Mr. Mohammad Mahdi Badami | Data Analysis | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Mohammad Mahdi Badami | University of Southern California | United States

Mehdi Badami is a dedicated Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) under Prof. Constantinos Sioutas. His expertise lies in air quality improvement, with hands-on experience in air pollution monitoring using advanced instrumentation such as SMPS-CPC, OPS, and Aethalometer 51. He specializes in data-driven environmental assessments, employing Python for pollution source apportionment and emission trend analysis. His research contributes to community-centric environmental policies and sustainable air quality solutions. Passionate about environmental justice, he aims to bridge scientific research with real-world policy implementation. 🌱🔬

Professional Profile:

Google Scholar

Suitability for the Young Scientist Award

Mehdi Badami is a strong candidate for the Young Scientist Award due to his significant contributions to environmental engineering, particularly in air quality improvement. As a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California (USC), his research focuses on air pollution monitoring and data-driven environmental assessments. His expertise in advanced instrumentation (e.g., SMPS-CPC, OPS, Aethalometer 51) and Python-based pollution source apportionment makes him a valuable asset to the field.

Education & Experience 🏢🎓

Ph.D. Candidate in Environmental Engineering (2022-Present) – USC, Los Angeles, USA 🇺🇸
- GPA: 3.95/4
- Advisor: Prof. Constantinos Sioutas
M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (Fluid Mechanics) (2017-2020) – University of Tehran, Iran 🇮🇷
- GPA: 3.77/4
- Supervisors: Dr. Alireza Riasi, Prof. Kayvan Sadeghy
B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (2012-2016) – K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Iran 🇮🇷
Research Assistant – USC Aerosol Lab (2023–Present) 🏭🌫️
- Conducted air pollution measurements using state-of-the-art monitoring systems
- Developed Python programs for data automation and pollution trend analysis
- Led collaborations with institutions like Harvard, UCLA, and Dresden University
- Mentored Ph.D. students on environmental research projects
Research Assistant – Hydro-kinetic Energy Lab, University of Tehran (2017–2022) 🔬💧
- Investigated fluid mechanics phenomena related to blood hammer effects in arteries
Teaching Assistant – USC & University of Tehran (2018–2024) 📚👨‍🏫
- Assisted in courses on climate change, air quality, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics

Professional Development 🚀

Mehdi Badami has actively contributed to the field of environmental engineering through cutting-edge research on air pollution, sustainability, and emission control. His extensive knowledge of aerosol science, atmospheric chemistry, and data analysis allows him to assess air quality trends with precision. He has developed innovative models for pollution source apportionment, worked on real-time monitoring systems, and collaborated with leading institutions to improve urban air quality. His passion for environmental justice drives his work towards creating actionable solutions that ensure healthier air for communities. His dedication extends beyond academia, as he actively engages in outreach and policy-driven initiatives. 🌿📊

Research Focus 🔍

Mehdi’s research centers on air pollution control, environmental monitoring, and sustainable urban development. His work involves identifying and mitigating pollution sources through field measurements and computational models. He specializes in:

Air Quality Assessment 🌫️📊 – Studying PM2.5 and ultrafine particle pollution in urban environments
Pollution Source Apportionment 🏭⚖️ – Analyzing emissions from vehicles, industries, and natural sources
Aerosol Science 🌪️💨 – Investigating the toxicity and health impacts of airborne particles
Machine Learning in Environmental Studies 🤖📉 – Utilizing data science to model pollution trends
Climate and Environmental Justice 🌎⚖️ – Advocating for equitable air quality policies in urban communities

Awards & Honors 🏆

Outstanding Research Assistant Award – USC, Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2024) 🏅
Fellowship Award – USC (2022-2023) 🎓💰 (Recognized for academic excellence in Environmental Engineering)
National Fellowship for Master’s Studies – University of Tehran (2017) 📖🏆
Top 0.15% Rank in National Entrance Exam – Iran (Competitive ranking in Mechanical Engineering)

Publication Top Notes:

📄 Design, optimization, and evaluation of a wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) for aerosol collection – Atmospheric Environment (2023) – 📑 Cited by: 11

