Amira Abdelrasoul

Amira Abdelrasoul received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Alexandria University, Egypt. She then completed a Master of Science from Kuwait University, Kuwait, and went on to receive her PhD from Ryerson University (currently Toronto Metropolitan University), Canada, where she completed postdoctoral research. She is also a licensed professional engineer at Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) and Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS).

Abdelrasoul started her career as a research assistant at the American Engineering Consultants ARAMCO in 2000. She joined Kuwait Polyurethane Industry as a R&D polymer process engineer in 2002. Later, she served as a research and teaching assistant at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait, from 2005 to 2008. During this time, she joined Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research as a research assistant in 2006. In 2008, she started working as a product development engineer at J Composites Inc, Canada.

Abdelrasoul became a teaching assistant at Ryerson University in 2011 while simultaneously pursuing a PhD. In 2015, she got promoted to the position of lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Ryerson, where she was also a postdoctoral research associate.

In 2017, Abdelrasoul joined the University of Saskatchewan's chemical and biological engineering department as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in July 2022. She is the principal investigator of the Hemodialysis Membrane Science and Nanotechnology Research Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.

In 2019, she was an early career investigator in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Peer Review Committee for the Project Grant Competition.{{Cite web |last=Canadian Institutes of Health Research |title=2019 Peer Review Committee - Project Grant Competition: Spring 2019 |date=9 October 2019 |url=https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/51716.html}} In 2020, Abdelrasoul co-chaired the Exploration Multidisciplinary Review Panel of New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |title=2020 Exploration Multidisciplinary Review Panel Co-chairs' Report |url=https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/exploration/2020/co-chair_report-rapport_des_copresidents-eng.aspx?wbdisable=true}}{{Cite web |last=Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council |title=Multidisciplinary Review Panel Members: 2020 Exploration |url=https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/exploration/2020/multidisciplinary_review_panel_members-membres_du_comite_d_evaluation_multidisciplinaire-eng.aspx}}

Abdelrasoul is also an associate member of numerous educational and research institutes, including the Biomedical Engineering Division at University of Saskatchewan,{{Cite web |last=University of Saskatchewan |title=The Division of Biomedical Engineering |url=https://engineering.usask.ca/departments/biomed.php#ContactUs}} Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan,{{Cite web |title=Amira Abdelrasoul - Global Institute for Water Security {{!}} University of Saskatchewan |url=https://water.usask.ca/about/profiles/people/amira-abdelrasoul-.php |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=water.usask.ca}} Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Saskatchewan,{{Cite web |last=University of Saskatchewan |title=Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning |url=https://teaching.usask.ca/about/units/gwenna-moss-centre-for-teaching-and-learning.php#Contributors}} Yeates School of Graduate Studies at the Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Kidney Health and Disease (M3K) Committee. In addition she is a member of M3K Organizing Committee for the second pan-Canadian Molecules and Mechanisms Mediating Kidney Health and Disease (M3K) Meeting in Montreal, Canada in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Canadian Kideny Conference |title=M3K Scientific Meeting and Investigator Summit |url=https://www.m3kidney.ca/}}

Since 2018, Abdelrasoul has been a part of the Membrane Technology Design Projects Client at the University of Toronto for Engineering Strategies and Practice Course (ESP) APS112 and APS113. She joined Scientific Reports as an editorial board member in 2022.

Abdelrasoul also achieved a teaching portfolio with a University Teaching Development Professional Program (UTDP) accredited by SEDA (Staff and Educational Development Association) in the United Kingdom. She is a licensed Instructional Skills and Educational Development Facilitator and a Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association (FSEDA).

