(3ik) Engineering Next Generation of Porous Materials for Bioprocess Applications and Beyond

Recent Covid19 outbreak is one of the most critical issues confronting global health and it highlights the need for an affordable and rapid vaccine development. purification is one of the essential and costly processes of vaccine production. As the pressure to decrease the purification cost of protein-based therapeutics increases, development of more advanced separation process such as membrane technology is of interest. Porous materials are ubiquitous and vital in a wide range of applications. By engineering the morphology and properties of porous materials such as poly high internal phase emulsions(polyHIPE)s which can run in bind and elute mode can be ended to develop continuous membrane-based separation processes to decrease the purification cost. I propose to create a multidisciplinary research lab focusing on in-situ physical and chemical modification of the porous materials such as polyHIPEs to optimize their performance in bio-related applications including bio-separation and 3D scaffolding. My future research aims toward developing novel materials for better selectivity of difficult to treat and the design of 3D scaffolds for specific cells such as nerve cells to maximize throughput and efficiency.

At New Mexico State University, I developed novel porous materials (polyHIPs) for water treatment application. In-situ functionalization were done during synthesizing these porous materials to have hydrophobic body and hydrophilic surfaces to reduce algae fouling of MF membranes. In another project, polyHIPEs were synthesized for heavy metal adsorption. By having the fundamental knowledge of synthesizing polymeric porous materials for separation application, I joined Husson’s lab at Clemson University. My research led me to investigate the underlying fouling mechanism of nano- and ultrafiltration patterned membranes. I combine experimental data with theoretical models to provide deeper insights on the underlying phenomena and enhance our understanding. I also, introduced a new membrane surface patterning strategy using woven mesh stamps that is capable of patterning large membrane areas while retaining or enhancing membrane permeability. All my research projects taught me the value of understanding of fundamental knowledge of phenomena can lead us to improve human life’s quality.

Compiling my membrane science knowledge with my experience at biological pharmaceutical industries lead me to developing my future research on bioinspired energy efficient separation materials that can be used in the field of bioengineering.

Teaching Interest:

In addition to my passion in research, I am highly interested in chemical engineering education. I recently completed a Certificate in Engineering Education. While earning this certificate, I had the opportunity to interact with successful faculty from different academic departments and learn from them such things as effective teaching strategies and how to pursue educational research in chemical engineering. The practicum course (ESED 8610) in Engineering and Science Education combined with my GAANN fellowship award gave me the opportunity to co-instruct the Mass and Energy Balance course beside my teaching assistance experiences. I was given joint responsibility in all aspects of teaching including designing course policies, handling cases of academic dishonesty, writing exams, developing active teaching methods, developing a midterm evaluation, making a midterm exam wrapper where students analyzed their performance on the test, and lecturing. I also develop an action research titled “Assessing the Effect of Peer and Self-Evaluation on Students’ Teamwork Skills”. This experience had a significant impact on developing my understanding of educational research, and we are working on a manuscript to disseminate our findings that will be submitted to Journal of Engineering Education.

I have been fortunate to have enthusiastic mentors to help me navigate my way through the academic pipeline. These persons have proven to be invaluable resources and have reinforced in my mind the benefits to be gained from effective mentoring programs. I’ve also had the opportunity to mentor undergraduate students through creative inquiry undergraduate research course. To appreciate their hard work in the lab and encourage them, three of my undergrad students were co-authors in my different papers. Outside of professional work, as a woman in STEM, I strive to encourage younger students’ participation in science and mathematics by volunteering outreach programs such as Girl Scouts of America and WISE programs.

While I am capable of teaching any course in the core curriculum, I am particularly interested in developing elective courses such as “bio-separation processes” to offer to graduate students and upper level undergraduate students. All of the courses, I will instruct will be designed to train the students in improving their contribution and interaction skills as a part of teamwork skills which is one of the critical skills for engineering students and professional skills such as writing and presenting beside teaching the course material.

Peer Reviewed Publications

1. Malakian, A., & Husson, S. M. (2020). Understanding the roles of patterning and foulant chemistry on nanofiltration threshold flux. Journal of Membrane Science (IF: 7.18), 597, 117746. 2. Malakian, A., Zhou, M., Zowada, R. T., & Foudazi, R. (2019). Synthesis and in situ functionalization of microfiltration membranes via high internal phase emulsion templating. Polymer International (IF: 2.57), 68(7), 1378-1386.

Manuscripts in Preparation

1. Malakian, A., & Husson, S. M. Visualization of biofouling on herringbone patterned membranes by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Submitted to Journal of Membrane Science
2. Malakian A., Zhou Z., Messick L., Spitzer T., Ladner D.A., & Husson S.M. Understanding the role of pattern geometry on nanofiltration threshold flux. Submission planned for Membranes
3. Malakian A., Ling B., Messick L., Battiato I., & Husson S.M. Influence of pattern geometry on biofouling of herringbone patterned membrane by in-situ confocal laser microscopy. Submission planned for Journal of Membrane Science
4. Malakian A., High K., Influence of peer and self-evaluation on teamwork skills. Submission planned for Journal of Engineering Education