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Mohammad Laeini
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, General Faculty
Office Address/Hours
120, Physical Life Sciences Building
Education
M.Sc., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2021
Ph.D., The Pennsylvanian State University, 2026
Biography
Mohammad Laeini joined the teaching faculty of the University of Virginia’s Department of Chemistry in 2026, where he teaches undergraduate courses in general chemistry lecture and organic chemistry laboratory. His teaching emphasizes active learning, student engagement, and helping students build a strong conceptual understanding of chemistry through problem-solving and real-world applications.
Before joining the University of Virginia, Dr. Laeini earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. His doctoral research focused on the post-polymerization functionalization of polyethylene to develop high-performance dielectric materials and the synthesis of compatibilizers for mixed plastic waste recycling.
Dr. Laeini has extensive teaching experience in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and organic chemistry laboratory courses. During his graduate studies, he taught general and organic chemistry laboratory courses, supervised undergraduate researchers, and trained students in spectroscopic techniques, including NMR and IR spectroscopy.
Selected Publications
Boosting Discharge Energy Density of Commercially Available Polyethylene via Post Polymerization Modification. M. S. Laeini, Z. Huang, G. Rui, S. E. Perini, B. D. Vogt, Q. Zhang, R. H. Colby, R. J. Hickey. Macromolecules, (2025). (link)
Polyzwitterionic Material Structure and Dielectric Properties. S. Goel*, M. S. Laeini*, Z. Huang, B. Poudel, R. H. Colby, R. J. Hickey. Langmuir, (2025)
Awards & Honors
Graduate Student $4K TA Awards | Penn State | Fall 2023
Graduate Student Teaching Award | Penn State | Fall 2024