Dr. Sharifan’s research primarily focuses on understanding the environmental fate of contaminants. He has been involved in various environmental engineering and forensics projects that have implications for human health, quality of life and solving the mystery of crimes ranging from studying the biodegradation of UV filters to investigating the bioremediation of emerging contaminants. His current research is focused on alleviating the environmental risk of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) using nano-based sensors and nanoremediation.

• DHS Grant - Department of Homeland Security (12/01/2024)
• USDA NIFA Grant - USA Department of Agriculture (09/01/2024)
• UTEP EDGE Fellowship - University of Texas at El Paso (09/01/2024)
• President's Meritorious Service - The University of Texas at El Paso (08/23/2024)
• Summer Fellowship - Department of Homeland Security (02/01/2024)
• Mentorship - University of Texas Austin (12/23/2023)

• Ph D in Biological and Agricultural Engineering , Texas A&M University (2019)
• MS in Civil Engineering , Texas Tech University (2017)
• MS in Environmental Process Engineering (ABD), University of Stuttgart (2013)

• Elucidating the phytotoxic endpoints of sub-chronic exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in Endemic Persian Dracocephalum species Chemosphere 370 (2025), Azam Chahardoli, Naser Karimi, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• Redox-active cerium dioxide nanoparticles for mitigating anthracene contamination: Promising solution to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon remediation in stormwater-affected soils Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 705 (2025), Julian Saenz, Somayeh Mohammadi, Bryan Aleman, Parikrama Sapkota, Kelly S. Ramirez, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• Elucidation of biochemical and physiological modulations in Triticum aestivum induced by green synthesized nitrogen-enriched zinc nano-complexes Plant Nano Biology 10 (2024), Zari Shiran, Sedigheh Esmaeilzadeh Bahabadi, Zohreh Razmara, Kavitha Beluri, Nusrat Easmin, Amirhossein Mahdaviarab, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• Magnetically retrievable Nb2O5/CoFe2O4 photocatalysts for degradation of crystal violet dye pollutant under solar irradiation Inorganic Chemistry Communications 169 (2024), Rajendra P. Patil, Daryoush Sanaei, Habib Elhouichet, Munawar Iqbal, Manikandan Ayyar, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• Designing an Interdisciplinary Forensic Chemistry Lab Module: The Impact of Environmental Factors on Treated Hair with Personal Care Products Journal of Chemical Education 101 10 (2024), Jacqueline Guevara, Valeria Gonzalez, Julian A. Saenz, Melanie A. Samalot, Tanique Z. Jones, Luis P. Salmeron Covarrubias, Christopher J. Trejo, Somayeh Mohammadi, Hamidreza Sharifan.

• Advances of Carbon Quantum Dots Sensing Technique for Facile Detection of PFCAs in Groundwater Samples (2024), Volume Arizona Tucson, Somayeh Mohammadi, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• Effect of Soil-Enabled Nanomaterials on Pyrene Remediation from Saturated Agricultural Soil, A Sustainable Environmental Strategy (2023), Volume University of Texas at Austin, Ashley Lozano, Joshua . Arámbula, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• Nano-remediation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from Flooded Soil using Metallic Oxide Nanoparticles: Sustainable Solutions for the Remediation of Polluted Agricultural Soils (2023), Volume University of Texas at Austin, Joshua A Arámbula, Ashley Lozano, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• Building Collaborative Research Network: Challenges and Opportunities (2023), Volume UTEP, Hamidreza Sharifan.
• How to build collaborative research networks. (2023), Volume Webinar, Hamidreza Sharifan.

• Dodson: Internal: Grad student: Biodegradation of Nitroaromatic Explosives by Microalgal Nano-enabled Systems
• USDA: PFAS Fate and Effects in Soil-Plant Dry Hot Climate System as Affected by Engineered Nanomaterials
• Dodson: Grad student: Detection of Poly/Per-fluorinated (PFAS) in Drinking Water Using Novel Surface-modified Carbon Dot-based Sensors.
• Dodson: Grad Student: Sensitive sensor development for PFAS detection
• USA-Mexico: Internal: Investigating Carbon Sequestration and Nutrient Recycling Through Photocatalytic Nanomaterial-Assisted Microalgae-Bacteria Synergy
• DHS: Investigating the Resiliency of Variety of Imported Rice Grains Against Bioterrorism Agent E.Coli and Effective Protective Strategies