HQP Highlight Series: Ahmadreza Nezamzadeh
Welcome to the HQP Highlight Series: a series of interviews designed to highlight the innovative research and diverse experiences of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) across the Carbon to Metal Coating Institute (C2MCI) network.
Today, we welcome Dr. Ahmadreza Nezamzadeh, a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. Cathleen Crudden on macro- and nano-scale research at Queen's University. Dr. Nezamzadeh will be sharing his insights on the exciting science taking place at C2MCI and the approaches, challenges, collaborations, and career journey behind his research.
Could you introduce yourself and briefly share what you’re currently working on at C2MCI?
My full name is Ahmadreza, but most people know me as Reza. I am a fourth-year postdoctoral researcher at Queen’s University and the Carbon to Metal Coating Institute (C2MCI), working under the supervision of Prof. Cathleen Crudden.
My research mainly focuses on N-heterocyclic carbene, or NHC, chemistry and how we can use these molecules to functionalize different material surfaces. I work at the interface of synthetic chemistry, nanomaterials, and surface characterization, including gold nanomaterials, metal surfaces, carbon-based materials, and other functional materials. A big part of my research involves the surface functionalization of nanomaterials for applications in sensing, corrosion protection, and biomedicine.
What first drew you to your field of research?
Over the last 17 years, I have worked in four different fields of chemistry, including organic, organometallic, polymer, and nanochemistry. Over time, I became particularly fascinated by nanomaterials and by how changes at the molecular or nanoscale can completely change the properties of a material at the macroscopic level.
For example, a small change in the wingtip groups of an NHC can influence how the molecule binds to and orients itself on a metal surface. In the case of nanoclusters, changes at the molecular level can also affect their light absorption, which can even appear as a visible change in colour. That connection between molecular design and real-world material properties is what really drew me toward nanomaterials and surface chemistry.
What’s the coolest analytical or synthetic technique you’ve learned recently? Why did it excite you?
One of the techniques I find most exciting is X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, or XPS. I’ve worked extensively with XPS to understand how NHCs interact with metal surfaces and nanoparticles. What I really like about it is that it goes beyond simply telling you whether a molecule is present on the surface. By carefully analyzing the binding energies and peak shapes, you can learn about the chemical environment, bonding and even impurities. It feels a little like doing molecular detective work on the surface.
Which of your recent projects with C2MCI are you most proud of, and what made it special?
During the last four years, I have worked on multiple exciting research projects. One project I am particularly proud of is our 2025 Journal of Physical Chemistry C paper on the XPS analysis of NHCs and their monolayers.
For the first time, we investigated how NHC molecular structure influences the N 1s XPS signal and showed that surface-bound and unbound NHC species can be distinguished based on their binding energies. We also identified potential sources of impurities that can affect the spectrum, helping improve the accuracy of XPS interpretation.
Tell us about a paper you recently published. What was the most exciting part of the work?
One of my recent papers, published in Chemical Science, focused on gold nanoparticles stabilized NHCs. We designed and synthesized the NHC ligands, prepared the gold nanoparticles, and used complementary characterization techniques, including XPS, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV–Vis spectroscopy, to understand their structure, surface chemistry, and stability.
The most exciting part was combining SERS and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) results to understand how backbone alkylation of the NHC ligand influences its orientation on the gold surface and contributes to the excellent stability of the nanoparticles.
Can you share a time you really enjoyed working as part of a team? What made it memorable?
The gold nanoparticle project is a great example of multidisciplinary collaboration. It involved researchers from the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at Queen’s University, as well as collaborators from the University of Notre Dame and Pennsylvania State University, bringing together expertise across chemistry and physics. Different team members contributed to synthesis, surface characterization, spectroscopy, microscopy, STM, and SERS.
What I really enjoyed was seeing how results from one technique could help answer questions raised by another. It felt like we were solving one scientific puzzle together rather than simply performing separate experiments.
Have you ever worked with people from different disciplines? How did you make the collaboration effective?
Yes, most of my research has been interdisciplinary. I’ve collaborated with the research groups of Prof. Janine Mauzeroll at McGill, Prof. Yolanda Hedberg and Prof. Mark Biesinger at Western University, Prof. Jon Camden at the University of Notre Dame, Prof. Viola Birss at the University of Calgary, Prof. Gang Zheng at the University Health Network, and Prof. David Jenkins at the University of Tennessee. These collaborations have involved researchers in materials science, electrochemistry, surface science, spectroscopy, nanotechnology, and biomedical research.
I’ve found that effective collaboration really depends on clear communication. I make sure everyone understands the scientific question and what information we need from each experiment, but I also listen carefully to the specialists because they often see things in the data that I might not have considered. Having a clear common goal and open communication makes the collaboration much more effective.
Have you ever mentored or trained someone? What did you learn from that experience?
Yes, I’ve mentored and trained undergraduate and graduate students in synthesis, characterization, and laboratory techniques. One thing I’ve learned is that mentoring isn't just about showing someone the correct procedure. It’s more important to explain why each step matters and encourage them to think independently. Teaching someone else also makes you examine your own understanding more carefully, so mentoring has helped me become a better researcher as well.
