Dr Sara Ghorbani Gorji
Researcher biography
Sara completed her PhD of food science in 2018 at The University of Queensland. The main focus of her PhD was using targeted and non-targeted mass spectrometry to profile lipid oxidation in oil in water emulsion food systems and to identify natural antioxidants to retard lipid oxidation. Following her PhD studies she has worked as a senior research assistant at UQ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. In this position she worked on applying metabolomics to investigate the phytochemicals in plants.
Her current research focuses on developing novel sampling methods and target and non-target mass spectrometry strategies to tackle chemicals of emerging concern in humans and the environment.
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Chemicals in Compostable Food Contact Paper Packaging Materials ARC Linkage Project |
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Development of Passive Sampling Methodologies for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) |
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Behaviour and Fate of Neonicotinoids in Australian Aquatic Environment QAEHS HDR Student Project |
2021–2025 |
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Development and Application of Passive Sampling Technologies for Per and Poly-Fluorinated Substances QAEHS HDR Student Project |
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PFAS Contamination in Food Packaging Materials and their Flow-on Contamination QAEHS HDR Student Project |
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| Calibration of air and water samplers for the detection of pesticides used for locust control |
Publications
Book Chapter
Hawker, Darryl W., Clokey, Joseph, Gorji, Sara G., Verhagen, Rory and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2022). Monitoring techniques–grab and passive sampling. Emerging freshwater pollutants: analysis, fate and regulations. (pp. 25-48) edited by Tatenda Dalu and Nikita T. Tavengwa. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822850-0.00014-4
Journal Articles
Najamuddin, Ulfah, Fitzgerald, Melissa and Gorji, Sara Ghorbani (2025). Effect of nitrogen fertilizer strategies on rice bran yield and protein composition in YRL39 rice. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 148 108417, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jfca.2025.108417
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Nilsson, Sandra, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, O’Brien, Jake W., Bräunig, Jennifer, José Gómez Ramos, María, Samanipour, Saer, Martin, Jonathan W., Toms, Leisa-Maree L., Mueller, Jochen F., Kaserzon, Sarit L. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Discovery of previously unreported per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pooled Australian human serum using nontarget analysis. Environmental Science and Technology, 59 (48), 26081-26091. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c04623
Beggs, Carly, Sánchez-Bayo, Francisco, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Thomas, Kevin V. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2025). Time-weighted conversion of acute to chronic equivalent endpoints for derivation of chronic ecotoxicity threshold values of six neonicotinoids in freshwater. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 44 (7), 1901-1911. doi: 10.1093/etojnl/vgaf091
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Mackie, Rachel, Prasad, Pritesh, Knight, Emma R., Qu, Xuan, Vardy, Suzanne, Bowles, Karl, Higgins, Christopher P., Thomas, Kevin V. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2024). Occurrence of ultrashort-chain PFASs in Australian environmental water samples. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 11 (12), 1362-1369. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00750
Mackie, Rachel, Hawker, Darryl W., Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Booij, Kees, Qu, Xuan, Bowles, Karl, Shea, Stefanie, Higgins, Christopher P. and Kaserzon, Sarit (2024). Application of a microporous polyethylene tube passive sampler for monitoring per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in wastewater influent and effluent. ACS - ES & T Water, 4 (5), 2281-2291. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00125
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Gómez Ramos, María José, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Schulze, Bastian, Mackie, Rachel, Nguyen, Thi Minh Hong, Higgins, Christopher P., Bowles, Karl, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2024). New PFASs identified in AFFF impacted groundwater by passive sampling and nontarget analysis. Environmental Science and Technology, 58 (3), 1690-1699. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06591
Manickavasagam, Ganapaty, San, Priscilla Wong Chie, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Sungthong, Bunleu, Keong, Yong Yoke, Fitzgerald, Melissa, Dewi, Firli Rahmah Primula and Lim, Vuanghao (2024). Unbiased metabolomics of volatile secondary metabolites in essential oils originated from Myrtaceae species. Chemistry Africa, 7 (6), 3067-3075. doi: 10.1007/s42250-024-01000-6
Beggs, Carly, Mackie, Rachel, Vrana, Branislav, Prokeš, Roman, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Schulze, Bastian, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2023). Estimation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances mass loads in the Danube River using passive sampling. The Science of the Total Environment, 892 164458, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164458
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Hawker, Darryl W., Mackie, Rachel, Higgins, Christopher P., Bowles, Karl, Li, Yan and Kaserzon, Sarit (2023). Sorption affinity and mechanisms of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) with commercial sorbents: Implications for passive sampling. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 457 131688, 131688. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131688
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Chadwick, Lachlan, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Schulze, Bastian, Valsecchi, Sara, Samanipour, Saer, Thomas, Kevin V. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2023). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products: current knowledge and research gaps. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 4 100086, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.hazl.2023.100086
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Nilsson, Sandra, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, O’Brien, Jake W., Bräunig, Jennifer, Gómez Ramos, María José, Donaldson, Eric, Samanipour, Saer, Martin, Jonathan W., Mueller, Jochen F., Kaserzon, Sarit L. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2023). Novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances discovered in cattle exposed to AFFF-impacted groundwater. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (36), 13635-13645. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03852
