In Situ Coupling of MHz Acoustic Waves for the Synthesis of Hierarchical UiO-66 Metal-Organic Frameworks
J. Khosravi Farsani, O. Mazaheri, E. Della Gaspera, L. Y. Yeo
The University of Melbourne
Engineering smarter fertilisers for a sustainable food system.
I am a postdoctoral researcher in Chemical Engineering. I design advanced coatings and materials that make nitrogen fertilisers more efficient and less harmful to the environment.
Focus
Controlled release
About
Nitrogen fertilisers like urea are essential for feeding a growing population, but much of what is applied is lost to the air and waterways before crops can use it. That waste drives water pollution, greenhouse emissions and eutrophication.
My work tackles this problem with materials science. I develop controlled-release fertilisers using sustainable, biocompatible coatings, and I work with industry partners to make these technologies reproducible and scalable.
My background spans organic chemistry, materials and polymer science, and agricultural science, with earlier projects in nanocatalysts, supramolecular chemistry, tissue engineering and CO₂ capture.
PositionPostdoctoral Researcher
DepartmentChemical Engineering
InstitutionUniversity of Melbourne
FieldMaterials and agricultural chemistry
Research
Four threads, one problem: putting nutrients where they are needed.
Interdisciplinary work at the intersection of chemistry, materials engineering and agriculture.
01
Controlled-release fertilisers
Coated and encapsulated urea products that release nitrogen gradually, reducing volatilisation, leaching and runoff.
02
Advanced and sustainable coatings
Biocompatible coating technologies, including metal-phenolic networks and bio-based materials like shellac.
03
Nanomaterials and MOFs
Synthesis of nanostructured and porous materials, including metal-organic frameworks and nanocatalysts.
04
Carbon capture
Materials and hybrid systems for direct air capture of CO₂, supporting net-zero goals.
Publications
Selected work
A few recent papers. The full list is on Google Scholar.
Sustainable Shellac Coatings for Controlled Release Fertilizers: Experimental and Modelled Performance
R. V. McQuillan, O. Mazaheri, G. Stevens, K. A. Mumford
Synergistic Effect of Amino Acid Salt Hybrid Systems for Direct Air Capture of CO₂
O. Mazaheri et al.
Solid-State Encapsulation of Urea via Mechanochemistry-Driven Engineering of Metal-Phenolic Networks
O. Mazaheri, A. Zavabeti, R. V. McQuillan, Z. Lin, M. S. Alivand, E. Della Gaspera, D. Chen, F. Caruso, H. Suter, K. A. Mumford · Chemistry of Materials
Background
Training
Current
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Melbourne
Department of Chemical Engineering. Engineering advanced coatings for controlled-release fertilisers.
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne
School of Agriculture and Food. Developed biocompatible coating technologies for large-scale controlled-release fertilisers, supervised by A/Prof. Helen Suter, Prof. Kathryn Mumford and Prof. Deli Chen.
2013
MSc, Organic Chemistry
Nanostructured porous carbons and hierarchical zeolites.
2010
BSc, Applied Chemistry
Openings
Apply to join the group
PhD and postdoctoral applications go through one online form. It asks for your CV, transcripts and a short statement of interest. You get an email once your application is in.
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