// Canadian Open Work Permit · No sponsorship required · Certified Radiation Protection Professional (NDT)
Summary
PhD-level R&D / device engineer (Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo) with 6+ years designing, fabricating, and characterizing energy-harvesting and sensing devices (PENGs/TENGs) and translating partner objectives into delivered prototypes. 3+ years leading industry-collaborative programs with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Voss Innovative Technologies Corporation (VITC, formerly Shimco North America), and the University of Toronto — repeatedly exceeding performance targets and shipping ahead of schedule (3× device-output gains, 96% ML classification, multiple projects delivered in ~half their planned time). First author of multiple peer-reviewed papers in Nano Energy, Energy & Environmental Materials, and Advanced Sensor Research, with co-authorship in Nature Communications. Depth across cleanroom microfabrication, multi-modal characterization, first-principles DFT and Monte Carlo simulation, Python/ML on sensor data, and from-scratch custom instrumentation.
Selected Impact
Tripled an energy harvester's electrical output and raised ML sound-classification accuracy from ~80% to a benchmark-record 96% — designing an AutoCAD-optimized, self-powered TENG microphone matching commercial smartphone-mic accuracy (NRC).
Invented a novel lead-free piezoelectric material (lone-pair effect) outperforming its lead-based analogue even at room temperature and excelling at low temperature; confirmed by first-principles DFT, now progressing to patent filing (VITC, aerospace).
Raised Li-ion anode performance ~50% and doubled cycle life with a binder-free SnS₂/MXene electrode that eliminated electrochemically inactive binder mass (Parthian Battery Novin / Iran Nano Battery Network).
Delivered industry R&D ahead of schedule — three peer-reviewed papers in one year against a two-year plan; multiple projects in ~half their planned time, exceeding partner performance and lifetime targets (~1.8× battery life).
Built custom test infrastructure from the ground up: a cryogenic + humidity rig (−150 °C at ±2 °C; RH 5–99% at ±3%) integrating d33, dielectric, I–V, and electromechanical testing, plus a low-O₂ glove box.
NRC (Ottawa): Tripled an energy harvester's output and raised ML sound-classification from ~80% to a record 96% — leading a self-powered TENG acoustic-sensing program end to end (device design, AutoCAD optimization, signal acquisition/processing, open-source ML). Delivered three papers in one year against a two-year plan.
VITC / Shimco North America: Invented a novel lead-free piezoelectric material (lone-pair effect) targeting aerospace-grade, mass-producible, non-toxic harvesting; validated electronic structure & polarization by DFT (Quantum ESPRESSO); built a from-scratch cryogenic + humidity rig (−150 °C, RH 5–99%). Patents in preparation.
University of Toronto: Developed a self-healable, recyclable vitrimer-composite TENG that sustains performance under harsh/high-temperature conditions — delivered in 8 months against a 12-month plan (Nano Energy).
Developed multi-layer cascaded nanogenerator architectures for low-temperature / cryogenic operation; executed full fabrication (photolithography, thin-film deposition, electrode patterning, encapsulation, electrical/electromechanical characterization).
Research leadership: drove three concurrent collaborator-driven projects concept-to-prototype; mentored co-op and URA students. Featured on CTV News & UWaterloo News.
Graduate Research Assistant
Feb 2021 – Feb 2022
Sharif University of Technology · Battery Research Group
Raised Li-ion anode performance ~50% and doubled cycle life with a binder-free SnS₂ anode using Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene as conductive binder; led the battery research group (planning, workflows, team).
Synthesized SnS₂ nanostructured anodes; fabricated freestanding MXene and graphene-oxide papers; optimized binder engineering (PEDOT:PSS, PVDF, CMC); developed 2D-material transfer protocols.
Designed, built, and programmed a custom in-house glove box for O₂- and moisture-sensitive cell fabrication.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nov 2019 – Feb 2021
Sharif University of Technology · Parthian Battery Novin / Iran Nano Battery Network
Delivered industry milestones far ahead of schedule (~8 mo vs 18; ~12 mo vs 24) while exceeding targets (~1.8× battery life); developed a holey/porous graphene anode (~20% gain) and self-healing MXene-based composite anodes.
Improved SnS₂–graphene anode ~20% over literature via optimized Hummers' GO route; synthesized Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene (LiF/HCl etching); performed PEDOT:PSS circuit/sensor printing.
Undergraduate Researcher
Feb – Aug 2018
Iran University of Science & Technology
Reproduced, via stochastic Monte Carlo, the saturation behavior of the ballistic-deposition model — roughness scaling exponents and Family–Vicsek dynamic scaling (KPZ class) on 1+1D / 2+1D substrates.
Studied particle/plasma accelerators; built PVD & thin-film-growth foundations later applied to sputtering, CVD, and cleanroom fabrication; Python simulation & data-analysis workflows.
Selected Publications · author in bold · 16 peer-reviewed total · full list on Google Scholar
2026M. F. Al Fattah, A. A. Khan, S. Khamgaonkar, M. Haji Bagheri, et al., "Photoconductivity-driven quantum efficiency gain in Ruddlesden–Popper Cs₂PbBr₂I₂ perovskite photodetector," Advanced Functional Materials, e22928.
2024A. A. Khan, …, M. Haji Bagheri, et al., "Breaking dielectric dilemma via polymer-functionalized perovskite piezocomposite with large current density output," Nature Communications 15, 9511. [co-author]
2024M. Haji Bagheri, A. Rajabi-Abhari, et al., "Self-healable, recyclable, mechanically robust vitrimer composite for high-performance TENGs and self-powered wireless electronics," Nano Energy, 110306. [first author]
2023M. Haji Bagheri, A. A. Khan, et al., "Advancements and challenges in molecular/hybrid perovskites for piezoelectric nanogenerators: a comprehensive review," Nano Energy, 109101. [first author]
2025M. Haji Bagheri, A. Rajabi-Abhari, et al., "Sustainable live sound monitoring and classification via triboelectric nanogenerator and machine learning," Energy & Environmental Materials, e70044. [first author]
2025M. Haji Bagheri, E. Gu, et al., "Machine-learning-enabled triboelectric nanogenerator for continuous sound monitoring and captioning," Advanced Sensor Research, 2400156. [first author]
2024M. S. Hasan, A. A. Khan, S. Shahzadi, M. Haji Bagheri, D. Ban, "Terahertz radiation detectors using CMOS-compatible SOI substrates," Advanced Functional Materials, 2400313.
Selected Conference Proceedings
2025M. Haji Bagheri, et al., "Self-powered live sound monitoring and classification via TENG and ML," IEEE IFETC, Vancouver.
2025M. Haji Bagheri, et al., "High-performance lead-free composite piezoelectric nanogenerator for efficient energy harvesting," NENS, Beijing.
2024M. Haji Bagheri, et al., "A data-driven environmental sound classification system with acoustic TENGs," IEEE CCECE, Kingston, pp. 881–886.
Teaching
W25 · W26Graduate TA — Numerical Methods (Prof. Douglas Wilhelm Harder), University of Waterloo ECE.
S24 – F26Graduate TA — Advanced Calculus & Numerical Methods I & II (Profs. R. Thompson, P. Neathway).