant Spring 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Electrospun Mats for Carbon Capture

Emma Ka Wai Liu - Undergraduate Research Assistant Spring 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Laser Induced Graphene for Joule Heating

Kai Lu - Undergraduate Research Assistant Spring 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Ambiently Dried Aerogels

Lewis Crighton - Undergraduate Research Assistant Winter and Spring 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Graphene-based Nanofiber Formulations

Nika Nguyen - Undergraduate Research Assistant Winter 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: CNT-based Aerogels Formulations

Adam Huang - Undergraduate Research Assistant Winter 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Graphene-based Aerogels Formulations

Raghav Jain - Undergraduate Research Assistant Winter 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Electrospinning of MOFs

Rahin Ali - Undergraduate Research Assistant Winter 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Electrochemical Syntehsis of Graphene

Esther Jacob - Undergraduate Research Assistant Winter 2025

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: 3D Printing of Conductive Hydrogels

Mahsa Barjini Khabbaz - MASc Student Fall 2023 - Winter 2025

Now Research Assistant at Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre (OBEC)
Project: Direct Laser Writing of Graphene for Electromagnetic Shielding

Zahra MonsefKhoshhesab - Visiting Professor Summer 2023-2024

Project: 3D Printed Magnetic Structures

Asal Jaberansari - Undergraduate Research Assistant Summer 2024

Project: 3D Printed Tough Hydrogels

Shayre Chakraborty - Highschool Research Assistant Summer 2024

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: 3D Printed Hybrid Hydrogels

Neelesh Bera - Highschool Research Assistant Summer 2024

Now BASc student at University of Guelph
Project: 3D Printed Aerogels

Aseel Mokbel - Co-op Research Assistant Summer 2024

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Structured Emulsions and Aerogels

Benjamin Korne - Undergraduate Research Assistant Summer 2024

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: Interfacial Assembly of Nanomaterials

Jiansu Niu - Undergraduate Research Assistant Summer 2024

Now BASc student at Beijing Jiaotong University
Project: Nanomaterials Synthesis

Ziyu Zhuge - Co-op Research Assistant Winter 2024

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: 3D Printing of Graphene-based Inks

Jared Beacom - Co-op Research Assistant Winter 2024

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: 3D Printing of Bio-based Inks

Matthew Roberto - Co-op Research Assistant Winter 2024

Now BASc student at University of Waterloo
Project: 3D Printing of Graphene-based Inks

Zahra Yadollahi - PhD Visiting Scholar Winter 2024

Now working as a PhD student at Tomas Bata University, Czech Republic
Project: 3D Printing of Wound-dressing

Shokoofa Dehghani - Highschool Research Assistant 2024-2023

Now BASc student at University of Toronto
Project: Nanomaterials Synthesis

Hossein Mashhadimoslem - Post Doc 2022-2023

Now working as a post doctoral researcher at University of Waterloo
Project: Machine Learning and AI Tools for Materials Discovery

Milad Kamkar, PhD

Department of Chemical Engineering
Milad.kamkar@uwaterloo.ca
Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
E6 3010, 200 University AVE. W., Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
We acknowledge that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. We are situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.