Group members

 

Current Group Members

Dr. Gergo Ignacz

Gergo new

Gergo received his MRes from the University of Manchester in 2018 and his PhD from KAUST in 2023, both at The Szekely Group. Inbetween, he worked one year in the pharmaceutical industry. Gergo has been active in the fields of nature-inspired polymers and machine learning for membrane separations, in particular organic solvent nanofiltration. Gergo is currently a postdoc in our group at KAUST since 2023. LinkedIn and GoogleScholar profiles.

Publications:

Dr Rifan Hardian

Rifan photo

Rifan received his PhD in Materials Science from Aix-Marseille University, France, within the European Commission’s Marie Curie Actions under the supervision of Philip Llewellyn and Marie-Vanessa Coulet. He worked as an Early Stage Researcher at MADIREL Laboratory to investigate the interplay between texture, structure, and reactivity in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), particularly in the case of defective, amorphous, and metal-encapsulated MOFs. His research interest encompasses gas storage, separation, and heterogenous catalysis. Read more about Rifan at his Blog, LinkedIn and GoogleScholar profiles.

Publications:

 

Viktor Toth

Viktor_Toth_resized

Viktor received his BSc and MSc in Chemistry from the Comenius University in Bratislava at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, where he focused on enantioselective organocatalytic Diels-Alder reactions, and hydantoin precursors for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro protease inhibitors. He joined our group as a visiting student in July 2022, followed by PhD studies from 2023. Viktor’s research now focuses on the synthesis of polymers of intrinsic microporosity for the development of organic solvent nanofiltration membranes. PhD graduation: 2026. ORCiD and Twitter profiles.

 

Claudia Iluhi Oviedo Osornio

Claudia Iluhi Oviedo Osornio

Claudia earned her bachelor’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry at UAQ in Mexico, which provided her with a broad knowledge in chemistry, pharmacy, and biology. Throughout the degree, she was selected for an international placement in Spain and another one within Mexico’s top universities, UNAM in Mexico City. At UNAM, she completed her dissertation, which centered on complementing computational tools, statistics, and laboratory results to drastically reduce the time required for drug discovery. Nowadays, she is working towards her MS-PhD degree focused on the effect of deacetylation on cellulose acetate membranes for liquid separations. Expected MS graduation: 2022, PhD graduation: 2025. ORCiD and LinkedIn profiles.

 

Aron Beke

Aron 2

Aron received his Chemical Engineering BSc degree from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, with a specialization in pharmaceutical chemistry and technology. By combining the pharmaceutical sciences with process engineering and machine learning, Aron worked on modeling continuous pharmaceutical technologies before joining the group as an MS/PhD student in 2021 to extend his work to membrane processes. Expected MS graduation: 2022, PhD graduation: 2025. ORCiD profile, LinkedIn profile.

Publications:

  1. G. Ignacz, A.K. Beke, G. Szekely, Data-driven future for nanofiltration: escaping linearity, Journal of Membrane Science Letters, 2023, 3, 100040 Open_Access_logo small
  2. G. Ignacz, A.K. Beke, G. Szekely, Data-driven investigation of process solvent and membrane material on organic solvent nanofiltration, Journal of Membrane Science, 2023, 674, 121519 – IF: 10.5
  3. A.K. Beke, G. Szekely, Enantioselective nanofiltration using predictive process modeling: Bridging the gap between materials development and process requirements, Journal of Membrane Science, 2022, 663, 121020 – IF: 10.5
  4. S. Overmans, G. Ignacz, A.K. Beke, J. Xu, P. Saikaly, G. Szekely, K.J. Lauersen, Continuous extraction and concentration of secreted metabolites from engineered microbes using membrane technology, Green Chemistry, 2022, 5479 (selected for 2022 HOT Green Chemistry article; selected for front cover) Open_Access_logo small – IF: 11

 

Diana Gulyas Oldal

Diana

Diana received her BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and she joined the group as a visiting student in January 2020. She continued her work in the group as an MS student from August 2020. She developed green electrospun nanofibrous membranes. Diana defended her MS Thesis focused on electrospinning biodegradable polymers using green solvents in April 2022, and she will continue her studies as a PhD student in our group. PhD graduation: 2025. ORCiD profile, LinkedIn profile.

