Zekra Mousavi

In 1991, Zekra Mousavi received her BSc degree in Pure Chemistry from Al-Zahra University in Tehran-Iran. After that, she worked as researcher in the analytical department of Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, which is part of the National Iranian Oil Company. During approximately 10-year experience, she contributed to several successful projects in the field of oil industry, and carried out routine analyses on samples such as natural gas, condensate and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) using different analytical techniques and instruments. In 2001, Zekra Mousavi moved to Finland and joined the research group of Professor Ari Ivaska at Åbo Akademi University. She graduated with M.Sc. in analytical chemistry (2003) and D.Sc. (Tech.) in analytical chemistry (2009) with the doctoral thesis titled: Ion Sensing Based on the Conducting Polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). As PhD student and later as post Doc/senior researcher at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry/Åbo Akademi, she carried out research in the field of conducting polymers, electrochemical sensors based on conducting polymers and carbon nanotubes, as well as the construction of unique and analytical quality solid-state reference electrodes and electrochemical platform. She published several scientific papers in high-class international journals, besides participating in national and international scientific conferences. Within research group at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry/Åbo Akademi University, she worked and still working on several important projects such as: • Intelligent Monitoring of Health and Well-being (IMO) • Universal Solid Electrochemical Platform (UNISEP) • Calibration- and Maintenance-Free Multi-Sensor Probe for Wireless Monitoring (CaMaFree) • Intelligent Artificial Nose and Tongue Technology (ANTTI) • Novel signal transduction principle enabling high-precision ion sensing (PRECISE) The CaMaFree project led to a patent for a new type of solid-state reference electrode and arrangement for electrochemical measurement. The patent has been granted both in Europe and the USA.