Zahra Niroobakhsh

Zahra Niroobakhsh is an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), School of Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on soft matter systems, including surfactants, colloids, and polymers, with expertise in fluid dynamics of non-Newtonian flows, interfacial rheology, and 3D printing technologies. She holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Penn State University (2017), an M.S. from Technical University of Darmstadt (2011), and a B.S. from the University of Tehran (2006).

Her work emphasizes stabilizing liquid interfaces using surfactant self-assembly and developing novel biomaterials via liquid-in-liquid 3D printing. Key applications include biomedical materials, microfluidics, and nanostructured hydrogels. Notable honors include the UMKC Early Career Faculty Award (2022) and an ACS PRF Young Investigators Award (2020).

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Penn State University, 2017
  • M.S., Mechanical and Process Engineering, TU Darmstadt, 2011
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran, 2006

Research interests span self-assembly mechanisms, non-Newtonian fluid dynamics, and hydrodynamic instabilities. Her lab (Niroobakhsh PRISM) explores applications in additive manufacturing and soft matter systems.

• Grants & Awards:
  • Early Career Faculty Award, UMKC (2022)
  • ACS PRF Young Investigators Award ($110k, 2020)
  • Best Paper Award, Penn State CERS (2016)

Labs/Teams: Leads the Niroobakhsh PRISM Lab, focusing on Printing and Rheology of Interfacial Soft Materials.