Get to know our Faculty and Staff

Dr. Govind Menon
Director, School of Science and Technology
Chair, Department of Chemistry and Physics
Troy University
315 McCall Hall (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
gmenon@troy.edu
Telephone: 1-334-670-3924
spectrum.troy.edu/gmenon

Dr. Zhiyong Wang
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Associate Chair, Dept. of Chemistry and Physics
Troy University
312-F McCall Hall (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
wangz@troy.edu
Telephone: 1-334-670-3573
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
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Troy University
312-C McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
lius@troy.edu
Telephone: 1-334-808-6556
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/rid/C-3417-2012
He 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 Troy University. 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. Mojtaba Enayati
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Troy University
312-E McCall Hall (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
menayati@troy.edu
Telephone: 1-334-670-3577
He 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 Troy University in 2021, his research will be focused on “polymer recycling”.

Dr. Arun Ghosh
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Troy University
336 McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
aghosh@troy.edu
Telephone: 1-334-808-6758
http://spectrum.troy.edu/aghosh/
Dr Ghosh has received his Bachelor and Master in Chemistry from the University of North Bengal (India) and PhD in Polymer science from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. After graduation he worked as post-doctoral researcher and scientist in various universities and R&D labs in North America and New Zealand. Dr Ghosh joined the Troy University in August 2019. His research interests include processing, characterization and application of different synthetic and natural polymers and their composites.

Dr. Erfan Dashtimoghadam
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Troy University
312-I McCall Hall (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
edashtimoghadam@troy.edu
Telephone: 1-334-808-6688
Dr. Erfan Dashtimoghadam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Troy University. He has received his master’s and Ph.D. in polymer engineering from the Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT). His educational background, graduate and postgraduate training and research represents interdisciplinary efforts to bridge soft matter and advanced technologies. In 2017, Dr. Dashtimoghadam joined University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) as a postdoctoral research associate. His research at UNC was focused on design, synthesis, and development of bottlebrush polymers and networks for biomedical applications. Currently, Dr. Dashtimoghadam’s research in the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS) at Troy University seeks to develop new methods for recycling/upcycling of plastic materials and useful solutions to challenges in sustainability.

Dr. Aboulfazl Barati
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Troy University
336 McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
abarati@troy.edu
He 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 Troy University in June 2022. 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. Pixiang Wang
Postdoctoral Research AssociateTroy University
336 McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
pwang192319@troy.edu
He received his Ph.D. in biosystems engineering from Auburn University. After graduation he worked as research fellow in Auburn University. Dr. Wang joined Troy University in March 2021 as a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. Liu's group. His research interests is focused on analyzing thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties of waste and recycled plastic materials.

Dr. Somayeh Mohammadi
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Troy University
336 McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
smohammadi@troy.edu
She received her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Shiraz University. After graduation, she worked as a senior scientist in polymer chemistry industries (2014-2018). She then joined the Medicinal and Natural Products Research Center at Shiraz University (2018-2022). Her research was focused on synthesis and characterization of novel water-based polymers. Dr. Mohammadi joined Troy University in March 2022 as a postdoctoral research associate. By joining Troy University, her research will be focused on polymer recycling.

Dena G Byars
Assistant to the Director
Troy University
321C McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
dbyars@troy.edu
Telephone: 1-334-808-6721
Emily Sustarich
Laboratory Technician
Troy University
337B McCall Hal (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
cmmslabtech@troy.edu