BiCMat Team

Dr. Ran Bi is the BiCMat’s research manager. She received her Ph.D. degree from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH, Sweden), where she worked on the biodegradation of lignocellulose materials. She became a post-doctoral researcher in UBC’s Wood Science focusing on enzymatic and chemical pre-treatment of mechanical fibers to repurpose them as high value-added bio-based nanomaterials. She collaborates closely with researchers in the group and facilitates interactions between different subgroups. Her research focuses on bioconversion, biofabrication, and valorization.

Dr. Tianyu Guo received a joint PhD student in Pulp and Paper Engineering from Nanjing Forestry University. Earlier experiences included research in University of New Brunswick. Her current work is focused on biomacromolecule-based functionalization and applications. She has experience in bio-based inks and foam-forming for wearable electronics and bio-based filtration systems. She is a senior researcher at UBC Bioproducts Institute, working on interfacial chemistry of biomass materials.

Ayako Takagi is an industrial designer working at the UBC BioProducts Institute, where she collaborates with researchers to prototype and to develop sustainable bio-products. Ayako has a particular interest in ancient traditional techniques related to papermaking and their philosophy of care for their products. She is exploring how to apply traditional artisans’ knowledge to the latest scientific research in order to tackle climate change issues and develop sustainable societies. While Ayako enjoys collaborating with scientists, she is also interested in communication on an interdisciplinary level and exploring how to share design and science research with public audiences, allowing her to involve non-designers in her research.

Juan Pablo joined the BiCMat group in early 2023 and is currently pursuing a MASc in Chemical & Biological Engineering at UBC. He holds two bachelor’s degrees in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. His work is oriented to the valorization of non-woody biomass and the production of alternative man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) by wet-spinning.

Yeedo joined the BiCMat group as a Ph.D. student in Chemical & Biological Engineering in 2020 after receiving his B.ASc. in Materials Engineering. Arriving with knowledge focused in conventional thermosets, he sought to work with cleaner, more sustainable chemistries and pursue applications that would displace harmful materials in high throughput industries. Yeedo hopes to one day offer novel materials to the fashion industry that will result in drastically reduced pollution, safe and just working conditions for all throughout our products’ life cycles, and new possibilities in the manufacture and design of our garments.

Zhangmin received his MSc. degree at Nanjing Forestry University in 2020. His current research field is related to the elastoplastic behavior of chitin nanocrystals using both experimental (X-ray and atomic force microscopy techniques) and simulation (molecular dynamics simulations, quantum chemistry, and the first principle calculations) methods.

Xuetong received a dual master’s degree in Polymer Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and Aalto University (Finland), under the supervision of Dr. Rojas. During this time, she mastered research skills in the areas of cellulose nanofibrils, phase change materials, thermal energy storage and related phenomena. Her current research focuses on the development of multifunctional wood by physical and chemical modification.

Amir joined the BiCMat group as a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering in September 2023. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Amirkabir University of Technology, specializing in Fog harvesting and Zero Liquid Discharge during his undergraduate studies. Transitioning to his master’s, he focused on CFD-DEM simulation of moving bed Catalytic reactors. Currently pursuing his Ph.D., Amir’s research centers on hydrogel mechanics within the wet spinning process. Passionate about materials science and engineering, Amir enjoys solving real-world problems through the application of mathematics and simulation. Outside of research, he can be found working out, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and Camping out close to bears.

Pablo Antonio Chung,  graduated as a Forest Engineer from La Molina National Agrarian University (Lima-Peru) where he had done research in Pulp and Paper and Wood Chemistry.  Then, he came to UBC to pursue a M.Sc. in Wood Science.  After finishing, he stayed in the Department working as a Research Scientist in the different areas: Wood Protection, Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of wood and agricultural residues for Biofuels and Chemicals (Jack Saddler’s Lab), Chemical Analysis and compound isolation from trees and agricultural plants (Shawn Mansfield’s Lab), wood processing (CAWP Forestry).  Recently, he worked at Performance Biofilaments on nanofibrillated cellulose industrial applications (mining, concrete).

