Elham Fini

Elham Fini

Associate Professor,
School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
Other ASU affiliations
Center for Negative Carbon Emissions
Senior Global Futures Scientist, Global Futures Scientists and Scholars
  • efini@asu.edu
  • Mail code: 3005
    Campus: Tempe
  • ‌
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Long Bio

Dr. Ellie Fini is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, an Invention Ambassador at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fulbright Scholar of Aalborg University of Denmark, a Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation and Director of the Innovation Network for Materials, Methods and Management. Her research focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and atomistic modeling of novel materials to promote the sustainability and health of civil infrastructure.

In addition to more than 200 scholarly publications and numerous invited talks, her research has been featured by BBC Women in STEM, Science Nation, Wired Magazine, and CNBC. She is editor of the ASCE Journal of Materials and Journal of Resources, Conservation & Recycling. She has served as the president of ASCE’s North Carolina Northern Branch and a program director of the National Science Foundation. Her achievements have been recognized via multiple awards including an NSF CAREER award, ASEE Gerald Seeley award, BEYA Emerald STEM Innovation award, NC BioTech Research Excellence award and WTS Innovative Transportation Solution award to name a few. 

Education

Ph.D. University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. 

Google Scholar URL
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Msrkbm4AAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID Profile ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3658-0006
Research Interests

Built Environment and Health, Human-centered Design, Building Decarbonization, Air Quality, Sustainable Construction, Roofing Products, Adhesives and Sealants, Bio-based and Bio-inspired Materials, Multi-scale Characterization and Modeling, Surface and Interface Characterization

