Assist Prof Dr. Rahim Zahedi | Environmental Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Assist Prof Dr. Rahim Zahedi, University of Tehran, Iran

Dr. Rahim Zahedi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Energy Governance at the University of Tehran, Iran. Born on February 29, 1996, he is an accomplished researcher with a strong foundation in mechanical and energy systems engineering. With over 120 ISI-indexed publications to his name, Dr. Zahedi is widely recognized for his work in energy modeling, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy systems. He has been named among the world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University since 2023. His exceptional academic achievements include earning first rank nationally in Iran’s PhD entrance exam for energy systems engineering and receiving prestigious awards like the JTACC-V4 Young Scientist Award and the Alborz Prize—often referred to as Iran’s Nobel Prize.

Profile

Orcid

Google scholar

🎓 Education

Dr. Zahedi holds a PhD in Energy Systems Engineering (2020–2024) from the University of Tehran, where he graduated with a perfect GPA (4.0/4.0) and completed a dissertation focused on the 4E analysis of a sustainable hybrid system for optimized water, energy, food, and environmental nexus. Prior to that, he earned both his MSc (2018–2020) and BSc (2014–2018) in Energy Systems and Mechanical Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology. He is currently undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship (2024–2025) at the same institution, focusing on thermal storage systems and thermoeconomic analysis of solar-driven ORC cycles using phase change materials.

🧪 Experience

Dr. Zahedi has served in academia and research with a primary focus on energy governance, energy modeling, and policy analysis. His experience includes supervising and collaborating on cutting-edge projects in energy system optimization, carbon capture, and climate-responsive technologies. He has contributed to national-scale industrial projects and has been recognized for excellence in petroleum engineering and renewable energy innovation. His multi-disciplinary expertise allows him to bridge the gap between theoretical modeling and practical implementation in the energy sector.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Zahedi’s research interests span a range of high-impact topics in energy and environment, including renewable energy 🌱, life cycle assessment (LCA) ♻️, energy optimization ⚡, and building energy modeling (BEM) 🏙️. He is particularly passionate about integrating AI and machine learning into sustainable energy planning and has conducted extensive work in the simulation and optimization of hybrid energy systems and climate-resilient infrastructure.

🏆 Awards

Dr. Zahedi has received numerous awards for his outstanding research contributions. These include the 2023 JTACC-V4 Young Scientist Award for excellence in thermal sciences, the National Renewable Energy Award, and a Certificate of Appreciation for his contributions to petroleum engineering. Notably, he was awarded the 2024 Alborz Prize, Iran’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in recognition of being the best young scientist in the country. He also achieved the first rank for the best industrial plan at a national oil and gas innovation event.