Join us: We constantly look for enthusiastic graduate and undergraduate students; postdoctoral candidates may inquire about possible openings
Principle Investigator: Dr. Saiful M. Islam
Dr. Saiful M. Islam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at George Mason University. Prior to joining George Mason, he served as an Assistant Professor at Jackson State University. He earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Dhaka and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Bonn. Following his doctoral studies, he completed postdoctoral research at the University of Bonn and Northwestern University. At Northwestern, he also served as an adjunct faculty member.
Dr. Islam’s research focuses on the design of functional inorganic materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion, environmental remediation, nuclear waste treatment, and critical metals extraction. His work integrates materials synthesis, advanced characterization, and fundamental structure–property investigations to address critical challenges in sustainable energy and environmental technologies.
His research has been supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Department of Education. He is the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, the DOE-EERE Energy Education Awards (Phases I–III), the 2024 Jackson State University Rising Star Award, and was recognized as an Emerging Leader in Coordination Chemistry by the Journal of Coordination Chemistry.
Dr. Islam has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, one book chapter, holds two U.S. patents, and serves the scientific community as a reviewer and panelist for several federal funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. He has also served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences.
Contact:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (703)-993-6417
Postdocs
Dr. Misganaw Adigo Weret
Joined: May, 2023
Research Area: Lithium sulfur batteries, Li-ion batteries, Sulfide solid-state electrolyte and anode-free lithium sulfur battery.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4891-8526
Email: [email protected]
Graduate Students
Oluwaseun Oketola
Joined: January, 2023
Research Area: My research interests lie at the intersection of materials science and environmental chemistry. I focus on the inorganic chemistry of both crystalline and amorphous materials, exploring synthesis, morphology, and their local structure and functions. My ultimate aim is to pioneer the development of innovative materials that address the requirements of sustainable energy and environmental applications, particularly in the realm of defense legacy nuclear waste treatment.
Hobby: Soccer, Painting.
Email: [email protected]
Shital Dhami
Joined: Fall 2023
Research Area: Functional layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials for wastewater treatment, electrochemical energy storage, and electrocatalysis.
Hobbies: Traveling and spending time with loved ones.
ORCID:
Email: [email protected]
Ahmed Adebanjo
Joined: Spring 2025
Research Area: My research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of advanced functional materials for electrochemical energy storage and environmental remediation. I work with semiconducting porous amorphous solid materials and use advanced characterization techniques such as synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy and pair distribution function analysis to understand their local structure and properties. My research aims to develop materials that can address challenges in sustainable energy technologies and the treatment of heavy metals and nuclear waste.
Hobby: Soccer, driving, and chess
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3677-0873
Email: [email protected]
Ajadur Rahman Shakil
Joined: Fall 2025
Research Area: Semiconducting porous amorphous solids/semisolids and understanding their local structures by synchrotron X-ray PDF, EXAFS and XANES.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8944-9799
Email: [email protected]
Tewodros Temtime
Joined: Fall 2025
Research Area: Semiconducting porous amorphous solids and understanding their local structures by synchrotron X-ray PDF, EXAFS and XANES.
ORCID:
Email: [email protected]
Undergraduate students
Peter Ketende
Joined: Summer 2026
Studying Bachelor of Science (Major in chemistry with a minor in math) at Virginia Tech
Research Area: My current research focuses on the functionalization of layered double hydroxides (LDH) for the selective extraction of lanthanides; I am currently working on intercalating several novel anions into the LDH structure based on their affinity for lanthanide ions. The extraction efficiency and structure of the LDH are my primary areas of analysis. I plan to pursue a PhD after graduating from Tech, so I am currently exploring research areas and programs.
Hobbies: Soccer, fishing, and reading
Lila Nora Sultanzada
Joined: Summer 2026
Studying Bachelor of Neuroscience at George Mason University
Research Area: My research interests include oral microbiology, infection prevention and sterilization, wastewater treatment, and affordable healthcare technologies. I am particularly interested in exploring research opportunities that combine scientific research with improving patient care, environmental health, and public health.
Hobbies: Writing poetry. I am also a certified Dental Assistant
Previous Group Members
Visiting Faculty
Dr. Bhanu Nellore, Assistant Professor Mississippi Valley State University
Graduate Students
(1) Dr. Ahmet Celik (Graduated in Summer, 2022); currently an assistant professor at Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Turkey.
(2) Dr. Alicia Blanton (Graduated in Spring, 2023); currently working as a lab director at Rapid Analytics, Louisiana, USA.
(3) Jing Nie (Defended in Summer, 2024)
(4) Dr. Taohedul Islam (Graduated in Fall 2025); currently a postdoc at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
(5) Dr. MD Robiul Alam (Graduated in Spring 2026)
Undergrads
(1) Ayooluwa Aduragbemi (2) Nneoma Nwaiwu (3) Rodger Russel, (4) Janiqua Bullock, (5) Darius Nelson, (6) Eli Hodge (currently at Eli Lilly), (7) Jamacia Shortee, (8) Hannah Lewis (accepted to Purdue University for MS, Fall 2023), (9) Brooklynn May, (10) Ariel Cox, (11) Sydni Wilson (currently graduate student, University of Pennsylvania), (12) Airin Beals (Fall 2022–Fall 2023), (13) Deja Doucet (Fall 2023–Spring 2024, accepted a position at Eli Lilly), (14) Erika Cottrell (Fall 2023–Spring 2024), (15) Malachi Morris (2023–2024), (16) Hailey Barlet (2024), and (17) Peighton Powe (2023–2024).
Postbaccalaureate
(1) Brooklynn May (Fall 2023-Summer 2024)
Undergraduate Summer Interns
(1) Ayon Ifktekhar (UG, Emory University 2025), (2) Kennedy Smitt (University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, 2018), (3) Chad McKnight (Tugaloo College, 2022), (4) Ramiyah Thompson (Mississippi Delta Valley State, 2023), (5) Riwad Iftekhar (University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Summer 2023), (6) Olujedeg Bridgwater (Mississippi Valley State University, Summer 2024), (7) Peter Ketende (Virginia Tech, 2026)
High School Summer Interns
(1) Ishmam Bhuiyan (Madison-Ridgeland Academy, 2023) (2) Tasmiyah Rashid (Clinton High School, Summer 2024 (3) Suri Clark (Madison Middle School, Summer 2024) (4) Tanisha Islam (Madison Middle School, Summer 2024), (5) Ja’Nilla Frye (German Town High School, 2025), (6) Ambika Deo (Brandon High School, 2025), (7) Arrianne Almeida (Langley High School 2026), (8) Madhav Kallurkar (Thomas Jefferson Science and Technology High School, 2026)
Dr. Subrata Chandra Roy
Joined: December 2021
Research Area: 2D materials, aerogels, lithium ion batteries, wastewater treatment and nuclear waste treatment
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8506-5484
Email: [email protected]
Current position: Assistant Professor, Jackson State University
Dr. Ravichandran Chitra Rohit
Joined: October, 2023
Research Area: Supercapattery, Electrocatalysis and waste water treatment.
Hobby: Movies and badminton.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6601-1891
Email: [email protected]
Current position: Assistant Manager R&D in hydrogen Production plant, Gujarat
MD Taohedul Islam
Joined: January, 2022
Research Area: Synthesis of chalcogels and chalcocarbogels for their applications in energy storage; local structure determination of amorphous solids using synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis.
Hobby: Learning about different cultures.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-398X
Email: [email protected]