Members
At MATTER, our team is the essence of our identity! Each current member, alumni, and honorary member has uniquely contributed to our vision and mission. Explore this remarkable group and all they have accomplished.
Principal Investigator
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Hossein Kazemian
Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences Program, GEES Department, Faculty of EnvironmentOriginally from Iran, I now lead the Northern Analytical Laboratory Services at the University of Northern British Columbia, focusing on environmental and material chemistry. I am dedicated to mentoring scientists and advancing sustainable environmental solutions.
Current Members
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Amn Hassan
Amn is a graduate student. She is working on developing sustainable food packaging with kraft paper through advanced PLA and MOF coatings. My research focuses on enhancing barrier properties and maintaining structural integrity of the material. -
Rohan Rajagopal
Graduate StudentHands-on involvement in field studies of biochar application in brownfield sites advancing the use of wastewater-treatment biomass–derived biochar for brownfield reclamation (legacy oil-contaminated soils), gaining real-world experience in environmental science and remediation. Being part of a project that directly addresses environmental sustainability and contributes to the development of innovative waste… -
Maryam Ghaffarzadeh
Graduate Student (PhD)Maryam joined the MATTER team in September 2025 as a PhD student working on a Mitacs-funded collaboration with Canfor Pulp Ltd. Her research focuses on developing sustainable alternatives in pulp production by exploring innovative fibre sources, recycling strategies, and new product development approaches to strengthen the resilience of British Columbia’s… -
Shohreh Mohammadi
Graduate studentShohreh is a PhD student working on the project titled “Development and Validation of an Analytical Method for Airborne Chromium Speciation and Field Comparison Study.” Her research focuses on developing and validating a robust analytical method to accurately distinguish and quantify trivalent (Cr(III)) and hexavalent (Cr(VI)) chromium species in airborne… -
Banchamlak Bemerw Kassaun
NSERC industrial PostdocBanchi specializes in polymer chemistry and material science, focusing on developing an eco-friendly Styrofoam substitute for sustainable food packaging. She is dedicated to enhancing eco-friendly packaging solutions. -
Ahmad Jalil
Graduate StudentPhD student at UNBC with an undergrad in health science, specializing in air quality research focused on characterization. Member of the Matter team since 2020, dedicated to advancing understanding of air quality impacts. -
Hossein Roohollahi
Mitacs Accelerate Industrial Post-doctorateHossein Roohollahi, Ph.D., specializes in chemical engineering with a focus on plant-based biopolymers for various applications. Part of the Matter team at UNBC since 2023, he is dedicated to advancing the development of sustainable materials. -
Tina Fathalipour Ardabili
Graduate StudentTina holds a BSc and MSc in Physics and began her PhD in Environmental Science at UNBC in September 2025. As part of the biopolymers research team, she is developing sustainable lignin-based biopolymers through 3D printing and advanced processing, with a focus on circular economy applications such as packaging and… -
Prof. Aderonke O. Oyeyiola
Research Associate / Post DocAderonke O. Oyeyiola, Ph.D., a visiting researcher at UNBC (2023-2024), focuses on analytical and environmental chemistry. Her project involves the development, characterization, and optimization of low-cost, environmentally friendly adsorbents for nutrient removal and recovery in wastewater. -
Fatemeh Nouroozi
Graduate StudentFatemeh Nouroozi is an NRESi Ph.D. candidate (environmental science), and her project focuses on MOF -
Muhammad Tahir
Graduate StudentMuhammad, a Masters student in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (NRES) at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), joined the Matter team in 2024. With a background in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, his research focuses on testing new biodegradable and compostable biopolymers. His work aims to address environmental challenges… -
Habibollah Bahman
Graduate StudentHabibollah Bahman, a Master’s student and former international visiting Ph.D. candidate at UNBC (2022-2023), focuses on Polymer Engineering-Color Science and Technology. His research involves using Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) to remove dyes like Malachite Green, Methylene Blue, and Rhodamine B from solutions.
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Ariadna López
Graduate StudentAriadna López, a Mitacs Globalink Intern in 2021 and MSc student at UNBC (2023-2025), collaborates on Climate Catalytic research and carbon remediation technologies, enhancing environmental sustainability through innovative solutions.