Galen is a chemist with a focus on sustainability and green chemistry. He earned his PhD at McGill University, where he studied the solid-state chemical modification of polysaccharides using mechanochemistry. During his PhD, he completed several internships and research visits abroad and was active in the chemistry education community. At UBC, Galen works across the Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering departments, developing bio-based composite materials in a Mitacs-funded project with lululemon. Outside of work, he enjoys nature, water sports, photography, and is a soccer fan.

Prior to joining the BiCMat group in September 2025, Maeve earned a BSc in Chemistry from McGill University. During her undergraduate research, she studied the solid-state functionalization of chitosan using mechanochemistry. Maeve also had the opportunity to study the synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic block-copolymers. She is currently interested in utilizing chitin to produce new materials for sustainable applications. Outside of the lab, Maeve enjoys hiking, bouldering, and baking.

Yunzhe Wen is an MSc student at the University of Calgary, studying under the guidance of Professor Jinguang Hu. She focuses on the green preparation of fire retardant and heat insulating porous materials. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering from Jiangnan University, where she focused on the modification of thermostable glucosidases. She then worked in the Laboratory Animal Centre at Shanghai Jiao Tong University for one year as assistant technician, gaining expertise in animal experimentation. Outside of research, she enjoys hiking, puzzles and horror films.

Mahyar has a background in materials science and engineering and is passionate about advancing new fabrication methods. As an undergraduate, he focused on learning the fundamentals of polymer science. He earned his MSc studying the electromechanical properties of soft materials and designing aerogels. For two years, he was an Elite Scholar, researching smart soft materials. He then worked as a research associate at Jiangnan University for two and a half years, focusing on smart fibers. Currently, at UBC, his research is centered on additive manufacturing, particularly embedded printing and liquid-liquid printing of polysaccharides.

Shuyuan joined the BiCMat group in May 2024 as a PhD student at the University of British Columbia. He graduated from Shaanxi University of Science & Technology with a master’s degree in Biomass Chemistry and Materials Engineering. During his master’s study, he focused on cellulose nanofibers, hydrogels, and exploring their feasibilities in biomedical applications. Now, Shuyuan would like to prepare versatile hydrogels by designing the chemical structure.

Xue joined the BiCMat group in September 2024 as a joint PhD student. She holds a master’s degree in Biomass Chemistry and Materials Engineering from SUST. Her current research focused on sustainable design and modification of cellulose hydrogels for emerging sensing applications.

Minke joined BiCMat on Oct. 2023 after obtaining her master’s degree in Food Science and Engineering from South China Agricultural University in 2022. Her previous research dealt with the encapsulation and delivery of tea polyphenol through hydrogel. Currently, she explores colloid systems with different functions. Outside the lab, she is part of the UBC dance club and Yoga studio. Sports make her more energetic.

Marina joined the BiCMat group in September 2021. She earned a B.S. in Biological Engineering from Purdue University. Her previous research experiences involved work in synthetic and structural biology at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Purdue Cramer Lab, and the Joint BioEnergy Institute at UC Berkeley. This work inspire Marina to synergize biobased polymers (namely cellulose and natural polyphenols) with engineered proteins. Her work realizes biocompatible and biodegradable materials that can meet advanced applications in diagnostics, tissue engineering, and filtration. Outside of lab, Marina enjoys cooking plant-based meals and going on long walks.

Xin joined the BiCMat group in January 2024 as a PhD student in Chemical & Biological Engineering. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Food Science & Engineering from China Agricultural University. Xin previously worked on natural-based colloidal systems (nanocomplexes, emulsions, and composite hydrogels) for the encapsulation and delivery of food bioactive compounds. With the knowledge gained from her research, Xin will continue working on the structure-property relationship and interaction of biopolymers to improve their application outcomes. In her leisure time, Xin enjoys crocheting, playing the blues harmonica, and working out.