How do you usually explain your research to someone outside your field?
I try to connect my research to real-world problems using terminology that everyone can understand. For example, instead of starting with chemistry, I might talk about corrosion, how much it costs industries, and how we are developing molecular coatings to better protect metal surfaces.
For my nanoparticle research, I might start by talking about cancer treatment and how nanoparticles can potentially help deliver or improve treatments. Once the person understands why the research matters, I gradually explain the chemistry behind it. I think this makes complex research much easier to understand and more interesting.
Tell us about a presentation or poster session you gave. What made it successful?
I’ve presented my research at several conferences, including CSC. For me, a successful presentation is about telling a clear scientific story rather than showing too much data. I focus on the main question, how we investigated it, and what we discovered, using clear figures and selected data that people from different backgrounds can easily follow.
How do you prioritize tasks when juggling multiple projects or deadlines?
I usually prioritize based on deadlines, experimental dependencies, and how time-sensitive an experiment is. For example, if another collaborator is waiting for a sample or a characterization result before they can continue their work, I prioritize that. I also try to plan synthesis, characterization, data analysis, and writing so that while one experiment is running, I can make progress on another task. Keeping good records and regularly reviewing project priorities helps me manage several projects at the same time.
Can you share a time when you faced a tricky problem in the lab? How did you approach it?
A good example came from our XPS studies of NHC materials. We observed unexpected features in the N 1s region, and initially it wasn't obvious whether they represented different binding environments, decomposition, or impurities. Instead of assigning the peaks immediately, we systematically compared different compounds, deposition conditions, molecular structures, and control samples. That helped us identify possible impurity sources and understand how sample preparation affected the spectra. The experience reinforced for me that unexpected data should be investigated rather than forced to fit the expected explanation.
Have you ever proposed a new idea or method in your work? How was it received?
Over the last four years, I’ve become a much more independent researcher. My supervisor has been very supportive of new ideas and has given me the freedom to explore them, even when we weren’t sure initially whether they would work.
Typically, I discuss a new research idea and its overall objectives with my supervisor. Once we agree that it is worth exploring, I identify collaborators with the right expertise and organize an initial meeting to discuss the project. From there, I help design the experiments, collect and analyze the data, and eventually prepare the manuscript. I also often involve and mentor undergraduate researchers in these projects. Overall, my ideas have been received very positively, and this approach has led to several successful collaborations, research projects, and publications.
Can you share a time when a project didn’t go as planned? How did you navigate the situation?
I see failure as part of the learning process. There have been many times when a project didn’t go in the direction I expected. Instead of giving up or immediately switching to another project, I try to understand what went wrong and solve the problem. I usually use a root-cause analysis approach, looking systematically at the experimental conditions, materials, and procedures to identify the source of the problem. I then adjust the experiment and test it again. I think these challenges often teach me more than experiments that work the first time.
Do you have a favourite chemical element or molecule? Why does it stand out to you?
My favourite element is gold. What I find fascinating is that we usually think of gold as a very stable and relatively unreactive metal, but when you bring it down to the nanoscale, its properties change dramatically. Gold nanoclusters have unique optical and surface properties that make them useful in areas such as sensing and biomedical applications. I’ve worked extensively with gold nanoparticles, nanoclusters, and NHC surface chemistry, so gold has become an element that I really enjoy working with.
If you could turn any chemical reaction into a superhero power, what would it be and why?
If I could turn any chemical reaction into a superhero power, I would choose catalysis, the ability to make difficult reactions happen faster and with less energy, without being consumed in the process. I like the idea of being able to remove barriers and help things happen more efficiently. In a way, that’s also what I enjoy about research: finding a better pathway to solve a difficult problem.
What’s one thing about your research that consistently makes you smile or surprises you?
One thing that still surprises me is how changing something at the molecular level can completely change the behaviour of a material. For example, with gold nanoparticles, a relatively small change in the ligand structure or nanoparticle size can affect their stability, surface properties, and even their colour. We normally think of gold as a shiny yellow metal, but at the nanoscale it can appear red, purple, or other colours depending on the particle size and environment. Even after working with nanomaterials for years, seeing those changes and then understanding the chemistry behind them still makes me smile.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting their journey in chemistry?
My advice would be to stay curious and don’t be afraid to explore different areas of chemistry. Chemistry is a very broad field, and sometimes the most interesting discoveries happen at the intersection of different disciplines.
I started with organic and organometallic chemistry and later moved into nanomaterials, surface chemistry, and materials characterization. Each step gave me a different perspective and helped me become a more versatile scientist. So, I would say: build a strong foundation, stay open to learning new techniques, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.
The HQP Highlight Series is made possible by the support of the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (#NFRFT-2020-00573).
If you are a C2MCI HQP who might be interested in appearing in future instalments of the HQP Highlight Series, please reach out to Dr. Tetyana Levchenko to get involved.
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