Mehdi Ph.D.'s Email Addresses & Phone Numbers

📖 Summary

• Molecular biologist/microbial physiologist with extensive experience in metabolic engineering and developing microbial strains (yeasts, fungal and bacterial strains) • More than 14 years of experience in gene cloning and expression techniques (e.g. heterologous gene expression and gene deletion) in different microorganisms and protein purification techniques • Enzyme discovery for industrial applications • In depth knowledge of Microbiology, Genomics, and Molecular Biology • Microbial fermentation technology (different yeast strains and E. coli), product scale-up and optimization • Application of microorganisms for bioconversion of lignocellulosic residues into value-added chemicals and biofuels • Fermentation process development of lignocellulosic hydrolysates into ethanol and/or bioproducts • Characterization of biochemicals & lignocellulosic compounds • Bioseperation of lignocelluloses from different industrial lignocellulosic wastes • Managed initial lab setup, research groups and multiple projects • Excellent scientific publication records, communication and organizational skills, and leadership experience in a team setting Specialties: Developing microbial strains and metabolic engineering, Bioconversion, Biofuel and bioproducts, Process development and optimization, Bioreactors, Scale-up, Medium Optimization, Protein purification, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, MicrobiologyScientist, Bioprocess Development @ From August 2015 to Present (4 months) Research Associate-Webster Post-Doctoral Fellow @ School of Environmental Sciences (SES), Ontario Agricultural College Main projects including: 1) Metabolic engineering and strain development of native pentose-fermenting yeasts; a) to improve mixed sugar (pentoses and hexoses) utilization and b) to counter redox imbalance during xylose fermentation 2) Fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates into biofuel and/or bioproducts 3) Characterization of metabolically engineered yeast strains using biological (e.g. hydrolysate fermentability) and bioanalytical techniques (e.g. HPLC and GC) From September 2013 to August 2015 (2 years) Postdoctoral Fellow @ General lab setup and management of a new lab: some of the main projects/responsibilities include: 1) Bioseperation of lignocelluloses from different industrial lignocellulosic wastes 2) Conversion of lignocellulosic residues (lignin and hemicelluloses) into various value-added biochemicals or biofuel 3) Characterization of biochemicals & lignocellulosic compounds by different bioanalytical techniques (e.g. NMR, Particle Charge Detector (PCD), BET surface area analyzer, FT-IR) 4) Oversight of project team, led students to design experiments From September 2012 to August 2013 (1 year) Ph.D. @ Managed initial lab setup, multiple projects & project prioritizations. some of the main projects/responsibilities include: 1) Metabolic engineering of fungal strains (e.g. Trichoderma reesei) for enzyme production and its potential industrial application 2) Engineering fungi for production of value-added biochemicals (e.g. xylitol) 3) Study of lignin degradation and enzyme production by different white-rot fungi (Basidiomycetous) 4) Chemical and biological pretreatment of agricultural and forestry residues 5) Led students to design experiments for gene expression study (transcriptional regulation) in fungi From September 2008 to July 2012 (3 years 11 months) Research Associate @ Designed and executed experiments for genetic engineering & recombinant protein production in yeast strain (Pichia pastoris)-applied large-scale protein productions using different bioreactors-purification of recombinant proteins by different column chromatography techniques-gene expression studies by quantitative PCR (qPCR) From May 2005 to August 2008 (3 years 4 months) Research Assistant @ Designed and executed experiments for gene cloning and protein expression in bacterial system (E. coli)-production of recombinant protein in pilot plant scale-maintained accurate and complete records of all experimental work From June 2001 to September 2004 (3 years 4 months) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Environmental Biotechnology @ Lakehead University From 2008 to 2012 Master of Science (MSc), Molecular Biology @ The University of Calgary From 2005 to 2008 Master of Science (MSc), Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology @ University of Tehran From 1999 to 2001 Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Biology/Biological Sciences, General @ Kharazmi University of Tehran (Tehran Teaching University) From 1993 to 1998 Mehdi Ph.D. is skilled in: Teaching, Science, University Teaching, Higher Education, Lecturing, Qualitative Research, Curriculum Design, Research, Program Evaluation, Curriculum Development, Literature Reviews, Educational Technology, Statistics, Teacher Training, Tutoring