Principal Investigator
Kiana Amini
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kiana Amini is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering at the University of British Columbia. She received her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, followed by her Master’s and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, where her research focused on the development of redox flow batteries based on zinc and cerium chemistries. She then joined the lab of Professor Michael J. Aziz at Harvard University in the Department of Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering, where she developed a range of electrochemical systems, including organic-based redox flow batteries and electrochemical carbon capture technologies. In August 2024, Dr. Amini joined UBC, where her research group focuses on three main areas: energy storage, carbon capture, and lithium extraction. She has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications, 13 as lead author, in top-tier journals such as Nature Chemical Engineering, Advanced Energy Materials, and ACS Energy Letters. She is also the lead inventor on two patents for novel electrochemical systems. Her goal is to develop sustainable technologies and bring them from the lab to industry, turning research breakthroughs into practical solutions that can make a real-world impact.
Graduate Students
Omer Shinnawy
Masters Student
Omer completed his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of British Columbia in May 2024. During his studies, he explored various fields, including oil and gas, water treatment, and energy storage, before developing a strong interest in electrochemical processes for sustainable practices. His current work involves a pending patent on an electrochemical cell designed to extract lithium from seawater. This innovation holds promise in enhancing the market attractiveness of seawater lithium extraction, thereby addressing the growing demand for lithium in a net-zero carbon world. In his free time, he enjoys playing board games, reading novels, or scuba diving when the weather permits.
Vrisha Nilesh Vyas
Masters Student
Vrisha graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Department of Materials Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver in May 2024. During her undergrad, she was part of two UBC Engineering design teams as well as the co-op program through which she explored internships at Svante (carbon capture company) and The Berlinguette Group (decarbonization research group). Her current work is in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada to explore sustainable extraction opportunities for lithium from water sources. Outside of university, she enjoys staying healthy and active by exploring hobbies like dancing, cooking, biking, and volunteering.
Ehsan Heidari
Ph.D. Student
Ehsan is a Ph.D. student in Materials engineering under the supervision of Professor Amini. His research centers on redox flow batteries, a promising and developing energy storage technology, where he investigates novel materials and system architectures to improve their efficiency, lifespan, and cost. Through this research, Ehsan aims to help develop sustainable energy storage solutions that can accommodate the growing global demand for renewable energy sources. Ehsan holds a Master degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Waterloo and another Master in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Tehran. As a graduate student , he researched the effect of LLTO coating on the electrochemical characteristics of LiNi₅Co₂Mn₃O₂ cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. His academic endeavors have been motivated by an interest in energy materials, namely, those that reduce harmful emissions and improve energy efficiency. Throughout his studies, Ehsan developed a strong appreciation for the role of statistical and numerical analysis in research, particularly through a course on Design of Experiments, which sparked his interest in Python programming and machine learning for materials engineering applications. In his Master’s program, Ehsan gained valuable expertise in energy storage materials, including batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, and PEM catalysts. In his free time, Ehsan enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family.
Vivian Chen
Masters Student
Vivian received her Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Materials Engineering from UBC in May 2025. She is working towards a MASc under the supervision of Professor Kiana Amini and Professor Qingshi Tu on the life cycle analysis of redox flow batteries. She is interested in the domain of applied electrochemistry for green energy solutions.
Daniel Han
Masters Student
Daniel earned his bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he worked with Dr. Yang Yang on perovskite solar cells. During the summers, he broadened his research and industry experience – first as a process engineering intern at PPG Industries, refining the manufacturing process of airplane windshields for Boeing and Airbus, and later as a visiting scholar at the University of Tokyo, studying synthesis methods for two-dimensional materials under Dr. Vincent Tung. Inspired by the potential of solar power and the scalability insights from PPG, Daniel transitioned to redox flow batteries, aiming to apply novel synthesis methods to improve their performance. Outside the lab, he enjoys hiking, experimenting in the kitchen, and playing board games with friends.
Alumni
Arman Hejazi: Research Assistant (2024 – 2025)