九秀直播

President

Md Shaheen

Md Shaheen is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the 九秀直播. He is working on developing biosensors targeting different biomolecules for clinical diagnostic use. He is trained as a microbiologist (B.Sc. in Microbiology) and obtained an M.Sc. degree in Microbiology and Biotechnology from the Department of Biological Sciences, 九秀直播 and a Ph.D. in Public Health with a specialization in Environmental Health Sciences from the School of Public Health, 九秀直播.

In addition to his academic pursuits, he has been actively involved in different student organizations and advocacy initiatives. During his graduate studies, he served as president of the Michener Park Residents Association and the Bangladeshi Students Association at the U of A. His dedication to serving the community is also exemplified by his previous role as a resident assistant, where he actively contributed to fostering a safe and inclusive living environment for international student families. He helped facilitate their smooth transition in Canada through educational initiatives and community engagement programs.

VP Internal

Michael Baggaley

Michael Baggaley is a new postdoc in the Department of Mechanical Engineering working with Dan Romanyk. His work is focused on understanding the mechanobiological processes that modulate how biological tissues grow and adapt to match the constraints of their environment. He completed his PhD in Biomechanics at the University of Calgary in 2022 and worked as a postdoc at the U of C for two years before moving to Edmonton. He is interested in improving the well-being and recognition of postdocs at the 九秀直播. He is particularly passionate about the strengths of unions to enact change, and is excited to be a part of the process in working on a new collective bargaining agreement with the university.

VP External

Alsayed Mostafa

Alsayed Mostafa is a postdoctoral fellow (PDF) in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. His current work focuses on combining the principles of environmental biotechnology and bioelectrochemistry to develop bioenergy and resource recovery from waste and wastewater. Alsayed completed his Ph.D. in Smart-City Engineering at Inha University, South Korea. Before joining the U of A, Alsayed worked as a postdoc in the Department of Environmental Resources Engineering at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, USA. He has gained large professional experience from his career working in multiple countries: the USA, South Korea, India, and Egypt. Alsayed has been a member of many student organizations during his student life. Outside of the university, he worked and volunteered with many organizations related to human rights, social initiatives, charity, and political campaigns in Egypt, South Korea, and the USA. Based on his social activity, Alsayed was selected by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation to participate in a program supporting the development of youth capacities, which lasted for 18 months.

VP Communications

Ramana Vaka

Ramana Vaka is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Jason Dyck in Pediatrics at the 九秀直播. His research focuses on studying molecular pathways involved in cardiac energy metabolism regulation to improve heart function in patients living with heart failure.

Ramana has a PhD in Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology and has previously completed industry and academic postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Southern California-Allergan, and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute respectively.

Ramana has a strong passion for academic service, and he was fortunate for the opportunities to serve on several institutional and national student/trainee associations during his training. Currently, as a member of the PDFA, he is very excited to contribute towards PDFA's efforts on fostering enriched postdoctoral experience at the 九秀直播.

VP Finance

Simran Kaur Dhillon

Simran Kaur Dhillon is a postdoctoral fellow in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the 九秀直播. She is currently developing biosensors for environmental remediation and real-time monitoring. Her research endeavours primarily revolved around developing alternatives to address the world's most pressing challenges in water-energy-food security, emphasizing creating eco-friendly and sustainable solutions accessible to all. Her expertise lies at the interface of material science, electrochemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology for developing sustainable and emission-free bioenergy, bioremediation and real-time monitoring systems based on Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs) and their evaluation using electrochemical techniques. 

Having recently completed her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India, following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Bath, UK, in Chemical Engineering, she is eager to transition into the next phase of her academic and research career. She has demonstrated leadership by taking on roles such as student representative in the Institutional council during my Ph.D. These experiences have honed her organizational skills, time management, and ability to coordinate and lead projects effectively. Over the course of her academic journey and research endeavours, she has developed a diverse set of skills and experiences that she believes can be put to excellent use as a member of the PDFA executive.

