Reza Foudazi

Email: rfoudazi@ou.edu
Phone: +1 (405) 325-0465
Office: Sarkeys Energy Center, T-314
Foudazi Lab Website
Google Scholar

Education
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2010
Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
M.Sc. Polymer Engineering, 2004
Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
B.Sc. Polymer Engineering, 2002
Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Research Focus

• Rheology of complex fluids
• Polymers in/for environmental challenges
• Soft matter: liquid crystals, suspensions, emulsions, nanoemulsions, microemulsions
• Colloid and interface science

Experience and Awards

• Young Observer, The U.S. National Committee for IUPAC, National Academy of Sciences (2025).
• Outstanding Papers Collection - Environmental Science: Advances by Royal Society of Chemistry, "Magnetic amino-functionalized gaphene oxide nanocomposite for PFAS removal from water" (2025).
• NMSU Intellectual Property Award, New Mexico State University (2021).
• American Chemical Society PMSE Young Investigator (2020).
• PPS Early Career Award, Awarded by Polymer Processing Society (PPS) to outstanding young researcher in the field (2019).
• Winner of Arrowhead LAUNCH Competition, Project: Prosthetic Sleeve Liner, $20,000 award by the Hunt Family Foundation, LAUNCH is a four-month accelerator in which the commercial potential of promising inventions is developed with support and guidance from Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University. (2018).
• Best Poster Award, 2017 Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) Annual Meeting, Los Alamos National Laboratory (2017).
• University Research Council, Early Career Award, New Mexico State University (2016).
• Recognized in the Mentoring Excellence program of New Mexico State University (2016).
• PPG Award for Applied Polymer Excellence (2012).

About

Dr. Foudazi's research group studies the self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules, template-assisted synthesis of porous polymers, and the rheology of soft materials.  The group develops responsive, multifunctional materials for sustainable separations, environmental applications, and resource recovery. 

• Stimuli-responsive Ultrafiltration & Nanofiltration membranes: We develop sustainable membranes with enhanced selectivity and pore structures that respond to changes in temperature and pH.  These materials have potential applications in water treatment, protein purification, and viral filtration.  
• Recovery of Critical Minerals:  We design selective materials and separation processes to recover critical minerals from aqueous streams, industrial waste, and other secondary resources.  This work supports sustainable mineral production and more resilient supply chains.  
• PFAS Removal from Water:  Our group develops advanced materials and treatment systems for removing persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, from drinking water and contaminated water sources.  
• Porous Polymers for Environmental Applications:  Using emulsion- and foam-templating methods, we create multifunctional porous polymers for water filtration, contaminant removal, resource recovery, and improved water retention in agricultural soils.
• Rheology of Structured Liquids:  We investigate the flow and deformation of suspensions, emulsions, nanoemulsions, and liquid crystals.  Our research examines properties such as yield stress, relaxation time, and viscoelastic behavior in liquid, glassy, and gel states.  The aim to develop processing-structure-property relationships.