Yi joined the BiCMat group in January 2024 as a joint PhD student. He graduated from Northeast Forestry University with a bachelor’s degree in Wood Science and Engineering. His research has focused on cellulose, electrospun nanofibers, 3D aerogels and exploring functionalization and applications. Currently, Yi is interested in CO₂ capture from the seawater using biomass materials.

Marianelly Esquivel is a researcher at the Polymer Research Laboratory (POLIUNA) at the Universidad Nacional (UNA), Costa Rica. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the interuniversity doctoral program DOCINADE with UNA and UBC. She is trained in Industrial Chemistry (UNA) and holds a M.Sc. degree in Forest Products (Universidad de Guadalajara, México). Her research interests focus on the use of aquaculture and agro-industrial waste to extract high value-added materials. This serves as the basis for the generation of new materials and products, contributing to the development of a bioeconomy framework in her own Costa Rica.

Tian Bai is a PhD candidate in Forestry Engineering at Northeast Forestry University. Research interests encompass bamboo-based functional materials and bamboo-fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Current work focuses on converting renewable forestry resources such as bamboo and wood into high-performance structural and multifunctional materials.

Jianing Xu is a PhD candidate in Forestry Engineering at Northeast Forestry University from China. She joined the BiCMat group as a visiting PhD student in 2025. Research interests biomass refinery and lignin oxidative catalytic fraction. Current work focuses on the hydrolyzation of carbohydrate, and the further utilization of aromatic monomers from lignin depolymerization.

Kai joined the BiCMat group as a Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry in September 2025. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Whitman College. His past research was in the field of biocatalysis, exploring new routes to sustainably synthesizing chiral building blocks.  Kai’s current research focuses on functionalizing bacterial cellulose for use in biodegradable materials.  In his free time, he enjoys biking, reading fantasy novels, and whitewater kayaking.

Before joining BiCMat in September 2025, Carlos finished his Bachelors Degree in Chemistry and Nanotechnology Engineering at the Tec de Monterrey University in Mexico. He has experience in microfluidic solutions and tissue engineering, and did research on bacterial motility and chaotic bioprinting. In his spare time, Carlos enjoys practicing calligraphy, exploring new places and reading.

Dr. Adam (Jie) Wu obtained his PhD degree in 2021 from UBC’s Faculty of Forestry, focusing on repurposing mechanical techniques as a pretreatment front-end for biofuel production. Prior to joining the BiCMat group, Adam worked with Prof. Jack Saddler and Prof. Scott Renneckar as a postdoctoral researcher, specializing in enzyme-mediated biomass deconstruction, fiber modification and utilization of by-products from the forest industries. With the goal of replacing fossil-derived products, he furthers his research on chemical and biological methods to produce cellulose and lignin-derived green bio-products.
 

Gio obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of the Philippines in 2017 where he carried out research in the area of natural products chemistry. Afterwards, he worked as a research assistant in the Philippine’s Nuclear Research Institute where he studied radiation protection agents. In 2021, he started his graduate studies in the chemistry of secondary metabolites found in plants and tree bark.

Daniel acquired his BSc. (2020) and MSc. (2022) degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta. His research background includes lignin extraction, characterization, drought stress response mechanisms of trees and multivariate data analysis applied to chemical systems. Daniel’s current research focuses on using chemometrics to develop structure-property relationships between lignin feedstocks, their polymeric properties, and their resulting material product attributes.

Matthew joined the BiCMat group in September 2023 as an MSc. student. He obtained his BSc. at the University of Toronto in the Materials Science Specialist program. During the Summer 2022, he had the opportunity to work as a research exchange student at the institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) in Kyoto University, where he studied the supramolecular assembly of porous materials. His current research focuses on the self-assembly processes of bio-extractives. 

