I joined HIMS in the group of Prof. S. Woutersen in 2020, shortly after obtaining my Ph.D at AMOLF under the supervision of Prof. H.J. Bakker (AMOLF) and Prof. G.H. Koenderink (TU Delft). I study the molecular properties of the building blocks of natural biomaterials, such as spiderweb or bones, to determine the remarkable physical properties required for their biological functionalities. I do this by using physical concepts and multiscale methods, ranging from multidimensional infrared spectroscopy to rheology. In 2021, I was granted the prestigious NWO – VENI grant to investigate the molecular origin osteogenesis imperfecta, which is a life-changing, occasionally lethal, disorder caused by mutations in the genes encoding collagen, the main building block of all human connective tissues such as bones and skin. 

I joined HIMS in January 2022 as a Veni laureate. My research is focused on developing vapour-based methods for the deposition of microporous thin films, such as metal organic frameworks (MOFs). I am also interested in integration and application of these thin films into devices for sensing and energy storage. Next to my role at HIMS, I am a research scientist in Solar Energy group at TNO. I was trained as a physicist during my BSc (Sharif University of Technology, Iran) and MSc (EPFL, Switzerland) studies. I then focused on materials science and engineering during my MSc and PhD at Stanford University, United States. In 2016, I moved to the Netherlands and worked as a post-doctoral researcher at TU Delft where I focused on surface engineering of nanoparticles for solar cells and catalysis applications.