She has launched the Women in Engineering (WIE) chapter in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Saskatchewan, and she has been the WIE chair since 2018 to support and lead WIE undergraduate and graduate students; to support equity, diversity, and inclusion; and to mentor female student to build skills and reach crucial milestones.{{Cite web |title=Women in Engineering-CBE - College of Engineering {{!}} University of Saskatchewan |url=https://engineering.usask.ca/students/get-involved/women-in-engineering-cbe.php#Committeemembers |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=engineering.usask.ca}}

At University of Saskatchewan, Abdelrasoul initiated and incepted the first hemodialysis membrane research program in Canada. Her interdisciplinary research program focuses on solving existing hemodialysis problems, decreasing morbidity and mortality rates of hemodialysis patients, increasing the quality of life of kidney failure patients, and decreasing the high costs to the healthcare system in Canada and beyond that are normally attributed to hemodialysis and its shortcomings. Abdelrasoul was on the top list of the first NFRF competition of 2018 exploration for her interdisciplinary, international, high-risk/high-reward and fast-breaking research funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |title=Award Recipients: 2018 Exploration |url=https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/exploration/2018/award_recipients-titulaires_subvention-eng.aspx}}

Abdelrasoul has pioneered the use of customized gold nanoparticles to label and track the movement of specific blood proteins through hemodialysis membranes, which has proven to be a significant advance towards achieving more biocompatible dialysis membranes. The work she has done has led to groundbreaking advances in hemodialysis membrane science and technology.  For example, one recent study was the first to be able to predict the inflammation that patients may experience after a dialysis session.  With the new information she has gathered through her work at CLS, she is now able to create new designs and membrane materials to be tested in dialysis applications. Abdelrasoul's research program progress was featured in The Conversation Canada in April 2022.{{Cite web|date=2022-04-12|title=Hemodialysis: New research could vastly improve this life-sustaining treatment for kidney failure patients|URL=https://theconversation.com/hemodialysis-new-research-could-vastly-improve-this-life-sustaining-treatment-for-kidney-failure-patients-180825}} She has been interviewed by CTV Your Morning{{Cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title='We are getting closer': Canadian research team develops tool to minimize dialysis complications |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/we-are-getting-closer-canadian-research-team-develops-tool-to-minimize-dialysis-complications-1.5876817 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} and CTV News.{{Cite web |last=Ciona |first=M. |title=CTV News Saskatoon |date=13 September 2021 |url=https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2280432}} In 2022, she was invited to deliver a lecture on the life/ nephrology campus in Germany.{{Cite web |last=Care |first=F. M. |title=Life/2022 membrane symposium. Life/ Nephrology Campus. |url=https://www.nephrologycampus.com/symposia-webinars/detail/?eventid=231e9b64-1603-4201-9d6c-4514557465d4}}

She is an active member of the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR). She is working with dialysis patients and conducting targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives to facilitate sharing of the findings of her research program in non-academic mediums and with stakeholders. This work is partially funded by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) to further develop research directions toward patient outcomes.{{Cite web |last=SHRF |first=Chelsea Cunningham for |date=2022-10-19 |title=Aligning research for Saskatchewan health challenges: Align Grant results |url=https://www.shrf.ca/post/aligning-research-for-saskatchewan-health-challenges-align-grant-results |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=SHRF |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=SHRF |first=Chelsea Cunningham for |date=2022-09-27 |title=Five new knowledge mobilization projects funded through 2022-23 Research Connections |url=https://www.shrf.ca/post/five-new-knowledge-mobilization-projects-funded-through-2022-23-research-connections |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=SHRF |language=en}}