Publications:

  1. D.G. Oldal, F. Topuz, T. Holtzl, G. Szekely, Green Electrospinning of Biodegradable Cellulose Acetate 2 Nanofibrous Membranes with Tunable Porosity, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2023, 11, 994 – IF: 9.2
  2. F. Topuz, D.G. Oldal, G. Szekely, Valorization of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Wastes as Nanofibrous Membranes for Oil Removal: Sustainable Solution for Plastic Waste and Oil Pollution, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2022, 61, 9077 – IF: 4.3

 

Nawader Alqadhi

Nawader A

Nawader received her MS degree in Chemistry from Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Nawader was a lecturer at Taibah University, after which she decided to pursue a PhD degree. She joined the group as a PhD student to investigate the solvent effect in the field of organic solvent nanofiltration. PhD graduation: 2024. ORCiD profile.

Publications:

  1. G. Ignacz, N. Alqadhi, G. Szekely, Explainable machine learning for unraveling solvent effects in polyimide organic solvent nanofiltration membranes, Advanced Membranes, 2023, 3, 100061 Open_Access_logo small

 

Joyce Cavalcante

Joyce Cavalcante

Joyce received her MS degree in Material Science and Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil. She joined the group as a PhD student to investigate the fabrication and characterization of biopolymer-based membranes, and their separation performance in organic media. PhD graduation: 2023. LinkedIn profile.

Publications:

 

Martin Gede

Martin Gede

Martin received his BEng and MEng degrees in Chemical Engineering from Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and he was a visiting student in the group during the summer of 2019. He joined the group as a PhD student in 2020 to develop nanocomposite membranes and intrinsically microporous polymers for various separation challenges. PhD graduation: 2023. ORCiD profile.

Publications:

  1. J. Hu, R. Hardian, M. Gede, T. Holtzl, G. Szekely, Reversible crosslinking of polybenzimidazole-based organic solvent nanofiltration membranes using difunctional organic acids: Toward sustainable crosslinking approaches, Journal of Membrane Science, 2022, 648, 120383 – IF: 9.2

 

Alumni Group Members

Dr. Jiahui Hu

Jiahui Hu

Jiahui received her MS degree from the University of Manchester under the supervision of Dr Thomas Rodgers. Jiahui’s PhD research focused on exploring the potential of artificial intelligence for advancing membrane separations, and developing novel membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration. She graduated with a PhD from KAUST in 2023. LinkedIn profile.

Publications:

 

Dr. Gergo Ignacz

Gergo new

Gergo received his MRes from the University of Manchester in 2018 and his PhD from KAUST in 2023, both at The Szekely Group. Inbetween, he worked one year in the pharmaceutical industry. Gergo has been active in the fields of nature-inspired polymers and machine learning for membrane separations, in particular organic solvent nanofiltration. Gergo is currently a postdoc in our group at KAUST since 2023. LinkedIn and GoogleScholar profiles.

Publications:

Dr. Cong Yang

Cong Yang 1

Cong received her MS degree from the University of Manchester. Cong’s PhD research focuses on developing green, solvent-resistant thin film composite membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration. Cong graduated with a PhD from KAUST in 2023.

