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The Environment Division Mehran Alaee Early Career Researcher Award recognizes an outstanding early career researcher who has made distinguished contributions in the fields of environmental chemistry or environmental chemical engineering, while working in any sector in Canada, e.g., academia, government, industry, for-profit/not-for-profit, private/public sector. Mehran Alaee was always very supportive of junior scientists and their research.
The 2026 awards are now open for submission.
Nominate yourself or a colleague deserving of recognition.
Press release: Award winners will be recognized at the x2026 Conference.
View the Terms of Reference and list of Past Winners
The 2025 Environment Division Mehran Alaee Early Career Researcher Award is:
Ran Zhao, MCIC
University of Alberta
Dr. Ran Zhao received both of his Bachelor’s and PhD degrees in Environmental Chemistry at the University of Toronto, Canada. He worked as an NSERC postdoctoral fellow at California Institute of Technology before becoming an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Alberta in 2018, and later an associate professor in 2024. His team is engaged in a wide range of research topics related to environment and atmospheric chemistry, air quality, and climate change. Specific research directions include wildfire and biomass burning emissions, indoor air quality, cloudwater chemistry, the development and application of low-cost air quality sensors, and air pollution in Canadian poultry facilities.
Past Winners