Jason Mirzaei

Ph.D.  Chemistry (January 2015)  University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada 

M.Sc. Organic Chemistry (September 2006)  University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 

B.Sc. Applied Chemistry (February 2003)  Azad University, Tehran Branch, Iran

Research Fields 

Synthesis of functional nanomaterials
Liquid crystals as matrices for nanomaterials alignment and assembly
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs)

Carbon nanomaterials
QD photovoltaics
  

Research Experience

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy Lab (Aug. 2013)

Hybrid (quantum dots) solar cell fabrication and characterization-Supervisor: Prof. T. Kelly

Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

Liquid Crystals and Nanocomposite Lab (Jan. 2010-Present)  

Synthesis and functionalization of metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles, nematic

liquid crystal-nanoparticle composites-Supervisors: Prof. T. Hegmann and Prof. M. Freund

Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba,Winnipeg, MB          

                                           

Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Centre (Apr. 2005-Mar. 2007)

Synthesis of thiomorpholine derivatives- Supervisor: Prof. A. Foroumadi     

Tehran, Iran

Organic Chemistry Lab (Jun. 2004- Sep. 2006)

Synthesis of biologically-active 5-membered heterocyclic rings- Supervisor: Prof. A. Shafiee

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

                                        

Organic Chemistry Research lab (Feb. 2004- Oct. 2004)     

Synthetic organic chemistry-Supervisor: Prof. H. Pirelahi

School of Chemistry, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Industrial and Professional Experience

Research collaborator, NSERC Engage Project (Aug. 2012-Feb.2013) 
Sunnex Biotechnologies Co.       
Design and characterization of therapeutic light device                                         
With Prof. Q. Peng, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

Vice-president (Aug. 2010-Sep. 2012)
Chemistry Graduate Students Association (CGSA), University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg, MB

Researcher (Jan. 2009-Jul. 2009)
R&D Lab, Kimiafaam Pharmaceutical Co., Tehran, Iran
Synthetic chemistry and QC analysis- Supervisor: Dr. N. Hatambeigi

Chemist (Aug. 2007-Dec. 2008)
Chemistry Research Lab, Borzouyeh Petrochemical Co.
GC and elemental analysis of catalysts
Pars Economic & Energy Special Zone, Asalouyeh, Bushehr, Iran 

Teaching Experience 

Sessional Instructor (Jan. 2014-Present)
Introduction to Organic Chemistry (CHEM1320), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

Certificate in Higher Education Teaching  (Jul. 2013-Present)
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB (in progress)

Organic chemistry lab teaching assistant (Jan. 2010-Present)
Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

Teaching assistant, Chemistry Resource Centre (Jan. 2012- Dec. 2012)
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

Chemistry lab teaching assistant (Sep. 2004-Apr. 2006)
 Department of Chemistry, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Selected Awards and Scholarships  

Ernst and Ingrid Bock Graduate Award in Chemistry, University of Manitoba (2012, 2013) 
Faculty of Graduate Studies Special Awards Fund, University of Manitoba (2012) 
Chemistry Centennial Scholarship, University of Manitoba (2012) 
Faculty of Graduate Studies Travel Award (2011, 2012) 
Award for excellence in teaching assistance, nominated by the Department of Chemistry 
and Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba (2011) 
International Graduate Student Scholarship (IGSS), University of Manitoba (2010, 2011)  
Best Poster Award, Science Poster Competition, University of Manitoba (2011)
Travel Awards, Graduate Students Association, University of Manitoba (2011, 2012)     Travel Awards, Chemistry Graduate Students Association (2010, 2011)       
International Student Scholarship, York University (2009)
Graduate Studies Scholarship, Iranian Ministry of Science and Technology (2003, 2004)

 

With Dr. Peter Budzelaar (head of the Department of Chemistry) at CSC (Manitoba division) ceremony  when accepting departmental scholarship and award (November 2012)

Memberships

Canadian Society of Chemistry (CSC)

The Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) 
International Liquid Crystals Society (ILCS)
Materials Research Society (MRS)
   

Technical Skills 

Design and synthesis of functional metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles

Fabrication of liquid crystal-nanoparticle composites
Electro-optical measurements of liquid crystalline materials
Polarized optical microscopy (POM) of liquid crystal-nanoparticle composites
Fluorescence confocal polarized microscopy (FCPM)
Bulk heterojunctions solar cells fabrication
Small and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS)
Electrical characterizations of solar cells (J-V and IPCE)
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Common spectroscopic methods: NMR, UV-vis, FT-IR, and fluorescence
Schlenk and air-free techniques
Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
Gas chromatography (GC)

Publications

•  J. Mirzaei, M. Urbanski, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann, ChemPhysChem, 2014 “Synthesis of liquid crystal silane functionalized gold nanoparticles and their effects on optical and electro-optic properties of a structurally related nematic liquid crystal” ASAP (DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201301052).

