Team
Dr. Maryam Salehi
Maryam Salehi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri. She applies her expertise in water chemistry, polymers, and surface sciences to investigate plastic pollutants’ fate within the aquatic environment and examine the contaminant transport within potable water plumbing systems. She also conducts research to develop advanced nanofibrous filters for removing contaminant from water and wastewater. Her research has been supported by NSF, USDA, Tennessee State agencies, and private firms. She received her NSF Early CAREER award in 2021 for investigating the plastic pollutant fate and heavy metals transport in stormwater. Prior to joining MU, she worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis from 2018 to 2022.
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor (Sep 2024- Current)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Missouri-Columbia, MO
Assistant Professor (Aug 2022- Aug 2024)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Missouri-Columbia, MO
Assistant Professor (Aug 2018-July2022)
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Post Doc Research Assistant (Aug 2017-July 2018)
School of Civil Engineering
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Post Doc/Research Scholar (March 2012-May 2013)
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Coastal Engineering
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
Education
Ph.D. Civil Engineering Purdue University (2014-2017)
MSc. Civil Engineering University of South Alabama (2013-2014)
Ph.D. Textile Engineering Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran (2008-2012)
MSc. Textile Engineering Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran (2008-2012)
BSc. Textile Engineering Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran (2008-2012)
Current Ph.D. Students
Arghavan Beheshtimaal
Research: Microplastics' transport with stormwater, Mizzou
Anandu Nair Gopakumar
Research: Microplastics' fragmentation and removal processes, Mizzou
Dibya Kanti Datta
Research: Heavy metals' fate within plastic potable water plumbing, Mizzou
Atif Bashir
Research: Microplastics transport by stormwater runoff, Mizzou
Linkon Battacharjee
Research: Plastics' mechanical degradation within the agricultural soil system, UofM
Shima Ghoochani
Research: Lead release from plastic potable water plumbing materials, UofM
Ph.D. Graduates
Gholamreza Bonyadinejad
Ph.D. study (2020-2023), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Memphis
Dissertation Title: Investigating the Environmental Weathering of Plastics Used within the Agricultural Fields
Md Hadiuzzaman
Ph.D. study (2019-2023), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Memphis
Dissertation Title: An Investigation of Physicochemical Processes That Influence Heavy Metals Fate Within Plastic Materials
Post Doctoral Research Assistants
Alexander Ccanccapa
Post Doc (2023-2024)
Amali Herath
Former Post Doc (2021-2022)
Dave DeSimone
Former Post Doc (2019-2021)
Former MSC Graduates:
Name: Laura Patton
Project Title: “Studying plastic pollution in urban stormwater runoff”
Status: Graduated Spring 2019
The University of Memphis
Name: Tanvir Ahamed
Thesis Title: “investigate the role of biofilm and water chemistry on lead deposition onto and release from polyethylene: an implication for potable water pipes”
Status: Graduated Summer 2020
The University of Memphis
Name: Khashayar Aghilinasorllahabadi
Thesis Title: “Investigate the contaminant fate and transport within stormwater”
Status: Graduated Summer 2020
The University of Memphis
Name: Donya Sharaffodinzadeh
Project Title: “Advance modification of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers for enhanced removal of hexavalent chromium from water”
Status: Graduated Fall 2020
The University of Memphis
Name: Shima Ghoochani
Project Title: “Studying the impacts of non-routine extended schools' closure on heavy metal release into tap water”
Status: Graduated Fall 2021
The University of Memphis