Publications:

  1. C. Yang, G. Szekely, Ultrathin 12-nm-thick solvent-resistant composite membranes from biosourced dialdehyde starch and priamine building blocks, Advanced Membranes, 2022, 2, 100041 (selected for front cover)
  2. C. Yang, F. Topuz, S.-H. Park, G. Szekely, Biobased thin-film composite membranes comprising priamine–genipin selective layer on nanofibrous biodegradable polylactic acid support for oil and solvent-resistant nanofiltration, Green Chemistry, 2022, 24, 5291 Open_Access_logo small – IF: 11
  3. S.-H. Park, C. Yang, N. Ayaril, G. Szekely, Solvent-resistant Thin Film Composite Membranes from Biomass-derived Building Blocks: Chitosan and 2,5-Furandicarboxaldehyde, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2022, 10, 998 (selected for journal cover) Open_Access_logo small – IF: 9.2
  4. G. Ignacz, C. Yang, G. Szekely, Diversity matters: Widening the chemical space in organic solvent nanofiltration, Journal of Membrane Science, 2022, 641, 119929 Open_Access_logo small – IF: 9.2

 

Dr Fadhilah Alduraiei

Fadhilah A

Fadhilah received her MS degree from KAUST under Prof Peng Wang. Her project focused on superwettable membranes for highly efficient separation of oil in water emulsions. She worked on multiple environmental sustainability projects, which looks into treating industrial waste. During her PhD in the group, Fadhilah developed TFC membranes for separations in non-polar organic solvents in collaboration with Professor Suzana Nunes. Fadhilah graduated with a PhD from KAUST in 2023.

Publications:

Dr Mohamed Abdellah

 

Mohamed got his PhD degree in the synthesis and utilization of polymeric OSN membranes from The University f Melbourne in 2020. He worked as a research fellow at The University of Melbourne for one year before Joining KAUST as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Mohamed’s research interest focuses on the synthesis of bio-derived selective membranes and their applications in liquid and gas separation. ORCID profile.

Publications:

Dr Sushil Kumar

sushil

Sushil received his PhD in Inorganic chemistry from the University of Delhi, India. He worked as a SERB-Young Scientist at CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune (India), and a postdoctoral fellow at KAUST investigating the synthesis and applications of covalent organic frameworks. His research interest encompasses designing and synthesizing novel porous polymers for different industrial applications. He was a postdoc in the group from 2020 for 2.5 years.

Publication:

 

Dr. Robert McNair

Robert McNair

Rob explores membrane capacitive deionisation techniques to remove undesirable ions from water. The ultimate aim of the project will strive to achieve clean, drinkable water. As part of the Graphene NOWNANO CDT, Rob develops graphene-based membranes and other 2D materials as a means of deionisation and desalination in collaboration with Professor Robert Dryfe from the School of Chemistry at The University of Manchester. Rob graduated with a PhD from Manchester in 2021.

Publications:

 

Dr. Abdulaziz Alammar

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Abdulaziz investigates the formation and mitigation of tight water/oil emulsions in the petrochemical industry. In particular, he is developing new materials and processes with sustainability in mind. Abdulaziz graduated with a PhD from Manchester in 2021 and returned to Saudi Aramco. LinkedIn profile.

Publications:

 

Dr Mahmoud Abdulhamid

Abdulhamid_Original

Mahmoud joined the group in 2019 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in KAUST after finishing his PhD in Chemical Science under the supervision of Prof. Ingo Pinnau at AMPMC-KAUST. He worked on designing and synthesizing novel porous polymers for different industrial applications including gas separation and organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN). His research focuses on developing newly fashioned polymers prepared from contorted structures and study their transport performance. Google Scholar profile. Having spent almost 3 years in the group, he accepted a new role as a research faculty at KFUPM.

Publications:

E-WEB-Goal-09

Dr Levente Cseri

LC

Levente worked on advanced materials and ion-exchange membranes for various seprations, in particular electrodialysis to tackle the 21st century’s engineering grand challenge of clean water. His research is carried out in close collaboration with Professor Peter Budd from The University of Manchester, and Professor Linda Zou from Masdar Institute. Levente graduated with a PhD from Manchester in 2021 and started working at Femtonics. LinkedIn and GoogleScholar profiles.