Publications

Featured Publications

  1. Mousavi, M., S. Aldagari, and E. H. Fini, 2023, Adsorbing Volatile Organic Compounds within Bitumen Improves Colloidal Stability and Air Quality, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 11 (26): 9581–9594, https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c00539
  2. Pahlavan, F, A. Lamanna, K., Park, S.K. Kabir, J-S. Kim, and E. H. Fini, 2022, Phenol-rich bio-oils as free-radical scavengers to hinder oxidative aging in asphalt binder, Journal of Resources, Conservation & Recycling, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106601
  3. Mousavi M., A. H. Hung, and E. H. Fini, 2021, Sustainability Implications of Regenerative Sulfur Blooms in Bituminous Composites, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c03329
  4. Oldham, D., A. Rajib, K. Dandamudi, Y. Liu, Sh. Deng, and E. H. Fini, 2020, Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil to Produce A Sustainable Rejuvenator for Aged Asphalt, Journal of Resources, Conservation & Recycling, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105297
  5. Oldham, D., A. I. Rajib, A. Onochie, and E. H. Fini, 2019, Evolution of Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Asphalt Containing Bio-Modified Shingles After Aging and Extended Sub-Zero Conditioning, Journal of Construction and Building Materials, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.017
  6. Pahlavan, F., A. I. Rajib, E. H. Fini, 2020, Using the Synergy between Lipid-rich and Protein-rich Biomass to Synthesize Effective Bio-Rejuvenators for Oxidized Asphaltenes, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c01100. (Featured on the cover page of the journal)
  7. Mousavi, M., S. Aldagari, M. Crocker, L. Ackerman-Biegasiewicz, E. H. Fini, 2022, Iron-Rich Biochar to Adsorb Volatile Organic Compounds in Asphalt Emissions, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c06292
  8. Hung, A., M. Li, G. Wu, and E. H. Fini, 2023, Effects of Liquified Waste Plastics on Chemical and Rheological Properties of Bitumen, Journal of Transportation Engineering: Part B, Pavements https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3979969
  9. Shariati, S., A. I. Rajib, M. S. Crocker, Laura K. G. Ackerman-Biegasiewicz, V. Martis, Elham H. Fini, 2022, Bio-grafted Silica to Make an Asphalt Road a Sink for Reactive Environmental Pollutants, Environmental Pollution, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120142
  10. Pahlavan, F, S. Aldagari, K. Park, J-S. Kim, and E. H. Fini, 2023, Bio-Carbon as a Means of Carbon Management in Roads, Advanced Sustainable Systems (featured on the back cover of the journal), https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.202300054
  11. Pahlavan, F, H. Yazdani and E. H. Fini, 2023, Soil Amended with Algal Biochar Reduces Mobility of Deicing Salt Contaminants in the Environment: An Atomistic Insight, Chemosphere, Volume 323, 138172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138172
  12. Kazemi, M., H. Wang, E. H. Fini, 2022, Bio-based and nature inspired solutions: A step toward carbon-neutral economy, Journal of Road Engineering, 2(3): 221-242, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jreng.2022.08.001
  13. Aldagari, S., F. Kabir, A. Lamanna, E. H. Fini, 2022, A comparative study on efficacy of waste plastic and waste Rubber in bitumen, Construction and Building Materials 325(2):126724, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.126724
  14. Shariati, S., P. Hajikarimi, M. Rahi, R. Kazemi, M. S. Entezari, and E. H Fini, 2022, Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Air-Blown Bitumen Using Physisorption, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 10(48): 15767–15776, https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c04522,
  15. Rajib, A.I., Pahlavan, F., E. H. Fini, 2020, Investigating Molecular-Level Factors That Affect the Durability of Restored Aged Asphalt Binder, Journal of Cleaner Production. doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122501
  16. Hung, A., M. Mousavi; E. H. Fini, 2020, Implication of Wax on Hindering Self-Healing Processes in Bitumen, Applied Surface Science, doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.146449.
  17. Fini, E., A. I. Rajib, D. J. Oldham, A. Samieadel, Sh. Hosseinnezhad, 2020, Role of Chemical Structure and Composition of Recycling Agents on Their Interactions with Oxidized Asphaltene Molecules, ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 32:9. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003352
  18. Oldham, D., X. Qu, H. Wang, and E. H. Fini, 2020. Investigating Change of Polydispersity and Rheology of Crude Oil and Bitumen Due to Asphaltene Oxidation. Energy & Fuels, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c01344
  19. Hung, A., and E. H. Fini, 2020, Surface Morphology and Chemical Mapping of UV-Aged Thin Films of Bitumen, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c03877 
  20. Oldham, D., and E. H. Fini, 2020. A bottom-up approach to study the moisture susceptibility of bio-modified asphalt, Construction and Building Materials, 265:120289, doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120289 
  21. Fini, E., A. Samieadel, A. I., Rajib, 2020, Moisture Damage and Its Relation to Surface Adsorption/Desorption of Rejuvenators, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 59 (30): 13414–13419. doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.0c02534 
  22. Mousavi, M., A. Hung, E. H. Fini, 2020, Multifunctional zeolite nanorods as wax carriers and acid scavengers in asphalt binder, Construction and Building Materials, 264:120249, doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120249 
  23. Zhou, T., Sk. F.  Kabir, L. Cao, H. Luan, Z. Dong, E. H. Fini, 2020, Comparing effects of physisorption and chemisorption of bio-oil onto rubber particles in asphalt, Journal of Cleaner Production, 273:123112, doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123112 
  24. Hung, A. M, F. Pahlavan, Sh. Shakiba, Sh. L. Y. Chang, S. M. Louie, E. H. Fini, 2019, Preventing Assembly and Crystallization of Alkane Acids at Silica-Bitumen Interface to Enhance Interfacial Resistance to Moisture Damage, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 58(47): 21542-21552. doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b04890
  25. Kabir, Sk, M. Mousavi, E. H. Fini, 2019, Selective Adsorption of Bio-oils’ Molecules onto Rubber Surface and Its Effects on Stability of Rubberized Asphalt, Journal of Cleaner Production, 252(10):119856, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119856
