Mahir Mohammed
Sheffield,United Kingdom
Summary
Well-rounded individual with a strong background in physical chemistry (polymer chemistry, electrochemistry), including skills in languages, programming, innovative thinking and problem solving. Academic (PhD) and industrial (1 year) chemistry experience. Industrial and PhD work focused on sustainable chemistry paradigms using electrochemistry or polymer chemistry. Delivered impact at Wastewater Fuels and James Cropper with tangible results helping drive the aim of net-zero through green hydrogen and electrochemistry. PhD resulting in 3 research papers in top journals including Polymer Chemistry, European Polymer Journal and Chemical Communications.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Scientist (Hydrogen)
TFP Hydrogen / James Cropper Advanced Materials
Launceston, Cornwall
04.2025 - 10.2025
- Produced new scalable Resillion coating processes for titanium components of PEM electrolysis cells.
- Demonstrated low corrosion resistance of coated titanium using Tafel analysis and linear polarization resistance.
- Optimised corrosion analysis, providing JCAM with insights into scan rate, OCP, potential range, and titanium substrate passivation.
- Tested coatings in PEM cells and analysed coated parts using interfacial contact resistance and X-ray fluorescence, confirming uniform coatings with low ICR.
- Presented solutions to PEM cell degradation to industry experts, addressing critical issues effectively.
- Provided support to production teams at JCAM to solve issues such as electroplating parts effectively for ICR machines
- Utilised project management skills to meet deadlines while ensuring clarity in context, aims, and risk management.
AKT Development Chemist (Electrochemistry)
WMG / Wastewater Fuels
Coventry
03.2024 - 09.2024
- Worked with a cross functional team including engineers and scientists in an industrial project, electroplating catalysts for microbial electrochemical cells to act as cathodes for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. Built and engineered an electroplating rig for two alloy catalyst cathodes, saving start-up WWF thousands of pounds and hours in labour.
- Used project management skills and appreciated WWF roadmap and strategy to deliver an effective project result and NPI.
- Optical microscopy, SEM/EDX and material preparation (mounting/grinding/polishing) of metallic alloys.
- Successfully optimized electroplating chemistry for desired characteristics including adequate thickness, coating uniformity, elemental composition and mechanical properties of the deposited coatings. Continuous electroplating process optimisation was achieved together with scientists at WMG and WWF.
- Electrochemical analysis (polarization plots, electrolysis experiments) of the resulting alloys to understand their HER properties: successful in identifying the best catalyst out of range of catalysts, and presented these results convincingly at the end of the project. This catalyst was chosen by WWF as their main catalyst going forward and my electroplating methods are currently used in pilot plant settings to produce cathodes for MEC cells to convert wastewater to hydrogen.
Education
Master of Science - Chemistry
University of Sheffield
Sheffield 08.2015 - 06.2019
PhD - Precision Synthesis Using Nanoscale Electrochemistry
University of Warwick
08.2019 - 10.2023
Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Communication Skills (written, verbal)
- Problem Solving
- Initiative
- Project Management
- Teamwork
- Organizational Skills
Presentations
Presented industry and PhD work at home and abroad. Presented results of WMG Project and James Cropper work internally to both technical/non-technical audiences to highly positive feedback. Presented PhD results in Chicago, Loughborough, Bordeaux, again with positive feedback.
Publications
Published papers in peer-reviewed journals based on research from my PhD project, first author in journal 'Polymer Chemistry', https://doi.org/10.1039/D2PY00412G, Chemical Communications, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CC03582D, and European Polymer Journal, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.113028. Assisted authorship on third paper, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC01312B,
Timeline
Scientist (Hydrogen)
TFP Hydrogen / James Cropper Advanced Materials
04.2025 - 10.2025
AKT Development Chemist (Electrochemistry)
WMG / Wastewater Fuels
03.2024 - 09.2024
PhD - Precision Synthesis Using Nanoscale Electrochemistry
University of Warwick
08.2019 - 10.2023
Master of Science - Chemistry
University of Sheffield
08.2015 - 06.2019