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Susana Y.Kimura-Hara, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry

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Email: s.kimurahara@ucalgary.ca

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​Dr. Susana Y. Kimura-Hara joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Calgary in July 2017. Additionally, Susana is a Tier 2 chairholder of the CRC in Analytical and Aquatic Chemistry. Prior to joining the University of Calgary, Susana was a postdoctoral fellow for two and a half years in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina and a postdoctoral research fellow for one year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Susana obtained her M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and B.Eng. in Industrial Engineering from CETYS Universidad in Mexico.

​Courses:  

CHEM 321         Environmental Chemistry                

CHEM 697         Water Chemistry

Meet The Team

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Postdoctoral Research Associate

Dr. Tina Fattahi

Tina started in 2025. She earned her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Université de Montréal (Canada), where she investigated acoustic cavitation bubbles and their dynamics using a combination of experimental work and numerical simulations. From May 2024 to August 2025, she was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Alberta, studying multiphase droplets and their behavior under interfacial reactions occurring at the droplet surface and in the surrounding aqueous phase. Her current research focuses on ozone nanobubbles and reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the removal of micropollutants in water. During her free time, Tina enjoys travelling, trying new cuisines, and exploring fashion.

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PhD Student

Alice Alex

Alice started in September 2025. She studied at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and has a thesis-based masters in Inorganic chemistry. During her MSc, she synthesized semiconductor nanoclusters - specifically, coinage metal chalcogen compounds stabilized by a bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). She received an MSc. in Analytical Chemistry and BSc in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University, India. Her current research focuses on the generation and characterization of ozone nanobubbles (O₃-NBs) and the investigation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in O₃-NBs. During her free time, Alice enjoys swimming, cooking, and nature walks.

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M.Sc. Student

Jessica Whitehouse

Jessica started in January 2026. She received her B.Sc. in Chemistry with a minor in physics in 2025 from Thompson Rivers University, Canada. Her undergraduate research was in the method development of detecting haloacetic acids in tap, swimming pool, and hot tub water using GC-MS. Her current research focuses on the formation and degradation of disinfectant by-products in water when nanobubbles filled with different gases are introduced. During her free time, Jessica enjoys reading, traveling, and performing in concert bands.

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Visiting Student

Edgar Fernandes

Edgar started in September 2025. He is currently studying MSci Chemistry at the University of Glasgow and is doing his work placement at the Kimura-Hara Laboratory. His current research focuses on the usage of nanobubbles in water disinfection and the effects it has on inorganic disinfection byproducts. During his free time, Edgar enjoys reading, chess, and playing video games.

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Jinghui

B.Sc. Student

Jinghui Bai

Jinghui joined in May 2026.

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PhD Candidate

Kumudu Rathnayake

Kumudu started in September 2022. She completed her B.Sc. (Honors) degree in Chemistry from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a tea waste-derived activated carbon–polyacrylamide composite for removing heavy metals from wastewater. 

Her current research focuses on identifying and characterizing disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formed during the bromination and iodination of model organic compounds (benzotriazole) using advanced analytical techniques. This includes elucidating reaction mechanisms and assessing the environmental relevance of emerging halogenated DBPs. Through this research, she aims to improve the understanding of DBP formation pathways and contribute to safer water disinfection practices.

In her free time, Kumudu enjoys drawing and growing plants.

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M.Sc. Student

Chalisa James

Chalisa joined the Kimura-Hara lab as a Master’s student in September 2023 after completing her undergraduate degree in Analytical Chemistry at York University (Toronto, Canada). Her undergraduate research focused on the quantification of amines in seawater with a focus on developing sampling techniques for the separation of target amines from its complex matrix. Currently, her Masters research focuses on the use of nanobubbles for the optimization of ozonation processes (with respect to water disinfection/purification), via the development of an ozone nanobubble generator. 

In her spare time, Chalisa loves becoming a jack of all trades, with her current focus being in leathercrafting and 3D modeling.

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M.Sc. Student

Kin Cruz Dupas

Kin started in 2025. He studied at Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Mexico, where he obtained his BSc in Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering. During his undergraduate studies, he focused on the synthesis and application of nanomaterials for water remediation, including titanium dioxide “nanobowls” and carbon nanospheres. He also conducted research at the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE), where he synthesized gold nanoparticle-based nanostructures for use as biomarkers. In 2025, he was selected for the MITACS Summer Internship, where he contributed to international research in environmental and analytical chemistry. He also demonstrated leadership within the scientific community by organizing a National Conference held in UDLAP.

