Zahra Abbasi, University of Calgary

Research

Microwave sensors Distant sensing Label-free monitoring Non-invasive sensing and detection Planar resonators Robust portable sensors anti-fouling surfaces biofouling assessment

Latest papers

Machine Learning-Assisted Microwave-Microfluidic Platform for Microplastic Detection.
Environmental science & technology · 2026
Radar-Based Assessment of Sit-to-Stand Transitions as Digital Biomarkers of Pain and Physical Decline.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026 · senior author
Characterization of Lubricant-Infused Surface Coatings Using a Label-Free Microwave Sensor.
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 2026 · senior author

All 6 publications

Latest funding

RF/Microwave wireless sensors for real-time assessment and monitoring of biofouling and contamination
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$50,000
Portable and Accurate Material Characterization for RF/microwave Sensing and Imaging
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$126,493
Spotting the Silent Danger: Real-time Biosensors for Clot Detection on Biomaterials
SSHRC · 2023 · Co-investigator
$250,000

All 6 grants and awards

6 publications.

01

Machine Learning-Assisted Microwave-Microfluidic Platform for Microplastic Detection.

ShafieiDarabi M, YazdaniCherati A, Giri NV, Bhatti S, Li S, Van Cappellen P, Abbasi Z, Ren CL

Environmental science & technology2026

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6c06373 PMID: 42461658

02

Radar-Based Assessment of Sit-to-Stand Transitions as Digital Biomarkers of Pain and Physical Decline.

Ziaee Bideskan M, Karbaschi N, Abedi H, Abbasi Z

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)2026Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/s26092769 PMID: 42122491

03

Characterization of Lubricant-Infused Surface Coatings Using a Label-Free Microwave Sensor.

Yazdanicherati A, Bideskan MZ, Junck AC, ShafieiDarabi M, Badv M, Abbasi Z

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c05056 PMID: 41493884

04

Microwave biosensor for amylase detection in drainage fluid to monitor anastomotic leakage.

ShafieiDarabi M, Mao Q, Cui W, Courtney M, Miranda R, Ali K, LeSergent L, Tjandra R, Abbasi Z, Lee LP, Ren CL

Biosensors & bioelectronics2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2025.117990 PMID: 40945110

05

Size and concentration characterization of microplastic particles in aqueous samples using sensitivity-enhanced coupled planar microwave resonators.

ShafieiDarabi M, Abbasi Z, Ren CL

Journal of hazardous materials2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139000 PMID: 40555017

06

Identification of representative compounds for saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) fractions using the SARA-HPLC technique.

Kheirollahi S, BinDahbag M, Abbasi Z, Hassanzadeh H

The Analyst2025

DOI: 10.1039/d5an00367a PMID: 40642797

RF/Microwave wireless sensors for real-time assessment and monitoring of biofouling and contamination

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Abbasi, Zahra Z

Keywords: anti-fouling surfaces; biofouling assessment; biomaterials; electromagnetic coupling; healthcare-associated infections; internet of things (iot); microwave sensors; selective monitoring; wireless communication

$50,000

Portable and Accurate Material Characterization for RF/microwave Sensing and Imaging

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Abbasi, Zahra

$126,493

Spotting the Silent Danger: Real-time Biosensors for Clot Detection on Biomaterials

Co-investigatorSSHRC2023New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Badv, Maryam

$250,000

RF/Microwave Smart Sensors for the Next Generation of Real-time Detection and Control

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Abbasi, Zahra

$12,500

RF/Microwave Smart Sensors for the Next Generation of Real-time Detection and Control

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Abbasi, Zahra

Keywords: microwave sensors; planar resonators; non-invasive sensing and detection; label-free monitoring; distant sensing; robust portable sensors

$87,000

AI-augmented intelligent RFICs for transmitter predistortion for 5G and 6G wireless and space communication applications

Co-investigatorNSERC2021Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Helaoui, Mohamed M

$100,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Electrical and Software Engineering
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Biomedical Engineering

Co-authors at University of Calgary, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Hassan Hassanzadeh

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Maryam Badv

Biomedical Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Microwave sensors Dear Professor Abbasi, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Machine Learning-Assisted Microwave-Microfluidic Platform for Microplastic Detection." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "RF/Microwave wireless sensors for real-time assessment and monitoring of biofouling and contamination" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]