VP Operations

Razieh Firouzihaji

Razieh is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics at the 九秀直播. Her research focuses on the preparation of graphene quantum dots and the evaluation of the microstructural and optical properties of graphene and other carbon-based quantum materials. Razieh is passionate about exploring the potential of these materials to revolutionize the field of electronics and energy storage. She is originally from Iran and has a background in organic chemistry. Razieh is very enthusiastic about participating in PDFA and contributing to the scientific community.

Member-at-Large

Henry Prown

Henry Prown is in his third year as the Temerty Postdoctoral Fellow in Holodomor Studies with the Holodomor Research and Education Consortium here at the 九秀直播. He is also an ATS in the History, Religion, and Classics department teaching topics related to modern world history. Henry's PhD is in American Studies from William & Mary in the USA, which he received in 2022. His research focuses on Soviet-American media in the early 20th century. As a founding member of that university's graduate union and former acting VP Communications for this university's postdoctoral union, he is very grateful to have the chance to serve his third consecutive term on the PDFA executive board.

Member-at-Large

Rashaduz Zaman

Rashaduz Zaman is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the department of Biological Sciences, 九秀直播. His work is focused on understanding the chemical interaction between plant-plant and plant-insect-microbes in grassland soil and plant communities across Canadian grazing pastures. He completed his Ph.D. (2024) in Forest biology and management from the department of Renewable Resources, 九秀直播 with specialization in chemical ecology, MSc in Molecular Life Science (2019) from University of Jena. He worked as a Research Scientist (2020) in Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Germany. His research interests include Chemical Ecology, Entomology, Forest Health, Climate Change, Microbial Ecology, Multi-tropic plant-insect-microbe interactions and behaviour. Apart from academic achievements, he has been actively involved in different student organizations and advocacy initiatives. During his graduate studies, he served as president and vice-president finance of the Bangladeshi Students Association at the 九秀直播 (2022-2024). Passionate about bridging research and real-world impact, he is committed to enhancing the postdoctoral experience by supporting professional development, fostering inclusivity, and building a strong, engaged postdoc community at the 九秀直播.

Member-at-Large

Alireza Kamrani

Alireza Kamrani is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering at the 九秀直播. His research focuses on optimization and simulation in mining engineering, with a particular emphasis on long- and short-term production scheduling, in-pit crushing and conveying systems, and haulage system design. His work integrates mathematical modeling optimization and simulation and real mine case studies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of open-pit mining operations. He earned his Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the 九秀直播 in 2024 and has over four years of prior industry experience in geotechnical analysis, slope stability, and open-pit and underground operations. In addition to his research, he has instructed undergraduate courses in mine ventilation and mine planning and has mentored graduate and undergraduate students. He is passionate about bridging academic research with industry needs and is actively engaged in collaborative and interdisciplinary projects. As part of the PDFA executive, Alireza is committed to enhancing the visibility and professional development of postdoctoral scholars, advocating for better support structures, and fostering a sense of community among fellows across disciplines.

Member-at-Large

Kathleen Glover

Kathleen Glover is a dedicated infectious diseases scientist specializing in host-pathogen interactions and viral infection mechanisms. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Zhong Lab (Department of Mechanical Engineering, 九秀直播), she leads cutting-edge research evaluating Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) efficacy against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses for in-duct applications. Her work bridges virology, engineering, and proteomics to advance solutions for infectious disease control.

A recipient of the 2025 TD Bank Financial Group Grant for Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Award, she combines rigorous research with leadership as the lab manager and laboratory safety associate, ensuring operational excellence and safety. Beyond the bench, she is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity in STEM as a member of the Black Faculty and Staff Crocus (University of Saskatchewan) and the Canadian Black Scientist Network. With a passion for mentorship and collaboration, she strives to translate her expertise into training the next generation of scientists while driving innovative, interdisciplinary research in infectious diseases.