His current research focuses on ozone nanobubbles and reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the removal of micropollutants in water. During his free time, he enjoys running, going to the gym, hiking, and playing racquet sports.

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B.Sc. Student

Sorsha Morrison

Sorsha joined in May 2026. She is an honours chemistry undergrad at the University of Calgary. Her past research focused on sustainable methods of agricultural wastewater treatment using bio-based polymers. With the Kimura-Hara lab, Sorsha’s research focuses on the detection and quantification of nanobubbles for applications in wastewater disinfection. When she’s not on campus, Sorsha is usually at the gym, hiking or reading.

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Former Group Members

Research Staff

  • Dr. Tatek Temesgen Terfasa, Post Doctoral Associate. (Sep 2022-Dec 2024)

  • Dr. Sunaina, Post Doctoral Associate. (Oct 2022-July 2024)

  • Jeas Grejoy Andrews. Research Associate. (Sep 2023-Mar 2024)

  • Jill Murakami, PhD. (May 2018-Jan 2021)

  • Kyle Lee, BS. (May 2019- Aug 2021)

Graduate Research Students

  • Julia Stroud, MSc (Aug 2023 - Apr 2026)

  • Jorge Pérez Pérez, MSc (Jan 2021 - Dec 2023)

  • Thilina Jayawardana, PhD  (Jan 2018 - Dec 2023)

  • Jeas Grejoy Andrews, MSc (Sep 2020 - Aug 2023)

  • Md Fahim Hossain, MSc (Aug 2019 -Dec 2022)

  • Chad Verwold, MSc  (Aug 2018 - June 2021)

  • Alejandro Ortega-Hernandez, MSc  (Sep 2017-Dec 2020)

  • Raphael Acayaba (Jan-Jun 2019), Visiting from The University of Campinas, UNICAMP (Brazil)

Undergraduate Research Students

  • Kay Le (Jan 2026-Apr 2026)

  • Atlas Brown (May 2025-Apr 2026)

  • Luis Gallegos Ramirez (June-Sep 2025), MITACS Intern, Visiting from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Mexico)

  • Kin Cruz Dupas (May-Aug 2025), MITACS Intern, Visiting from The Universidad de las Americas Puebla, UDLAP (Mexico)

  • Luis Alonso Sosa Vazquez (May-Aug 2025), MITACS Intern, Visiting from The Universidad de las Americas Puebla, UDLAP (Mexico)

  • Alexander Sosa (Sep 2024-Apr 2025)

  • Jasjeet Gill (Sep 2022-Apr 2025)

  • Sandra Estrada Luna (May-June 2024), MITACS Intern, Visiting from The Universidad de las Americas Puebla, UDLAP (Mexico)

  • Britney Cai (May-June 2024)

  • Trang Vu (Sep 2023-Apr 2024)

  • Sydney Parisien (May-Aug 2023)

  • Sydney Parisien (Jan- Aug 2023), NSERC ​Undergraduate Student Research Award 2023​

  • Nefertari Aguilar (May-Jul 2023), MITACS Intern, Visiting from Instituto Técnologico de Celaya (México)​

  • Frederick Van den Brande (Jan- June 2023), ​Visiting researcher from Belgium (Odisee)

  • Jasjeet Gill (June-Dec 2022)

  • Andrea Rodríguez Garza (July-Oct 2022), MITACS Intern, Visiting from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Mexico)

  • Jessy Tseng (May 2020-Aug 2022), NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards in 2020 and 2021​

  • Dhruvin Patel (June-Dec 2021)

  • Chris Tremblay (Sep 2019-Apr 2020)

  • Amy Fahlman (Sep 2019-Apr 2020 and May-Aug 2019)

  • Jorge Alberto Perez (May-Aug 2019), MITACS Intern, Visiting from The Universidad de las Americas Puebla, UDLAP (Mexico)

  • Miriam Patron (Apr-Jul 2019), Visiting from ​The University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany)

  • Matthew Eeles (May-Jun 2019)

  • Tao Siyuan (Jan-Jun 2019), Visiting from The China University of Petroleum (East China)​

  • Kyle Lee (Jan-Apr 2019)

  • Olga Titica (Jan-Apr 2019)

  • Matthew Biscope (May-Aug 2018)

  • Francesca Retuta (May-Aug 2018)

  • Zongying Hu (Jan-Jun 2018), Visiting from The China University of Petroleum (East China)​

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