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Ali Zand, Ph.D.

Ali Zand
  • Assistant Professor
  • LB Course Subject Area: Chemistry

LBC COURSES

LB 172- Principles of Chemistry II

BIOGRAPHY

My name is Dr. Ali Zand, and I am a Professor of Chemistry who most recently taught at a small engineering university in Michigan. For the past 28 years, I have been teaching and mentoring students, sharing my passion for chemistry and its many real-world applications. I earned my Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Michigan State University, and my research focuses on practical and impactful areas such as drug discovery, biodegradable plastics, chemical behavior in porous materials, polymer surface modification, and environmentally friendly membranes for metal-ion batteries. I am especially interested in how chemistry can help solve real-world problems in sustainability and healthcare. I also find it incredibly rewarding to involve students in hands-on research that connects science to everyday life.

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D., Organic Photochemistry, Michigan State University
  • M.S., Medicinal Chemistry, Central Michigan University
  • B.S., Chemistry, Saginaw Valley State University

HONORS & AWARDS

  • 2018 - US Patent#10,058,889 B2-Wear Resistant and Biocompatible Coatings for Medical Devices
  • 2013, 2009 - Outstanding Researcher Award-Kettering University
  • 2007 - Outstanding Teaching Award-Kettering University

RESEARCH

My research spans several areas of Organic, Analytical, and Polymer Chemistry, with an emphasis on projects that have practical and environmental relevance. I study the rates of physical and chemical processes that influence the behavior of chemicals in environmental samples, which has applications in pollution tracking and remediation. In Polymer Chemistry, my work focuses on surface modification of polymers for potential use in medical devices, as well as the development of new polymer materials that can function as proton exchange membranes in fuel cell engines. I am also actively involved in designing and developing biodegradable plastics as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. More recently, my group has been working on creating biodegradable polyelectrolyte membranes for use in metal-ion batteries. These projects offer a range of opportunities for students to engage in hands-on research that bridges chemistry with real-world applications.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  1. A. Zand, N. Walters, N. Bahu, S. Ketterer, M. Sanders, Y. Sikorski, R. Cunningham and L. Beholz, „ Preparation and Examination of Hydrophilic Polyethylene Surfaces as Potential Route to Increased Joint Life in Friction Bearing Orthopedic Applications“, Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 19(4), 2008
  2.  Zand, A.R.; Wagner, P. J.; Song, J.; Tischler, J. “Investigation of Tubulin Polymerizing Agents: Synthesis of Substituted Cyclooctatrienes as possible Taxoid Framework”, Lett. Drug Design Disc., 2005
  3. S. Das, J. Hedrick, L. Beholz, J. Berry and A. Zand, “Synthesis and Performance Validation of Polymer Mesh Supported Proton Exchange Membrane for Fuel Cell Applications”, Journal of Membrane Science, 2009
  4. Hongyang Li, Ali R Zand, Yuri Sikorski, Bojan Markicevic, Jennifer Meyers, Carlos Rincon, Elizabeth Bowden, Travis Bethel, Matthew S. Sanders, Homayun K. Navaz, Montserrat Rabago-Smith “Simple and effective method to measure the diffusion coefficient of organic vapors in porous media”, Analytic Methods, 2011
  5. Homayun Navaz, Theresa Atkinson and Ali R. Zand “Fate of a sessile droplet absorbed into a porous surface experiencing chemical degradation” AIChe Journal, 2014
  6. Darius Sanders, Michael Stogsdill and Ali Zand “ Copper (II) Catalyzed Coupling Reactions of Various Nucleophiles with Boronic Acids” Michigan Academian, 2021, Vol 48, Issue 1, Page 17
  7. Susan Farhat, Mary Gilliam, Michael Magyar and Ali Zand “Plasma engineered surfaces for orthopedic devices”, Journal of Biomaterials Science-polymer Edition, Apr 21, 2016
  8. Cheryl Samaniego, Jonathan Wenzel, Lihua Wang and Ali Zand “Superheated liquid and supercritical denatured ethanol extraction of antioxidants from Crimson red grape stems” Food Science & Nutrition, 2015
  9. Mary Gilliam, Susan Farhat, Ali Zand, Barrack Stubbs, Michael Magyar and Graham Garner “Atmospheric Plasma Surface Modification of PMMA and PP Micro-Particles”, Plasma Processes and Polymers, 2014
  10. Susan Farhat, Mary Gilliam and Ali Zand; “Bio-compatible polymer coatings using low temperature, atmospheric pressure plasma”, High Performance and Optimum Design of Structures and Materials, 2014