Emilie grew up in La Prairie, QC, Canada. She completed her BSc in Chemistry at Concordia University in Montréal, where she was a member of the Institute for Co-operative Education. In her undergraduate research she studied the composition of soil and sediment biomarkers, and found herself drawn to environmental chemistry and the fate of the world when faced with global warming and pollution. Currently, she studies how lignin nanoparticles from forest fires nucleate ice. In her free time, she loves hiking and cycling, as well as baking, knitting and sewing.

Golshan focuses on developing, designing, and engineering bio-soft materials to address challenges in food packaging. She earned her master’s in Food science from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, specializing in structured emulsions to replace trans and saturated fats in whipped creams. Before starting her PhD at UBC, Golshan volunteered at UBC’s Bioproducts Institute, where she investigated the use of Pickering emulsions to encapsulate oat oil with cellulose derivatives. Outside of research, she enjoys camping, swimming, and exploring cozy local cafes

Ethan Chen is a third-year Ph.D. candidate at Nanjing Forestry University and, since April 2025, a joint Ph.D. student in Prof. Orlando J. Rojas’s BiCMat group at UBC. He earned his M.Sc. in Bioengineering from Nanjing Forestry University in 2022. His research focuses on the green preparation and functionalization of lignocellulose nanofibers via an enzyme-assisted TEMPO/laccase/oxygen oxidation system, deep eutectic solvents, and Schiff-base chemistry. By integrating nanocellulose with ionically conductive networks, he focus on multifunctional elastomers and triboelectric nanogenerators for flexible electronics and sustainable energy harvesting.

Prior to joining the BiCMat group in September 2025, Carolina earned her BSc in Chemistry from Universidad del Valle, Colombia. As an undergraduate, she studied the extraction of chitosan and the synthesis of imine and hydrazone derivatives, examining their applications in metal removal, photochemistry, and fluorescence. In 2024, she completed an internship at UBC, working on the wet spinning of cellulose fibers for sustainable textiles. Her current research interests center on lignin chemistry and its potential for developing new materials with diverse applications. Outside the lab, she enjoys discovering new places and outdoor sports.

Dr. Elena (Elnaz) Erfanian is a postdoctoral researcher in the BiCMat group. She obtained her PhD degree from the University of Calgary and was a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia (2022). She was a also visiting scholar at Harvard University (2023). She obtained her B.Sc. (2017) and M.Sc. (2019) degrees in polymer engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology. During her PhD, Elena made significant contributions to the synthesis, characterization, and additive manufacturing of graphene-based materials. Her current research focuses on carbon materials and microfluidic systems.

Ahmadreza holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Currently, he is a joint postdoctoral fellow at the Bioproducts Institute, UBC Vancouver Campus, and the School of Engineering at UBC Okanagan Campus. His research interests include colloid and interface science, structured liquids, carbon-based nanomaterials, and bio-based materials. Additionally, he is involved in research on 3D printing and liquid-in-liquid printing of carbon-based hydrogels and inks.

Farhad earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UBC, with a concentration on the application of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) in environmental contexts. His ongoing research is centered around exploring the interface between MOFs and biobased polymers for ultimate environmental applications. In his role as a postdoctoral fellow, he is actively engaged in structuring MOFs and biobased polymers through techniques such as wet spinning, electrospinning, and 3D printing, with a specific focus on their utilization in carbon dioxide (CO2) capture.

Dr. Chris Zhou is a postdoctoral research fellow. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia in 2023. His current research focuses on biophysical science, multiphase systems, light-matter interaction, and bio-optics/photonics. He developed a real-time 3D imaging system, which can use light polarization matrices to investigate the characteristics and forming mechanisms of plant extracts and bacteria cellulose. By analyzing the beautiful polarization images/signals of these fibre or assembled structures, Chris was deeply attracted by the complexity of living matters. He is also keen on mathematics, game development, writing, and photography.

