Ali Zand

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Ali Zand, Ph.D.

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About

Dr. Zand’s research interests are centered around the development of I) an experimental protocol for the spread,
contact, and transfer of chemical agents into a porous material such as sand, fabrics, equipment, and paint that allow
the measurements of the following chemical or physical rates: (a) Secondary evaporation of chemical agents inside the
pores (b) Chemical reaction of chemical agents with water inside the pores (c) Adsorption and diffusion of chemical
agents into porous solids (d) Modeling multi-liquid diffusion and chemistry for chemical agents and decontaminants
(3)Measurement of reaction rates of chemical agents in porous media; II) Polymer Chemistry- with focus on Surface
modification /engineering of polymers or design of new polymer platforms ; III) Medicinal organic chemistry -with focus
on (a) combinatorial-synthesis of several analogs of tetrahydrofolate as possible anti-cancer drugs and (b)
photochemical synthesis of Taxol analogs (c) Synthesis and evaluation of collagenase and HDAC-inhibitors as potential
anti-angiogenic agents for treatment of cancer (d)Sub and Super critical Extraction, isolation and characterization of
organic components of Plant material and evaluation of their activity as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and/or anti-
tumor agents; IV)Synthetic Chemistry- with focus on discovery of new catalysts or new reactions or reaction conditions
(green synthesis) for production of organic compounds.

What conditions, environment, circumstances, etc. make the learning process more effective? This fundamental
question grips every teacher whenever he or she stands in front of a class to deliver a lecture on a new topic. Dr. Zand
believes that active/ cooperative learning provides the most conducive environment for understanding. Cooperative
learning allows students to interact with each other and with the instructor to divide complex problems into
manageable parts for solutions. The learning process becomes easier and the topic becomes more interesting once the
students work through a problem and try to explain their answer to others. Furthermore, learning to interact with
others prepares the students for the "real" world; where they must work in a group setting to achieve a common goal.
Through cooperative learning students believe that they are linked with others in a way that one cannot succeed unless
the other members of group succeed.

Education/Academic qualification

Ph.D. in Organic PhotoChemistry, Michigan State University

… → 1996

M.S. in Medicinal Organic Chemistry, Central Michigan University

… → 1992

B.S. in Chemistry, Saginaw Valley State University

… → 1989

Research Interests

  • Polymer chemistry
  • Medicinal organic chemistry
  • Synthetic chemistry

Disciplines

  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
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