Mahdi Hesari
Education
B.Sc. in Applied Chemistry, BASU.
M.SC. in Analytical Chemistry, BASU.
Ph.D. in Nanoelectrochemistry and nanomaterial synthesis, UWO.
AWARDS
- SUNY Oswego Provost Fellowship (2025-2026).
- The Paul De Mayo award (among all PhD students), UWO.
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) union scholarship, UWO.
- Dr. Joseph Soltys Graduate award in Chemistry, UWO.
- Best M. Sc. Student award in Analytical Chemistry, BASU.
- Best B. Sc. researcher of the year award, BASU.
Email : mhesari@uwo.ca, mhesari@gmail.com, mahdi.hesari@oswego.edu
Twitter: @Hesari_Chem
Current student
Undergraduate students
Sean McCoy
Major: Biochemistry (Senior)
Sean is currently a junior student at SUNY Oswego. He is from Queens, New York. Sean has been awarded for the Fall 2021 president’s list and three times for the Dean’s list. He started his research journey in Hesari’s group in the Fall of 2023. His research focus is on investigating single-nanocrystal semiconductors’ charge carriers mapping/reactivity using confocal microscopy. He plans to continue academia past his bachelor’s degree and get his M.Sc. in Chemistry.
When he is not studying, he plays guitar, goes to the gym, listens to music, or reads books.
Logan Tillinghast
Major: Environmental Earth Science Sophomore
Minor: Sustainability Studies
Logan is currently a sophomore student at SUNY Oswego. He is from Waterloo, NY. Logan has been awarded for the Fall 2024 Dean’s list and the Spring 2025 President’s list. He started his research journey in Hesari’s group in the Fall of 2025. His research focuses on converting plastic waste to carbon quantum dots for further applications. He plans to continue academia through his bachelor’s degree and potentially further. When he is not studying, Logan is involved on campus through multiple clubs such as Clay Bodies, Crew, and the Sustainability Club. Outside of clubs, Logan likes to skateboard, be in nature, and enjoy time with friends.
Sarah Bianchi
Major: Adolescent Education Chemistry
Minor: Chemistry and Biology
Sarah is currently a sophomore student at SUNY Oswego. She is from Cornwall, NY. Sarah has been awarded for the Fall and Spring 2025 Dean’s list. She started her research journey in Hesari’s group in the Spring of 2026. Her research focus is on the education of electrochemistry and nanoelectrochemistry. She plans to continue the academic track past her bachelor’s degree and obtain her master’s.
When she is not studying, she is the president of the Women’s Club Soccer team.
Devon Stritesky
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Devon is currently a sophomore student at SUNY Oswego. He is from Mountain Home, Idaho. He started his research journey in Hesari’s group in the Spring of 2026. His research focus is on studying and improving semiconductor materials. He plans to continue working in research and development after his bachelor’s degree and wants to continue his education to obtain a master’s in electrical engineering.
When Doven is not studying, he spends time outdoors hiking, fishing, or hunting.
This can be you!
Past mentorships;
SUNY Oswego, Department of Chemistry
Brian Pond (Sept. 2023-August 2024)
Emanoella Ceni (May 2025-August 2025)
Marissa Ashworth (Jan. 2024-December 2025)
Georgia Mango (September-December 2025)
Janice Caguana (Jan. 2024– December 2025)
Isaiah Williams (June–November 2025)
The University of Western Ontario, Department of Chemistry
Johanna A. De Jong
B.Sc. in Chemistry @ UWO
M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry @ UWO
Johanna de Jong was former M. Sc. student in the Workentin group at Western University. Her thesis was on synthesizing and characterizing TEMPO-functionalized gold nanoclusters towards electrocatalytic oxidation of molecules. During her undergraduate degree, she held three NSERC USRAs, studying copper corrosion chemistry. She also has several research experiences outside of chemistry, which include participating in biodiversity surveys as a stewardship youth ranger during high school, tracking and chipping gray ratsnakes as an assistant naturalist at Murphys Point Provincial park, and conducting field crop research at the University of Guelph.
In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano and spending time with her pets, which include two cats, River and Delta, and more recently a leucistic axolotl named Otto!
She is currently a Research Scientist.
Email : jdejon7@uwo.ca
- John A. Roman; B.Sc in Chemistry, September 2012-March 2013, currently working for a company.
- Joseph A. Turnbull; B.Sc in Chemistry, September 2013-March 2014, currently PhD. student in corrosion at Jamie Noel group at UWO, one coauthored paper.
- Ryan Whyte; B.Sc in Chemistry, May 2014-August 2015, currently working for a company. One coauthored paper.
- Kenneth Chu; B.Sc in Chemistry, September 2015-March 2016, currently PhD. student at Z. Ding’s group at the University of Western Ontario.
Bu Ali Sina University, Department of Chemistry
- Dehbani, Ebrahim; M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry, September 2004.
- Amani, Ameneh; M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry (Electrochemistry), currently faculty member at the university of Malayer, Iran.
- Dehdashtian, Sara; M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry (Electrochemistry), currently PhD. student at Kermanshah University.
- Karbasi, Hanieh; M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry (Electrochemistry), currently working in a private company in Iran.
Mahdi Hesari 