Dr. Arjmand is recognized as a leading and award-winning researcher in the field of nanotechnology and polymer engineering. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Calgary in Chemical (Polymer) Engineering in 2014, he carried out Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Calgary (2014-2017) and the University of Toronto (2017-2018). He was also a Guest Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research in Dresden, Germany (July-August 2015). In July 2018, he began a tenure-track Assistant Professor position at UBC’s Okanagan campus (UBCO) and since April 2019, he has held a Canada Research Chair in “Advanced Materials and Polymer Engineering”, which is the only one in the UBCO’s School of Engineering. Of note, the Canada Research Chairs Program invests $298 million per year to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
Although he is early in his career, his research achievements have been significant: the outcomes of his studies have been translated into 1 book, 1 book chapter, 130 journal papers, including 3 journal featured cover photos, 3 filed patents, 91 conference proceedings/abstracts/presentations (including 4 invited talks), and 19 reports for the Canadian government sectors and industry. The quality of his papers is reflected in his Google scholar citations of 3658 and H-index of 31 (Oct 2021), which is notable compared to his peers in the field. His papers are published in prestigious journals of the field, such as Coordination Chemistry Reviews, Small, Chemical Engineering Journal, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Composites Part B: Engineering, Macromolecules, Composites Science and Technology, and Carbon. Of note, he has published over 80 journal papers since joining UBCO in July 2018, with many more publications underway.
Dr. Arjmand directs UBCO’s Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites Laboratory (NPNL), which is currently hosting 18 highly qualified personnel (HQP), all including 3 PDF, 8 PhD, 5 MASc, 1 research technician, and 1 undergrad research assistant (RA), and more hiring is underway. NPNL also has 16 alumni, including 4 PDF, 2 MASc, 3 visiting PhD, 2 research technicians, 1 MEng, and 4 undergrad RA. Dr. Arjmand has been highly successful in securing significant funding (over $5.2 million) during his time at UBC, allowing him to establish a vibrant research group and well-equipped lab featuring state-of-the-art nanomaterials synthesis, polymer processing, and materials characterization facilities.
During his academic career, he has been frequently honored with institutional (17), provincial (1), national (2), and international (6) awards, recognitions, and nominations, of which the most significant include: Polymer Processing Society (PPS) Early Career Award (2021), Faculty Research Excellence Award in the School of Engineering at UBC Okanagan (2021), Nominee of the University of British Columbia for Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship (2021), Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials and Polymer Engineering (2019), PPS Young Researcher Travel Award (2016), Meritorious Candidate of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Scholarships and Fellowships Selection Committee for Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowship in Canadian Government Laboratories (2015), University of Calgary Distinguished PhD Dissertation in Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (2014), Third Place of Best Student Poster Award in PPS America Conference (2012), Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) Doctoral Scholarship (2012), and PPS Organizing Committee Graduate Travel Award (2011 and 2012).
Dr. Arjmand’s main research focus is on the synthesis and engineering of multifunctional nanomaterials (carbon nanotube, graphene, graphene quantum dots, metal-organic framework, and MXene) and the development of their polymer nanocomposites with enhanced physical properties, i.e., electrical, dielectric, electromagnetic shielding, sensing and actuating, mechanical, thermal, tribological, battery and charge storage, and wastewater treatment. Dr. Arjmand’s research also involves additive manufacturing (3D printing) to generate multilayered multifunctional polymer nanocomposites with complex geometries. His research is also heavily engaged with the initiative of Circular Economy, where he is working with companies in Canada to convert recycled plastics to value-added polymer nanocomposites.Further information regarding Dr. Arjmand’s research initiative can be found at https://npnl.ok.ubc.ca/.