Zahra Abdollahnejad, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher with the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been selected as a finalist for the 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. Dr. Abdollahnejad was recognized for the design and development of green construction materials for buildings. Since concrete is responsible for a significant portion (4-8%) of the world’s global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, Dr. Abdollahnejad’s hopes that the development of specialized mixtures of environmentally-friendly concretes, mortars, and insulating foams may reduce the impact of concrete on global warming by a 50-90% carbon footprint compared to cementitious compositions. Her work also focuses on the development of sustainable construction materials with near-zero CO2 emissions. Dr. Abdollahnejad hopes to contribute to the development of more sustainable buildings for the future by transforming the way that construction industry uses concrete.

The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences announced three Winners and six Finalists of the 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists during National Postdoc Appreciation Week. The Blavatnik Regional Awards recognize outstanding postdoctoral researchers in three categories: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemistry. The winners are selected from academic research institutions across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A jury of scientists and engineers from the New York region selects one Winner from each category, who is awarded a $30,000 unrestricted prize, and two Finalists, who are each awarded $10,000. The 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards Winners and Finalists will be recognized on September 27, 2021, along with the 2020 and 2021 Blavatnik National Awards honorees, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

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