Sona is a PhD candidate in the Geoscience Department at Utrecht University (UU), where she began her PhD in February 2023 as part of the EU-funded MIBIREM project. Her research focuses on designing a "Prediction Tool for Enhancement and Feasibility Evaluation of Bioremediation" in collaboration with her supervisors, Dr. Alraune Zech and Dr. Johan van Leeuwen.
The primary objective of her PhD is to develop an IT-based modeling tool that supports decision-making on whether and how to apply bioremediation. The tool integrates microbiological, chemical, hydrological, and physical data and processes into a unified platform. By combining established numerical models that simulate physical, chemical, biological, and hydrogeological interactions across various scales.
Sona joined the Hydrogeology Group at UU in March 2019 to begin her MSc thesis, titled “Nano-Scale Numerical Modeling of Salinity Effect on the Pressure Distribution of Thin Charged Aqueous Film.” In this project, she developed a 2D numerical model using COMSOL Multiphysics software, under the supervision of Prof. M. Hassanizadeh, Prof. A. Guadagnini, Dr. A. Raoof, and MSc L. Yan. After completing her MSc, she continued collaborating with the Hydrogeology Group to optimize the numerical model, reducing computational complexity and time by developing an equivalent 1D model.
Subsequently, Sona worked as a researcher and communication facilitator for the interdisciplinary Structure of Strength (SoS) research platform, led by Dr. A. Raoof. In this role, she investigated porous materials for energy storage and conversion applications.
Sona holds a background in Chemical Engineering, with two years of experimental research experience. During this time, she synthesized core-shell silica magnetic nanoparticles of iron oxide for the removal of Tetracycline antibiotics from aqueous environments in the Chemical Engineering Department of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran. Her work resulted in a published research article.
Research Interests:
- Modeling and simulation of reactive solute flow and transport in subsurface environments
- Design and simulation of chemical processes
- Energy transition and energy storage systems
- Nanotechnology
Drug delivery systems
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