Her team was the first in Canada to conduct in-depth studies of the chemical and physical characteristics of hemodialysis membranes used in Canadian hospitals.{{Cite journal |last1=Westphalen |first1=Heloisa |last2=Saadati |first2=Shaghayegh |last3=Eduok |first3=Ubong |last4=Abdelrasoul |first4=Amira |last5=Shoker |first5=Ahmed |last6=Choi |first6=Phillip |last7=Doan |first7=Huu |last8=Ein-Mozaffari |first8=Farhad |date=2020-09-09 |title=Case studies of clinical hemodialysis membranes: influences of membrane morphology and biocompatibility on uremic blood-membrane interactions and inflammatory biomarkers |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=14808 |doi=10.1038/s41598-020-71755-8 |pmid=32908160 |pmc=7481195 |bibcode=2020NatSR..1014808W |issn=2045-2322}}{{Cite journal |last1=Westphalen |first1=Heloisa |last2=Abdelrasoul |first2=Amira |last3=Shoker |first3=Ahmed |last4=Zhu |first4=Ning |date=2021-03-15 |title=Assessment of hemodialysis clinical practices using polyaryl ether sulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PAES: PVP) clinical membrane: Modeling of in vitro fibrinogen adsorption, in situ synchrotron-based imaging, and clinical inflammatory biomarkers investigations |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383586620326095 |journal=Separation and Purification Technology |language=en |volume=259 |pages=118136 |doi=10.1016/j.seppur.2020.118136 |s2cid=229472450 |issn=1383-5866|url-access=subscription }} Her team also worked on modeling membrane characteristics and clinical practices to predict inflammation in dialysis patients. This work is now expanding to consider how different membranes and practices affect patients of different sexes, genders, and races, and with different medical histories.{{Cite journal |last1=Westphalen |first1=Heloisa |last2=Saadati |first2=Shaghayegh |last3=Bahig |first3=Jumanah |last4=Doan |first4=Huu |last5=Shoker |first5=Ahmed |last6=Abdelrasoul |first6=Amira |date=2022-08-04 |title=Impact of Dialysis Clinical Operating Conditions on Human Serum Protein-Mediated Inflammatory Biomarkers Released in Patients Using Polyarylethersulfone Membranes |journal=Journal of Composites Science |language=en |volume=6 |issue=8 |pages=226 |doi=10.3390/jcs6080226 |issn=2504-477X|doi-access=free }} Abdelrasoul is working on synthesizing new and improved hemodialysis membranes. This direction will lead to new membranes that are more compatible with patient blood, and thus will enhance their quality of life and address a critical health and economic problem in Canada.{{Cite journal |last1=Saadati |first1=Shaghayegh |last2=Westphalen |first2=Heloisa |last3=Eduok |first3=Ubong |last4=Abdelrasoul |first4=Amira |last5=Shoker |first5=Ahmed |last6=Choi |first6=Phillip |last7=Doan |first7=Huu |last8=Ein-Mozaffari |first8=Farhad |last9=Zhu |first9=Ning |date=2020-12-01 |title=Biocompatibility enhancement of hemodialysis membranes using a novel zwitterionic copolymer: Experimental, in situ synchrotron imaging, molecular docking, and clinical inflammatory biomarkers investigations |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928493120332197 |journal=Materials Science and Engineering: C |language=en |volume=117 |pages=111301 |doi=10.1016/j.msec.2020.111301 |pmid=32919662 |s2cid=221674049 |issn=0928-4931|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Mollahosseini |first1=Arash |last2=Abdelrasoul |first2=Amira |date=2022-06-01 |title=Novel insights in hemodialysis: Most recent theories on membrane hemocompatibility improvement |journal=Biomedical Engineering Advances |language=en |volume=3 |pages=100034 |doi=10.1016/j.bea.2022.100034 |s2cid=248735938 |issn=2667-0992|doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last1=Eduok |first1=Ubong |last2=Camara |first2=Heloisa |last3=Abdelrasoul |first3=Amira |last4=Shoker |first4=Ahmed |date=2022-09-12 |title=Influence of UV‐irradiation intensity and exposure duration on the hemobiocompatibility enhancement of a novel synthesized phosphobetaine zwitterions polyethersulfone clinical hemodialysis membranes |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbm.b.34936 |journal=Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials |language=en |volume=110 |issue=3 |pages=573–586 |doi=10.1002/jbm.b.34936 |pmid=34510718 |s2cid=237493052 |issn=1552-4973|url-access=subscription }}