Tina holds a Master degree from UBC’s Chemical and Biological Engineering on the the mechanical behaviour of Cellulose Nanocrystals for sustainable applications. Prior to her academic journey at UBC, Tina successfully earned a master’s degree at the Queen Mary University of London. During her time there, she specialized in Biomedical Engineering with Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering where she characterized novel peptides for biomedical purposes. Tina hopes her chemical and biomedical engineering background would help her design a novel application from biomass resources for water and air decontamination. Aside from her work, Tina enjoys running, windsurfing, and hiking.

Praven obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science in Materials Engineering from the University of British Columbia in 2020 and joined BiCMat afterwards to use his knowledge in developing bio-based materials. His Research has been focused on Bioproduct Development using foam forming technology and exploration of Reticular Chemistry. He hopes to hybridize and combine the two fields for utilization in multifaceted applications inclusive of Water Remediation, Gas storage and separation, and Energy Harvesting for a brighter and more sustainable future.

Ju-Hyuck Lee is an Associate Professor at Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST). Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Engineering from Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in 2016. Dr. Lee’s recent research interest is the design and development of functional materials for piezoelectric/triboelectric nanogenerators, and sensors. In addition, he is interested in biopiezoelectric materials and biocompatible triboelectric materials for biomedical applications.

Sara Rostami is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at UBC Okanagan. She first joined BiCMat in July 2024 for a three-month research visit focused on developing scalable, ambient-dried xerogels. She returned in May 2025 with support from the UBC Collaborative Research Mobility Award (CRMA) to work on synthesizing MXene nanosheets and incorporating 2D-based nanomaterials into bio-based systems for advanced multifunctional applications, i.e. EMI shielding. Focusing on structural design, her research explores soft functional materials through advanced additive manufacturing techniques, including 3D printing. Outside of the lab, Sara enjoys painting and playing squash.

 Saeed joined the BiCMat group as a visiting Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering in 2025. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, where his research focuses on solid-state lithium-ion batteries and the design of high-performance polymer electrolytes based on natural polymers. Saeed holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Polymer Engineering from Sahand University of Technology in Iran. His work spans the synthesis of structured polymers, ion transport modeling, and nanoscale interface engineering. At UBC, he is contributing to the development of sustainable, bio-based materials for next-generation energy storage applications. Saeed aims to advance scalable and green alternatives to conventional battery systems through molecular-level material design.

Azadeh Zandieh is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia, supported by the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, specializing in advanced functional materials for thermal management applications. She brings a multidisciplinary background in aerospace, mechanical, and materials engineering. Her current research focuses on polymeric nanocomposites, material processing and characterization, and more specifically, phase change materials for energy storage applications. With expertise in nanotechnology, functional materials, and interdisciplinary collaboration, Azadeh is dedicated to developing energy-efficient material solutions for electronics and energy storage systems.

Dr. Araz Rajabi received his Ph.D. in Environmental Materials Science from Seoul National University in 2019. He spent two years at KAIST as a postdoctoral researcher, where he focused on triboelectric materials and the design of nanogenerators optimized for real-world energy harvesting in wearable systems. He later continued postdoctoral work at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto, broadening his expertise in sustainable energy devices, atmospheric water harvesting, and advanced functional materials. In August 2025, he rejoined UBC as part of the BiCMat group. His current research focuses on sustainable materials for energy and environmental applications, including triboelectric/piezoelectric nanogenerators, self-powered wearables, lithium-ion batteries, barrier coatings, and integrated water/energy harvesting systems. His work aims to develop scalable technologies that translate advanced materials science into impactful, eco-conscious solutions.

Lara obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University before joining the BiCMat group in September of 2025. Previously, she had worked in the synthesis and characterization of carbon-based nanomaterials. Her current research combines the topics of bioremediation and materials science for water purification. Outside of research, she loves to cook, enjoy art, and spend time outside.