Parisa Mehrkhodavandi
Associate Professor
Chemistry
Faculty of Science
Parisa’s research focuses on catalysis and bridges inorganic and polymer chemistry. She has developed indium and zinc catalysts for the selective and controlled polymerization of lactones, some bio-sourced, to form biodegradable material. These catalytic systems have allowed the precise formation of block copolymers and star shaped polymers as well as immortal polymerization of various monomers in the presence of alcohols. These catalytic systems are air and moisture tolerant, limit the need for purification of monomers, and make reactivity with bio-based monomers possible.