Her team has developed a theoretical model using computer simulations of molecule interactions to gain insight the interaction between blood proteins and the HD membranes currently used in hospitals.{{Cite journal |last1=Mollahosseini |first1=Arash |last2=Argumeedi |first2=Srija |last3=Abdelrasoul |first3=Amira |last4=Shoker |first4=Ahmed |date=2020-12-01 |title=A case study of poly (aryl ether sulfone) hemodialysis membrane interactions with human blood: Molecular dynamics simulation and experimental analyses |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169260720315753 |journal=Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine |language=en |volume=197 |pages=105742 |doi=10.1016/j.cmpb.2020.105742 |pmid=32947069 |s2cid=221798755 |issn=0169-2607|url-access=subscription }} Abdelrasoul's recent{{When|date=January 2023}} work at the CLS has led to groundbreaking advances in HD membrane science and technology. For the first time, her research has directly linked the characteristics of the commercial membranes used in Canada to patient side effects.{{Cite journal |last1=Saadati |first1=Shaghayegh |last2=Eduok |first2=Ubong |last3=Westphalen |first3=Heloisa |last4=Abdelrasoul |first4=Amira |last5=Shoker |first5=Ahmed |last6=Choi |first6=Phillip |last7=Doan |first7=Huu |last8=Ein-Mozaffari |first8=Farhad |last9=Zhu |first9=Ning |date=2021-12-01 |title=In situ synchrotron imaging of human serum proteins interactions, molecular docking and inflammatory biomarkers of hemocompatible synthesized zwitterionic polymer coated-polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dialysis membranes |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468023021005824 |journal=Surfaces and Interfaces |language=en |volume=27 |pages=101505 |doi=10.1016/j.surfin.2021.101505 |s2cid=241207411 |issn=2468-0230|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Saadati |first1=Shaghayegh |last2=Eduok |first2=Ubong |last3=Westphalen |first3=Heloisa |last4=Abdelrasoul |first4=Amira |last5=Shoker |first5=Ahmed |last6=Choi |first6=Phillip |last7=Doan |first7=Huu |last8=Ein-Mozaffari |first8=Farhad |last9=Zhu |first9=Ning |date=2021-12-01 |title=Assessment of polyethersulfone and polyacrylonitrile hemodialysis clinical membranes: In situ synchrotron-based imaging of human serum proteins adsorption, interaction analyses, molecular docking and clinical inflammatory biomarkers investigations |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352492821009144 |journal=Materials Today Communications |language=en |volume=29 |pages=102928 |doi=10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102928 |s2cid=240168631 |issn=2352-4928|url-access=subscription }}

Abdelrasoul worked with Push Interactions and funding from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation to develop an app through which dialysis patients can share their experiences.{{Cite web |title=Saskatoon-developed app connects dialysis patients to experts and others |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9858038/saskatoon-developed-app-dialysis-research/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

Abdelrasoul has authored and co-authored numerous research articles.{{Cite web |title=ORCID |url=https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8517-295X |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=orcid.org}}{{Cite web |title=Amira Abdelrasoul, Ph.D., P.Eng. |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YSR-ENgAAAAJ&hl=en |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=scholar.google.com}}

She authored Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes for New Frontiers in Sustainable Water Treatment Technology Book (2017).{{Cite book |url=http://www.intechopen.com/books/biomimetic-and-bioinspired-membranes-for-new-frontiers-in-sustainable-water-treatment-technology |title=Biomimetic and Bioinspired Membranes for New Frontiers in Sustainable Water Treatment Technology |date=2017-12-06 |publisher=InTech |isbn=978-953-51-3661-3 |editor-last=Abdelrasoul |editor-first=Amira |language=en |doi=10.5772/65691 |editor-last2=Doan |editor-first2=Huu |editor-last3=Lohi |editor-first3=Ali }} She is also the editor of Advances in Membrane Technologies (2020).{{Cite book |url=https://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-membrane-technologies |title=Advances in Membrane Technologies |date=2020-03-04 |publisher=IntechOpen |isbn=978-1-78984-806-9 |editor-last=Abdelrasoul |editor-first=Amira |language=en |doi=10.5772/intechopen.82587 |s2cid=216350332 }}

Abdelrasoul received multiple academic excellence awards throughout her academic journey from Alexandria University, Kuwait University, and Ryerson University for her academic achievements. Abdelrasoul received the Governor General's Academic Gold Medal in 2015, the most prestigious academic award in Canada, for achieving the highest academic standing in her PhD degree program.{{Cite web |last=General |first=Office of the Secretary to the Governor |title=Amira Abdelrasoul |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/116-89458 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=The Governor General of Canada}} She was also granted multiple scholarships due to her outstanding academic record, including Queen Elizabeth QEII GSST, Ryerson Graduate Scholarship, and Ontario Graduate Scholarship twice.

Abdelrasoul received the Best Poster Presentation Award at the Membrane Technology Conference, Orlando, USA, in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Annual Conference Awards – Student Best Poster Award |url=https://www.amtaorg.com/annual-conference-awards-student-best-poster-award |access-date=2023-01-10 |language=en-US}} She was a recipient of the Norman Esch Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award twice in 2015 and 2016{{Cite web |title=PhD alumna wins Esch Award for water purification solution |url=https://www.torontomu.ca/graduate/news-events/2016/06/phd-alumna-wins-esch-award-water-purification-solution/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Toronto Metropolitan University}} for pitching innovative membranes for engineering entrepreneurship startups.{{Cite web |title=An innovative portable water solution |url=https://www.torontomu.ca/research/publications/newsletter/2017-02/portable-water/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Toronto Metropolitan University |language=en}} She was awarded C. Ravi Ravindran Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award by Ryerson University in 2015 for her doctoral dissertation.{{Cite web |title=The Dr. C. Ravi and Shanti Ravindran Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis |url=https://www.torontomu.ca/graduate/future-students/financing-your-studies/scholarships-awards/ravindran-outstanding-doctoral-thesis/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Toronto Metropolitan University |language=en}} This award recognizes the excellence of the doctoral dissertation from the points of originality, contribution to better understanding of the theory, philosophy, science, practice interrelationship, application of theory and impact on society, industry and environment.{{Cite web |title=PhD alumna wins Esch Award for water purification solution |url=https://www.torontomu.ca/graduate/news-events/2016/06/phd-alumna-wins-esch-award-water-purification-solution/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Toronto Metropolitan University |language=en}}

In 2019, she was nominated for the Young Investigator Award by the Journal of Membranes and the Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering Lectureship Award by the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (CSChE). Abdelrasoul was a recipient of the Good Fellow Faculty Travel Award from the University of Saskatchewan in 2019.

Later in 2021, she was nominated for Emerging Star in Chemical Engineering Research and Design Journal. She was also nominated for the Best Supervisor Award twice in 2021 and 2022 and received Best Clinical Paper Award at Life and Health Sciences Research Expo held at the University of Saskatchewan in 2021.{{Cite web |title=USask Engineering PhD candidate wins best paper award |url=https://engineering.usask.ca/news/2021/usask-engineering-phd-candidate-wins-best-paper-award.php |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=College of Engineering |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Abdelrasoul honoured with two research awards |url=https://engineering.usask.ca/news/2022/abdelrasoul-honoured-with-two-research-awards.php |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=College of Engineering |language=en}}

In 2021, Abdelrasoul received Dean's Remote Teaching recognition for her excellence in teaching in the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. She was named an Outstanding Women Researcher in Chemical Engineering by the Journal of Chemical Engineering Research and Design in 2022.{{Cite journal |last1=Singh |first1=Meenesh R. |last2=Azevedo |first2=Diana |date=2022-11-01 |title=Special issue on women in chemical engineering |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263876222004579 |journal=Chemical Engineering Research and Design |language=en |volume=187 |pages=62–68 |doi=10.1016/j.cherd.2022.08.045 |s2cid=251873187 |issn=0263-8762|url-access=subscription }} She has also received the Young Investigator Excellence Award by the Canadian Light Source (CLS) Synchrotron, 2022.{{Cite web |title=University of Saskatchewan - USask College of Engineering professor honoured with two research awards |url=https://educationnewscanada.com/social/l782/article/education/level/university/1/989138/USask-College-of-Engineering-professor-honoured-with-two-research-awards.htm |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Education News Canada}}{{Cite web |title=2022 Canadian Light Source Annual Users' Meeting |url=https://event.fourwaves.com/clsaum-22/pages/6157f46a-5c3a-4597-a2e1-064032a4aef4 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Fourwaves |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{improve categories|date=January 2023}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdelrasoul, Amira}}

Category:Canadian women chemists

Category:Canadian chemical engineers

Category:Women chemical engineers

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century births

Category:Alexandria University alumni