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  • Dr Masoumeh Zagar

    Dr Masoumeh Zagar

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  • Google Scholar Profile
    https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GgTU28MAAAAJ
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    https://www.linkedin.com/in/masoumeh-zargar/?originalSubdomain=au
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Dr Masoumeh Zargar

Dr Masoumeh Zargar leads the Advanced Materials and Membranes Research Group and the Water Stream of the ECU-Fraunhofer IKTS Joint Lab on Ceramic Membranes. Her research integrates advanced functional materials with membranes (polymeric, ceramic and composite) and hybrid separation technologies to address critical challenges in water and wastewater treatment, emerging contaminants and resource recovery. Her work focuses on PFAS degradation and removal, microplastics and nanoplastics mitigation, membrane fouling mechanisms and control, and treatment and resource recovery systems for saline, industrial and mining process streams.

Dr Zargar has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals in advanced materials, membrane science and environmental engineering, with her research advancing practical solutions for water security, environmental protection and sustainable resource recovery. She was an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow from 2022 to 2025 and held an ECU Vice-Chancellor Research Fellowship from 2020 to 2023. She has also secured competitive research funding through ARC Discovery schemes and several industry partnerships across water, mining and environmental sectors. Her contributions to research excellence, innovation and science communication have been recognised through multiple institutional, national and international awards and research initiatives, most recently the 2025 WA Young Tall Poppy Science Award and her leadership of The Water Bridge, a semifinalist team in the global XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition.

Research areas and interests

  • Advanced functional materials for water, environmental and industrial applications
  • Next-generation membranes for water and wastewater treatment and desalination
  • PFAS degradation and removal technologies
  • Microplastics and nanoplastics mitigation
  • Membrane fouling mechanisms and control
  • Hybrid oxidation-separation treatment systems
  • Resource recovery and circular treatment systems for saline, mining and industrial process streams
  • Circular water systems and sustainable treatment technologies
  • CO2 capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)

Awards and recognition

  • WA Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2025)
  • ECU Vice-Chancellor Staff Excellence Award for Graduate Research Supervision (2025)
  • ECU Media Award: Highly Commended for Best in Broadcast (2023)
  • ECU Vice-Chancellor Staff Excellence Award for Research, Early Career Category (2023)
  • ECU Engineering Staff Research Excellence Award (2023)
  • AMP Tomorrow Maker Award (2022)
  • ARC DECRA Fellowship (2022-2025)
  • ECU Vice-Chancellor Research Fellowship (2020-2023)
  • Best Presentation Award, ECU Early and Mid-Career Researcher Symposium (2020, 2021)
  • Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence, The University of Adelaide (2016)
  • Winner of the Three Minute Thesis Competition, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Science, The University of Adelaide (2013)

Research Leadership and Service

  • Lead, Advanced Materials and Membranes Research Group (current)
  • Water Stream Lead, ECU-Fraunhofer IKTS Joint Lab on Ceramic Membranes (current)
  • Women in Engineering at ECU Academic Lead (current)
  • Former Co-Chair, ECU Early and Mid-Career Researchers Network (2023-2024)

Professional Memberships

  • Member, Australian Water Association (AWA)
  • Member, Membrane Society of Australasia (MSA)
  • Member, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)

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