Publications:

  • L. Cseri, M. Razali, G. Szekely, Organic Solvents in Sustainable Synthesis and Engineering in the book entitled Green Chemistry published by Elsevier, 2017

 

Dr Hai Anh Le Phuong

HALP

Hai Anh explored innovative membrane-based approaches for separations utilising green chemistry and engineering. Her project is carried out in a close collaboration with Dr Christopher Blanford from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. Hai Anh graduated with a PhD from Manchester in 2021 and started working at RichterGedeon. LinkedIn profile.

Publications:

 

Dr Fuat Topuz

Fuat

Fuat joined the group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2019-2021) at KAUST. He obtained his PhD from RWTH Aachen after which he was a postdoc UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center of Turkey. Fuat focuses on the engineering of functional nanomaterials for environmental applications and separations in organic media. Follow his website for more detailed information. Google Scholar profile.

Publications:

 

Dr Sang-Hee Park

Sang-Hee Park photo 1

Sang-Hee joined the group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2019-2020) in KAUST moving from the Sustainable & Environmental Materials Laboratory at Korea University. He worked on thin film composite (TFC) membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN). His research focused on exploring the structure-performance-property correlation via fine-turning the membrane structures and their intrinsic properties. Currently he is an assistant professor at Korea University. GoogleScholar profile.

Publications:

 

Zsolt Fulop

Zsolt Fulop

Zsolt received his BEng and MEng degrees in Chemical Engineering from Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and he was a visiting student in the group during the summer of 2019. He worked on the development of OSN membranes using renewable resources. ORCiD profile.

Publication:

  1. S.-H. Park, A. Alammar, Z. Fulop, B. Pulido, S. Nunes, G. Szekely, Hydrophobic thin film composite nanofiltration membranes derived solely from sustainable sources, Green Chemistry, 2021, 23, 1175. (selected for front cover) Open_Access_logo small – IF: 11

Virag Voros

Virag Voros

Virag spent her Erasmus scholarship in the group at Manchester in 2018 and visited KAUST in 2019. His research focused on modelling of hybrid processes for nanofiltration-enabled waste utilization. LinkedIn profile.

Publication:

 

Dr Fan Fei

Fan Fei

Fan developed graphene-based membranes for molecular level separations in organic media. He was mainly based in the School of Materials, and he investigated new techniques to characterise graphene oxide membranes. His project was carried out in close cooperation with Dr Christopher Blanford from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. Fan graduated with a PhD from Manchester in 2019. LinkedIn and GoogleScholar profiles.

Publications:

 

Gergo Ignacz

GI

Gergo developed robust polymers and polymer blends for organic solvent nanofiltration. He focused on polymers of intrinsic microporosity and polybenzimidazole. He graduated with an MRes from Manchester in 2018. LinkedIn and GoogleScholar profiles.

Publications:

 

Jiaru Bai

Jiaru Bai

Jiaru worked on the fabrication of defect-free mixed matrix membranes using metal organic frameworks. His project focused on UiO-66 and Basolite F300, their functionalisation, and preparation of solvent-resistant nanofiltration membranes. He graduated with a BEng from Manchester in 2018. LinkedIn profile.

 

Dr Christos Didaskalou

Christos

Christos worked in the group toward his PhD between 2014 and 2017. His research focused on the development of sustainable separation processes using advanced materials. Christos developed membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration and imprinted polymers for scavenging natural products. He graduated with a PhD from Manchester in 2017.

Publications:

 

Mayamin Razali

MR

Mayamin worked in the group in Manchester between 2015 and 2017. Her research focused on sustainable wastewater treatment for the membrane manufacturing industry, long-term stability of molecularly imprinted polymers and revealing the effect of solvent treatment on membrane separation. LinkedIn profile.

Publications:

  • L. Cseri, M. Razali, G. Szekely, Organic Solvents in Sustainable Synthesis and Engineering in the book entitled Green Chemistry published by Elsevier, 2017

 

Dr Tamas Fodi

FodiT

Tamas spent his Campus Mundi PhD secondment in the group in Manchester in 2017. His research focused on heterogeneous catalysis in flow reactors with integrated membrane-based separation. LinkedIn profile.

Publications: