BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Mannix P. Balanay earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Kunsan National University in the Republic of Korea in 2012, where he specialized in the design, synthesis, and fabrication of third-generation solar cells. His doctoral research integrated computational chemistry using density functional theory with hands-on organic synthesis and device fabrication for advanced solar energy applications. He continued this work as a research and invited professor at the same university, focusing on organic and hybrid solar cells. Prior to his studies in Korea, he was an instructor at Siquijor State College and Silliman University in the Philippines. He holds two master’s degrees in chemistry—one in computational chemistry from Kunsan National University and another in bioinorganic chemistry from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). In the Philippines, his work encompassed environmental research, coastal resource management, analytical chemistry, bacterial protein profiling, and environmental monitoring. He also served as an instructor of first aid and a trainer in Water Safety Programs with the Philippine National Red Cross, and he is a certified Advanced Open Water Diver. In 2014, Dr. Balanay joined Nazarbayev University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. His current research interests include the computational design, synthesis, and fabrication of organic and hybrid solar cells; the synthesis of nanomaterials for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications; and the development of environmental sensors for pollution monitoring. He has led multiple research projects funded by Nazarbayev University, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST). In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious “Balik Scientist” designation by DOST-PCIEERD. Dr. Balanay serves on the editorial board of Nano Research Energy (1/111 (99%), Chemistry) and as an academic editor for PLoS ONE (28/200 (86%), Multidisciplinary). He has also guest-edited for Materials Today: Proceedings, and regularly reviews for high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Journal of Materials Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering Journal. He is also a technical panel member for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology under DOST-PCIEERD in the Philippines.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Balanay applies a comprehensive approach to study a range of functional materials critical to society's pressing needs, including energy, environment, and health. His research spans multiple disciplines of chemistry and includes computational chemistry, materials chemistry, and environmental chemistry. Currently, his research focuses on the following key areas: (a) Computational design, synthesis, and fabrication of organic/hybrid solar cells, with particular emphasis on dye-sensitized, polymer, and perovskite solar cells. Using advanced computational methods, Dr. Balanay aims to optimize the design and manufacturing processes of these solar cells to achieve higher efficiency and performance. (b) Synthesis of nanomaterials tailored for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. Dr. Balanay is actively engaged in the synthesis of nanomaterials with specific properties to address challenges in areas such as energy generation, environmental remediation/catalysis, and biomedical advances. And (c) environmental analysis and monitoring. Dr. Balanay is developing environmental sensors to assess and monitor the impact of various substances on the environment. By developing novel analytical methods, he hopes to contribute to a better understanding of environmental pollutants and their potential impact on ecosystems and human health.

Through his diverse research interests and expertise, Dr. Balanay is committed to advancing research in functional materials and meeting societal needs in the areas of energy, environment and health.

For the full list of research grants, please click on this link.

For Dr. Balanay's current projects, please click on this link.

professional Membership

• American Chemical Society (USA)

• Korean Chemical Society (Korea)

• Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)

EDITORIAL POSITION

• Editorial Board Member, Nano Research Energy (Tsinghua University Press, released exclusively on SciOpen) (Citescore: Q1, Chemistry, miscellaneous)

• Academic Editor, PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science) (Citescore: Q1, Multidisciplinary)

• Guest Editor, Materials Today: Proceedings (Elsevier) link