  26. Mousavi, M., and E. H. Fini, 2019, Moderating Effects of Paraffin Wax on Interactions between Polyphosphoric Acid and Bitumen Constituents, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 7(24): 19739-19749, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b05008
  27. Høgsa, B., T. H. Pedersen, M. Mousavi, A. M. Hung, E. A. Jensen, D. Yu, J. Christiansen, C. G. Sanporean, E. H. Fini, 2019, Multiscale Characterization of a Wood-Based Biocrude as a Green Compatibilizing Agent for High-Impact Polystyrene/Halloysite Nanotube Nanocomposites, ACS Omega, 4, 22, 19934-19943, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.9b02871
  28. Hajikarimi, P., A. Onochie, and E. Fini, 2019, Characterizing Mechanical Response of Bio-Modified Bitumen at Sub Zero Temperatures, Construction and Building Materials, 240(20):117940
  29. Hosseinnezhad, Sh, Sh. Shakiba, M. Mousavi, S. M. Louie, S. R. Karnati, E. H. Fini, 2019, Multi-scale Evaluation of Moisture Susceptibility of Bio-Modified Bitumen, ACS Applied Biomaterials, 2(12): 5779-5789, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.9b00765
  30. Pahlavan, F., Sh. Hosseinnezhad, A. Samieadel, A. Hung, and E. H. Fini, 2019, Fused Aromatics To Restore Molecular Packing of Aged Bituminous Materials, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 58(27):11939-11953, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b01397
  31. Hosseinnezhad, Sh., S. F. Kabir, D. J. Oldham, M. Mousavi, E.H. Fini, 2019, Surface Functionalization of Rubber Particles to Reduce Phase Separation in Rubberized Asphalt for Sustainable Construction, Journal of Cleaner Production, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.219
  32. Hung, A. and E. H. Fini, 2019, Absorption Spectroscopy to Determine the Extent and Mechanisms of Aging in Bitumen and Asphaltenes, Fuel 242, 408-415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.01.085
  33. Mousavi, M., Sh. Hosseinnezhad, A. Hung, and E. H. Fini, 2019, Preferential Adsorption of Nickel Porphyrin to Resin to Increase Asphaltene Precipitation, Fuel, 236(15), 468-479.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236118315710
  34. Mousavi, M., B. Høgsaa, E. H. Fini, 2019, Intermolecular Interactions of Bio-modified Halloysite Nanotube within High-Impact Polystyrene and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene, Applied Surface Science, 473:750-760.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169433218334895
  35. Zadshir, M., Sh. Hosseinnezhad, E. H. Fini, 2019, Deagglomeration of Asphaltene Nano-aggregates As A Measure of True Rejuvenation, Construction and Building Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.090
Courses
2025 Spring
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CEE 799 Dissertation
CEE 795 Continuing Registration
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 790 Reading and Conference
CON 799 Dissertation
CEE 593 Applied Project
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 792 Research
CON 599 Thesis
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 792 Research
SOS 792 Research
CON 790 Reading and Conference
2024 Fall
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 799 Dissertation
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 593 Applied Project
CON 799 Dissertation
SOS 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
2024 Summer
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 795 Continuing Registration
CON 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 799 Dissertation
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 593 Applied Project
2024 Spring
Course Number Course Title
CEE 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CEE 792 Research
CEE 795 Continuing Registration
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 790 Reading and Conference
CON 799 Dissertation
CEE 593 Applied Project
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 792 Research
CON 599 Thesis
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 792 Research
SOS 792 Research
CON 790 Reading and Conference
2023 Fall
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 593 Applied Project
SOS 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 598 Special Topics
2023 Summer
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 799 Dissertation
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 593 Applied Project
2023 Spring
Course Number Course Title
CEE 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CEE 799 Dissertation
CEE 792 Research
CEE 795 Continuing Registration
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CEE 593 Applied Project
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 792 Research
CON 599 Thesis
CON 792 Research
CON 598 Special Topics
2022 Fall
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 598 Special Topics
2022 Summer
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 799 Dissertation
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
2022 Spring
Course Number Course Title
CEE 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CEE 799 Dissertation
CEE 792 Research
CEE 795 Continuing Registration
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 792 Research
CON 599 Thesis
CON 792 Research
CON 590 Reading and Conference
2021 Fall
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
2021 Summer
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 799 Dissertation
CON 593 Applied Project
2021 Spring
Course Number Course Title
CEE 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CEE 799 Dissertation
CEE 792 Research
CEE 795 Continuing Registration
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 790 Reading and Conference
CEE 792 Research
CON 599 Thesis
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 792 Research
2020 Fall
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 593 Applied Project
2020 Summer
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 792 Research
CON 799 Dissertation
2020 Spring
Course Number Course Title
CEE 499 Individualized Instruction
CEE 799 Dissertation
CEE 792 Research
CEE 795 Continuing Registration
CON 590 Reading and Conference
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 593 Applied Project
CEE 792 Research
CON 599 Thesis
CON 499 Individualized Instruction
CON 593 Applied Project
CON 792 Research
CON 590 Reading and Conference
2019 Fall
Course Number Course Title
CEE 792 Research
CEE 799 Dissertation
CON 252 Bldg Constr Meth, Matl, Equip
CON 792 Research
CON 598 Special Topics
CON 598 Special Topics
CON 598 Special Topics
CON 598 Special Topics
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