📄 Size-segregated source identification of water-soluble and water-insoluble metals and trace elements of coarse and fine PM in central Los Angeles – Atmospheric Environment (2023) – 📑 Cited by: 7

📄 Numerical study of blood hammer phenomenon considering blood viscoelastic effects – European Journal of Mechanics-B/Fluids (2022) – 📑 Cited by: 7

📄 Development and performance evaluation of online monitors for near real-time measurement of total and water-soluble organic carbon in fine and coarse ambient PM – Atmospheric Environment (2024) – 📑 Cited by: 4

📄 Numerical analysis of laminar viscoelastic fluid hammer phenomenon in an axisymmetric pipe – Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering (2021) – 📑 Cited by: 3

📄 Urban emissions of fine and ultrafine particulate matter in Los Angeles: Sources and variations in lung-deposited surface area – Environmental Pollution (2025) – 📑 Cited by: 1

Dr. Yerbolat Mukanov, Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan

Yerbolat Mukanov is a Kazakhstani scientist with a PhD in Physical Geography from Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (China). His research focuses on climate change, agriculture, and hydrology in Central Asia, particularly drought monitoring and forecasting in the Esil River basin. Yerbolat holds a Master’s in Applied Meteorology from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (China) and a qualification in Agronomy from S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrarian University (Kazakhstan). He has worked in KazHydroMet and is currently a lecturer at Eurasian National University. His work combines scientific research with international cooperation and project coordination. 🌍📊🌱

Suitability

Yerbolat Mukanov’s work reflects the qualities sought in the Best Faculty Award: academic excellence, research innovation, practical impact, and international collaboration. His contributions to climate change and agriculture research, combined with his dedication to teaching and mentoring, make him an ideal candidate for this award. 🌍📚🏆

Education and Experience

PhD in Physical Geography (2016-2020)

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Urumqi, China
Dissertation: Drought monitoring and forecasting in Esil River basin, Kazakhstan 🌍📚

MSc in Applied Meteorology (2012-2014)

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
Thesis: Soil moisture and drought characteristics in Southern China 🌧️🌾

Qualification in Agronomy (1998-2003)

S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrarian University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Thesis: Productivity and quality of wheat grain 🌾📑

Lecturer (Sep 2023–Present)

Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Physical and Economic Geography 🎓🏫

Head of Agro-meteorological Forecasting (2010-2023)

KazHydroMet, Kazakhstan 🌱💧

Grant Project Coordinator (2015-2017)

Ministry of Education and Science, Kazakhstan 💼🌍

International Experience

World Bank project on climate change and ecosystem impact (2022) 🌏💡

Professional Development

Yerbolat Mukanov has developed a diverse skill set through international and national collaborations. He participated in climate system seminars and disaster risk reduction training, enhancing his expertise in climate change and its regional impacts. Yerbolat’s involvement in the World Bank project on climate change and rangelands as well as a Kazakhstan Ministry of Education project on agro-climatic resources demonstrate his dedication to sustainable resource management. His continuing work in climate modeling, agriculture, and hydrology aims to develop strategies for sustainable agriculture and water resource management in Central Asia. 🌍🌱📈

Research Focus

Yerbolat Mukanov’s research primarily focuses on the intersection of climate change, agriculture, and hydrology in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan. His PhD research on drought monitoring and forecasting in the Esil River basin addresses water resource challenges under future climate scenarios. His other research includes soil moisture analysis, drought characterization, and the impact of climate change on agricultural water demands. He utilizes advanced modeling techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess climate impacts on water and agriculture, aiming to inform sustainable resource management strategies and climate adaptation policies. 🌾🌧️📊

Awards and Honors

Certificate of Completion

International Seminar on Climate System and Climate Change, Beijing, China (2013) 🎓🌏

Workshop Certificate

Climate Change, Water Resources, and Food Security in Kazakhstan (2015) 🇰🇿💧

Training Certificate

Technology Application for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Central Asia, Urumqi, China (2019) 🌍🚨

Publication Top Notes

“Estimation of annual average soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated in a GIS of the Esil River basin (ERB), Kazakhstan”🌾📊 (Cited by: 26)