Madison, Wisconsin, United States
My formative years at Baku Turkish Diyanet Lyceum, Azerbaijan's premier high school, ignited my passion for chemistry. This enthusiasm led me to Spain on a full scholarship to study chemical industry engineering. However, early in my journey, I faced an unexpected and life-altering event—an accident resulted in third-degree burns on 67% of my body. The physical toll was immense, with a four-and-a-half-month hospital stay, a 21-day coma, and 16 surgeries. For many, this traumatic experience might have signaled a need to change direction, especially since it was tied to my chosen field. But my love for chemical engineering remained unwavering. Instead of retreating, I embraced my scars as a reminder of both the risks and rewards of committed research. The field that once brought me to the brink of death became the domain where I chose to excel and make a lasting impact. After a year-long rehabilitation, I transferred from Spain to Hacettepe University (Turkey) and studied there with a full tuition waiver. During my first three semesters, my family generously covered my expenses. In the 4th and 5th semesters, I took matters into my own hands, working as a courier to support myself during my Erasmus studies in Poland. From my sixth semester onward, I was fortunate to receive the 'Rafaelli Scholarship' from the esteemed Azerbaijani-American businessman Turyan Mammadov, which covered my living and international exam expenses until graduation. What I accomplished until graduate school: • 📚 Head of Hacettepe University Office for International Students • 🌍 Two-time winner of the Erasmus+ Study Mobility Full Scholarship Program in Poland (10 months in total) • 🎓 Erasmus+ Traineeship Mobility Full Scholarship Program winner in Poland (2 months) • 🏢 Completed a 4-month internship at Marandi Wine Company • 📖 Published 2 book chapters in Elsevier • 🌟 Worked for almost two years as an undergraduate research assistant and presented 4 abstracts at international conferences in Wroclaw, Las Vegas, and Boston in person with travel awards from the Ministry of Youth and Sports • 🏆 Finalist in TEKNOFEST 2023 • 🎓 6 Ph.D. admissions from highly ranked US Universities • ✈️ Traveled through 27 countries • 🌐 Represented Azerbaijan at the 2023 SDG Summit at the UN Headquarters in NYC • 🚀 Founder of a start-up in FinTech I have built a foundation through international experiences, research contributions, and entrepreneurial ventures. As a first-year PhD student at UW-Madison, I would like to continue pursuing excellence and innovation in chemical engineering.
Co-advised by Prof. Thatcher Root and Prof. Shannon Stahl • Conduct research on novel catalytic oxidation processes • Lead a project on the autoxidation of aldehydes to generate peracids • Investigate catalytic lignin valorization through oxidative depolymerization to aromatic monomers • Design, construct, and optimize aerobic oxidation systems, including continuous-flow reactors (plug-flow, slug-flow, and membrane reactors) • Perform process modeling and performance optimization to improve scalability and efficiency of catalytic systems • Advance sustainable and selective catalytic strategies for biomass utilization and fine chemical synthesis
As a Teaching Assistant for CBE 450: Process Design, I supported undergrads in understanding the principles of chemical process design, economics, and optimization. • Assisting students with process modeling software (Aspen) • Grading exams, memos, and reports, while providing constructive feedback • Leading discussion sections and assisting students with course materials and assignments • Facilitating project discussions and helping students with their design projects throughout the semester
• Attended the 2023 SDG Summit in United Nations Headquarters in New-York through the ECOSOC, engaging in discussions on global sustainable development goals • Ensuring that the presentations are clear, concise, and well-supported by evidence, aiming to raise awareness among global decision-makers and stakeholders • Undertaking in-depth research on various political, land mining, and environmental issues affecting different regions within the scope of the International Eurasia Press Fund's mission • Participating in United Nations meetings and forums, representing the organization's interests, and advocating for solutions to pressing international challenges
• Working on a research project related to obtaining green energy from municipal wastewater treatment plants with environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies by the chemical looping combustion (CLC) process • Working on a review article about waste biomass valorization • Worked on analyzing the different types of DESs (Deep Eutectic Solvents) and quantitative/qualitative determination of chemical elements in Boron wastes to extract Lithium with high efficiency