• M. Urbanski, J. Mirzaei, T. Hegmann, H.-S. Kitzerow, ChemPhysChem, 2014 “Nanoparticle doping in nematic liquid crystals: Distinction between surface and bulk effects by numerical simulations” ASAP (DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201301054).

• J. Mirzaei, M. Urbanski, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 2013, 371, 20120256. "Hydrophobic gold nanoparticles via silane conjugation - chemically and thermally robust nanoparticles as dopants for nematic liquid crystals"

• J. Mirzaei, M. Reznikov, T. Hegmann, J. Mater. Chem. 2012, 22, 22350-22365. "Quantum dots as liquid crystal dopants"

• O. Stamatoiu, J. Mirzaei, X. Feng, T. Hegmann, Top. Curr. Chem. 2012, 318, 331-393. "Nanoparticles in liquid crystals and liquid crystalline nanoparticles"

• U. Shivakumar, J. Mirzaei, X. Feng, A. Sharma, P. Moreira, T. Hegmann, Liq. Cryst. 2011, 38, 1495-1514. "Nanoparticles: complex and multifaceted additives for liquid crystals"

• J. Mirzaei, M. Urbanski, Kui Yu, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann, J. Mater. Chem. 2011, 21, 12710-12716. "Nanocomposites of a nematic liquid crystal doped with magic-sized CdSe quantum dots"

•  J. Mirzaei, M. Amini, H. Pirelahi, A. Shafiee, J. Heterocycl. Chem. 2008, 45, 921."Convenient syntheses of 5-[(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl) methyl] -1,3,4-oxadiazole- 2 (3H)thione and N-substituted 2-amino-5-[(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl] -1,3,4- thiadiazoles"

• J. Mirzaei, F. Siavoshi, S. Emami, F. Safari, M. R. Khoshayand, A. Shafiee, A. Foroumadi, Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2008, 43, 1575."Synthesis and in vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of N-[5-(5-nitro-2-heteroaryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl] thiomorpholines and relate compounds"

• Foroumadi, S. Mansouri, S. Emami, J. Mirzaei, M. Sorkhi, N. Saeid-Adeli and A. Shafiee, Archiv der Pharmazie, 2006, 339(11), 621."Synthesis and antibacterial activity of nitroaryl thiadiazole-levofloxacin hybrids"

Peer-reviewed Conference Proceedings (*presenting author)

• J. Mirzaei, R. Sawatzky, A. Sharma, M. Urbanski, K. Yu, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann*, Proc. SPIE 2012, 8279, 827983 "New developments in nanoparticle-liquid crystal composites: from magic-sized semiconductor nanoclusters to alignment pattern formation via nanoparticle stenciling"

• J. Mirzaei, M. Urbanski, Kui Yu, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann*, Proc. ICMEE 2012. "Composites of gold nanoparticles and magic-sized quantum dots in nematic liquid crystal" 

Conference Presentations (oral, *presenting author)

• J. Mirzaei*, M. Urbanski, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann, 95th CSC, Calgary, AB (Canada), May 2012.

• J. Mirzaei, R. Sawatzky, M. Urbanski, A. Sharma, K. Yu, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann*, SPIE Photonics West - Opto 2012 - Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies VII, San Francisco, CA (USA), January 2012.

• J. Mirzaei*, M. Urbanski, M. Badruz-Zaman, K. Yu, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann, 94th CSC, Montreal, QC (Canada), June 2011. 

• B. Kinkead, M. Urbanski, J. Mirzaei, H.-S. Kitzerow, T. Hegmann*, 11th European Conference on Liquid Crystals ECLC, Maribor (Slovenia), February 2011.

• J. Mirzaei*, A. Foroumadi, H. Pirelahi, A. Shafiee, 13th Iranian Seminar of Organic Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan (Iran), September 2006.

Conference Presentations (poster, *presenting author)

• J. Mirzaei*, Michael S. Freund, T. Hegmann, Manitoba Institute for Materials Conference, Winnipeg, MB (Canada), May 2013.

• J. Mirzaei*, T. Hegmann, 24th International Liquid Crystal Conference, Mainz (Germany), August 2012.

• J. Mirzaei*, T. Hegmann, Manitoba Institute for Materials Conference, Winnipeg, MB (Canada), May 2012.

• M. Urbanski*, M. Draper, J. W. Goodby, J. Mirzaei, T. Hegmann, H.-S. Kitzerow, 24th International Liquid Crystal Conference, Mainz (Germany), August 2012.

• J. Mirzaei*, T. Hegmann, Manitoba Institute for Materials Conference, Winnipeg, MB (Canada), May 2011.

•  J. Mirzaei*, T. Hegmann, Faculty of Science Poster Competition, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB (Canada), April 2011.

Faculty of Science "Celebration of Excellence" February 2012 at the University of Manitoba; left to right: Dr. Mark Whitmore (Dean of Science), Jason and Dr. David T. Barnard (President of the University)