Milad Kamkar

Milad Kamkar is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, affiliated with the Multiscale Materials Design Center within the Faculty of Engineering's Department of Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on advanced materials design, particularly in the areas of conductive hydrogels, 3D printing, electromagnetic interference shielding, and sustainable nanomaterials. He has been recognized as a Materials Horizons Emerging Investigator (2025), highlighting his contributions to innovative materials science. His work integrates nanotechnology, polymer science, and additive manufacturing to develop functional materials for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications.

Key research interests include the development of structured aerogels via liquid-templating techniques, optimization of nanocellulose-based cryogels for thermal and EMI shielding, and the design of solid-state electrolytes for next-generation batteries. He also explores catalytic processes and sustainable alternatives to plastics. His interdisciplinary approach bridges fundamental material science with practical applications, addressing global challenges in sustainability and energy.

In 2025 alone, Kamkar published breakthrough studies on chaotic direct ink writing (ChDIW), functional Janus aerogels, and MXene/graphene oxide cryogels. His work frequently appears in top journals like Advanced Functional Materials and Materials Horizons. Beyond publications, he contributes to academic leadership through editorial roles and advocacy for sustainable resource management in journals like ACS Sustainable Resource Management.

His research group at the Multiscale Materials Design Center emphasizes translational science, with projects ranging from biocompatible 3D-printed constructs to CO₂ capture using machine learning-optimized metal-organic frameworks. Kamkar’s work has implications for wearable electronics, environmental remediation, and renewable energy storage systems.