Get to know our Faculty and Staff
Dr. Raj K. Vinnakota
Director of the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Physics
麻豆网站列表
123 Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS)
Troy, AL 36082
rvinnakota@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-808-6277
http://spectrum.troy.edu/rvinnakota/
Dr. Vinnakota is Director of the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences and an Asociate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics at 麻豆网站列表. Dr. Vinnakota joined 麻豆网站列表 in 2020 and holds a Ph.D. in Engineering (Engineering Physics concentration) from Louisiana Tech University, along with master's degrees in Microsystems Engineering, Applied Physics, and Electrical Engineering. Following his doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Louisiana Tech University's Computational Electromagnetism Research Lab (CERL) and the Institute for Micromanufacturing (IFM), gaining extensive experience in cutting-edge technologies. His research interests include: Novel Optoelectronic Devices, Metal and Semiconductor based Plasmonics and enhanced light matter interactions, Nanophotonics, Heat Transfer.
Dr. Zhiyong Wang
Chair, Department of Chemistry and Physics
Associate Professor of Chemistry
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315 McCall Hall (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
wangz@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-670-3573
Dr. Zhiyong Wang is the Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics at 麻豆网站列表 and an Associate Professor of Chemistry. His current research interest is in using Organic Chemistry as a tool to explore two areas: 1) The rational construction of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for clean energy-related applications including methane storage, hydrogen storage, and carbon dioxide capture; 2) The genetic incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins and labeling of proteins with small molecule probes.
Dr. Shaoyang Liu
Professor of Chemistry
麻豆网站列表
130 Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS)
Troy, AL 36082
lius@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-808-6556
Dr. Shaoyang Liu received his B.S. in Applied Chemistry and later earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). After graduation, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a Research Fellow at Auburn University. In 2012, he joined the faculty at 麻豆网站列表. His research endeavors are primarily centered on the application of diverse advanced analytical instruments in the realms of plastic recycling and the development of innovative materials.
Dr. Michael Enayati
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
麻豆网站列表
129 Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS)
Troy, AL 36082
menayati@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-670-3577
Dr. Michael Enayati received his Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the University of Tehran. After graduation, he worked for 5 years as an assistant professor. He then joined the University of Pennsylvania as a postdoctoral research associate (2015-2017), followed by another postdoc and a senior research associate position at Cornell University (2017-2020). His research was focused on controlled (living) radical polymerizations, surface-initiated Cu(0)-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (Cu(0)-RDRP), synthesis and characterization of polymer beads and ion-exchange resins, microencapsulation of active ingredients, and waste to value-added products. By joining 麻豆网站列表 in 2021, his research is mainly focused on 鈥減olymer recycling."
Dr. Amanda Kennell
Assistant Professor of Physics
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121 Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS)
Troy, AL 36082
akennell@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-808-6759
Dr. Amanda Kennell received her PhD in physics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research is multifaceted in material fabrication through nanofibers and study of the material's properties and behavior in a physiological environment. Dr. Kennell's research interests are in electrohydrodynamics, tissue engineering, biomechanical engineering, and filtration.
Dr. Aboulfazl Barati
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
麻豆网站列表
119 Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS)
Troy, AL 36082
abarati@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-670-5939
Dr. Aboulfazi Barati earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Petroleum University of Technology (Iran), and later his Master and Ph.D. in Chemical (Polymer) Engineering at the Tarbiat Modares University (Iran). His educational background, graduate, and postgraduate training and research represents his expertise in polymer science and engineering, recycling and sustainability, and process-structure-property relationships. Dr. Barati commenced his role as a postdoctoral research associate at 麻豆网站列表 in June 2022. In 2024, he joined the faculty at 麻豆网站列表. Currently, his research interest is focused on developing new methods for recycling/upcycling of polymer materials. This involves exploring various facets, such as processing, characterization, and application of synthetic, natural, and hybrid (composite) polymers.
Dr. Brooke Otten
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
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002B Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS)
Troy, AL 36082
botten@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-670-3576
Dr. Brooke Otten received her Bachelor and Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of North Texas. After graduation she worked as a visiting assistant professor at Vassar College in New York. Dr. Otten joined 麻豆网站列表 in August 2021. Her research interest include catalytic and structural studies of Au(I) compounds through both computational and experimental means.
Dr. Shaimum Shahriar
Assistant Professor of Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Department of Chemistry and Physics
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University Park, 518 S Brundidge St, Suite #120, Room #101A
Troy, AL 36081
sshahriar@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-808-6723
Dr. Shaimum Shahriar is an Assistant Professor in the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Program at 麻豆网站列表. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at El Paso in December 2019, where his research focused on organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells. He specialized in the fabrication and characterization of perovskite thin films and planar solar cells. Prior to joining the Department of Chemistry and Physics at 麻豆网站列表 in Fall 2023, Dr. Shahriar worked as a Post-Doctoral Scholar researching bioinspired spatially varying photonic crystals (SVPCs) for chemical warfare agent (CWA) sensors. These structures were created using multi-photon lithography (MPL) to emulate natural nanophotonic structures. His current research interests include flexible solar cells, energy-harvesting materials and technologies, nano-mechanical energy harvesting, and photonic sensors.
Nicholas Johnson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Electrical
and Electronics Engineering
Department of Chemistry and Physics
College of Science and Engineering
麻豆网站列表
518 S Brundidge St, Suite #120
Room #101
Troy, AL 36081
334-808-6722
najohnson@troy.eduDr. Nicholas Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering at Troy. He earned his bachelor's degree at 麻豆网站列表
in 2021, and his PhD at the University of Florida in 2026. Dr. Johnson is an active
member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which works to operate and improve the
U.S.-based gravitational wave detectors known as LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational
Wave Observatory). Through his work in LIGO, Dr. Johnson has had the opportunity
to share his research across the world, including Japan, Australia, and Italy. Specifically,
Dr. Johnson's research work focuses on improving gravitational wave detectors by developing
new or improved laser and optical technologies.
Staff and Post Doc
Dr. Bahareh Mirmashhouri
Postdoctoral Researcher
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001 Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS)
Troy, AL 36082
At 麻豆网站列表, Dr. Mirmashhouri's primary role as a Postdoctoral Associate is to advance polymer chemistry with a special focus on recycling innovations. Her experience at Terasaki and CCERCI honed her expertise in synthesis and characterization, enabling precise analysis and development of advanced polymers that address critical recycling challenges.
Dena G Byars
Assistant to the Director
麻豆网站列表
321C McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
dbyars@troy.edu
Telephone: 334-808-6721