Postdoctoral Fellows
Majid Mehrabi Mazidi earned his Ph.D. in Polymer Engineering and Science from Sahand University of Technology in 2016, after completing his Master’s degree at the same institution in 2010. He is currently a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
Majid’s research focuses on understanding the intricate relationships among processing, microstructure, micromechanics, and macroscopic behavior in both bio-based and petro-based polymers. His expertise includes multicomponent polymeric systems such as alloys, blends, composites, and nanocomposites, as well as the recycling and upcycling of plastics. His current work centers on developing vitrimerization-based approaches for the recycling of thermoset polymers, plastics, and composite materials.
He has published approximately 40 peer-reviewed journal articles in the fields of polymer blends, and composites.
Dr. Sakrit Hait is a Research Associate in the Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, where he focuses on developing high-performance materials based on thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites.
He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science in 2022 from the Dresden University of Technology in Germany, where his research centered on sustainable polymer composites derived from alternative feedstocks.
Following his Ph.D., he joined the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, Dresden, as a Postdoctoral Researcher, focusing on polymer recycling. In 2023, Dr. Hait moved to Canada to join the Centre for Advanced Polymers and Nanotechnology at the University of Calgary, where his research emphasized the development of novel carbon materials and recycled polymer nanocomposites for smart and multifunctional applications.
Dr. Hait’s core research interests include polymers, carbon-based materials, advanced composites, recycling technologies, and sustainable materials development.
Graduate Students
Amin Jamei-Oskouei is a PhD candidate in Macromolecular Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, working in the research group of Professor Ica Manas-Zloczower. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Polymer Engineering, which together give him a strong foundation in both chemical processes and polymer structure–property relationships.
His research focuses on vitrimerization and solid-state recycling of crosslinked polymers, with a particular emphasis on ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) and other thermoset systems. Amin’s work centers on understanding and engineering how chemistry, morphology, and processing history control mechanical performance, recyclability, and long-term durability in dynamically crosslinked networks. By combining mechanochemical processing (such as cryogenic ball milling and solid-state shear extrusion) with dynamic covalent chemistry, he develops routes to convert “unrecyclable” materials into reprocessable, high-performance elastomers.
Beyond the lab, Amin is deeply involved in commercialization and proposal development. He has led the writing of multi-partner proposals around sustainable polymer recycling technologies and served as a key presenter in value-proposition and technical pitches. In 2025, he led the proposal and pitch that won a CTP award supporting the translation of his vitrimerization research toward practical industrial applications.
Amin aims to build a career at the intersection of polymer science, sustainability, and innovation, bridging fundamental structure–property understanding with real-world impact in circular materials and advanced manufacturing. Outside of research, he enjoys camping, hiking, spending time with friends, and watching movies.
Research Assistant
Yue is a Research Assistant in the Manas-Zloczower group. She holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and a B.A. in Chemistry from Rutgers University. Her research interests focus on polymer materials, particularly vitrimerization and dynamic networks that offer sustainable and recyclable solutions to environmental challenges.
Undergraduate Students
- Margaret Flanders
- Anna Pavlovska