Seyed Javad Amirfakhri

Bio

Dr. Amirfakhri loves working with students and young scientists with diverse backgrounds and goals to support them to make their wishes come true. His teaching philosophy centers on the importance of class engagement and diversity. He uses class activities, pop-up extra credit opportunities, short summaries, open-ended questions, and projects to encourage all students to share their ideas and participate in discussions. Like other engineering fields, theoretical analysis is a foundation to understanding chemical engineering problems, but real-world examples related to theoretical analysis make the students more interested in learning. He always tries to teach in parallel with practical examples and asks the students to share their thinking of real-world applications.

Dr. Amirfakhri’s research interest is nanomaterials development for different applications such as heat sinks, water/wastewater treatment, and renewable energy systems. He teaches his advisees to work and think independently on real engineering problems. In this role, he integrates his own research experience with teaching. He stimulates his students’ critical thinking and advises them to tackle the problems without over-simplifying the challenges since advising is more effective if it leads to students’ own experience of finding the unknowns. 

Experience and Interests

Teaching Experience

• Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2020-Present)
• Lecturer, Californi State Polytechnic University Pomona (2017-2020)

Professional Experience

• Co-founder, Innovative Thermal Management Technologies (ITMT), San Diego, CA (2016-2018)
• Visiting Scientist, University of California San Diego (2015-2017)
• Environmental Engineer, Iranian Gas Engineering & Development Company (IGEDC), Tehran, Iran (2009-2010)
• Senior process engineer, Pilab Company, Tehran, Iran (2007-2009)
• Research Assistant, Biochemical and Bioenvironmental Research Center, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (2005-2007)

Research Interests

• Development of Graphene Based Materials
• Catalysis, Electro-catalysis, Bio-catalysis
• Renewable Energies
• Water and Wastewater Treatment
• Bioprocesses

Professional Memberships

• Member, AICHE, 2021- Present
• Member, California Faculty Association, 2017 – Present
• Member, National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD), 2020-Present