Clokey, Joseph E., Hawker, Darryl W., Verhagen, Rory, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Knight, Emma R., Thomas, Kevin V. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2023). Calibration of a microporous polyethylene tube passive sampler for polar organic compounds in wastewater effluent. Science of The Total Environment, 874 162497, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162497
Najamuddin, Ulfah, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani and Fitzgerald, Melissa (2023). Effect of post-milling process on the oxidation of the rice bran. Journal of Cereal Science, 111 103678, 103678. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2023.103678
Soriano, Yolanda, Alvarez-Ruiz, Rodrigo, Clokey, Joseph, Gorji, Sara, Kaserzon, Sarit and Picó, Yolanda (2023). Determination of organic contaminants in L´Albufera National Park using microporous polyethylene tube passive samplers: an environmental risk assessment. SSRN Electronic Journal, 903 166594, 166594. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4348397
Najamuddin, U., Gorji, S. and Fitzgerald, M. (2021). Genotypic variability in the composition of soluble protein from rice bran – opportunities for nutrition. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 103 104077, 104077. doi: 10.1016/j.jfca.2021.104077
Lim, Vuanghao, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Daygon, Venea Dara and Fitzgerald, Melissa (2020). Untargeted and targeted metabolomic profiling of Australian indigenous fruits. Metabolites, 10 (3) 114, 114. doi: 10.3390/metabo10030114
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Calingacion, Mariafe, Smyth, Heather E. and Fitzgerald, Melissa (2019). Comprehensive profiling of lipid oxidation volatile compounds during storage of mayonnaise. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 56 (9), 4076-4090. doi: 10.1007/s13197-019-03876-6
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Calingacion, Mariafe, Smyth, Heather E. and Fitzgerald, Melissa (2019). Effect of natural antioxidants on lipid oxidation in mayonnaise compared with BHA, the industry standard. Metabolomics, 15 (8) 106, 106. doi: 10.1007/s11306-019-1568-4
Ghorbani Gorji, Elham, Waheed, Abdul, Ludwig, Roland, Toca-Herrera, José Luis, Schleining, Gerhard and Ghorbani Gorji, Sara (2018). Complex coacervation of milk proteins with sodium alginate. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 66 (12), 3210-3220. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b03915
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Smyth, Heather E., Sharma, Mary and Fitzgerald, Melissa (2016). Lipid oxidation in mayonnaise and the role of natural antioxidants: a review. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 56, 88-102. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2016.08.002
Zargaraan, Azizollaah, Saghafi, Zahra, Hasandokht Firouz, Mahtab, Fadavi, Ghasem, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara and Mohammadifar, Mohammad Amin (2015). Effect of rheological properties on sensory acceptance of two-model dysphagia-oriented food products. Journal of Texture Studies, 46 (3), 219-226. doi: 10.1111/jtxs.12131
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Gorji, Elham Ghorbani and Mohammadifar, Mohammad Amin (2015). Effect of pH on turbidity, size, viscosity and the shape of sodium caseinate aggregates with light scattering and rheometry. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52 (3), 1820-1824. doi: 10.1007/s13197-013-1144-2
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Gorji, Elham Ghorbani, Mohammadifar, Mohammad Amin and Zargaraan, Azizollaah (2014). Complexation of sodium caseinate with gum tragacanth: effect of various species and rheology of coacervates. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 67, 503-511. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.02.037
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Gorji, Elham Ghorbani and Mohammadifar, Mohammad Amin (2014). Characterisation of gum tragacanth (Astragalus gossypinus)/sodium caseinate complex coacervation as a function of pH in an aqueous medium. Food Hydrocolloids, 34 (1), 161-168. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2012.10.019
Conference Papers
Mackie, Rachel, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Hawker, Darryl, Bowles, Karl, Higgins, Christopher, Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin and Kaserzon, Sarit (2022). Application of time-integrative passive sampling technologies for PFASs in groundwater. International CleanUp Conference Hybrid, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-15 September 2022.
Mackie, Rachel, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Hawker, Darryl, Booji, Kees, Bowles, Karl, Higgins, Christopher, Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin and Kaserzon, Sarit (2022). Cross-site in-situ calibration and validation of a microporous polyethylene (MPT) passive sampler for monitoring per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in wastewater. 13th International Passive Sampling Workshop Hybrid, Utrecht, Netherlands, 18 - 20 September 2022.
Soumeh, Elham A., Curtasu, Mihai, Nielsen, Tina S., Gorji, Sara G. and Hedemann, Mette S. (2022). Blood metabolic profile of pigs fed different dietary zinc levels after weaning. 15th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2022), Rotterdam, Netherlands, 17–20 May 2022. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2022.04.028
Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Mackie, Rachel, Hawker, Darryl, Li, Yan, Higgins, Christopher, Bowles, Karl, Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin and Kaserzon, Sarit (2021). Sorption and desorption affinity of 45 per- and poly- fluorinated substances (PFASs) with 11 sorbent phases: implications for passive sampling. 12th International Passive Sampling Workshop, Virtual, 4-5 November 2021.
Mackie, Rachel, Gorji, Sara, Hawker, Darryl, Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin and Kaserzon, Sarit (2021). Calibration and application of MPT passive sampling for monitoring of PFAS in wastewater influent and effluent. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Australasia Conference, Virtual, 30 August - 2 September 2021.
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Jeon, Youngjoon, Feraud, Mathieu, O'Brien, Jake, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit and Thomas, Kevin (2021). A global emerging contaminant early warning exercise through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Australasia Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 3 August-2 September 2021.
Ghorbani, Sara and Smyth, Heather (2018). Application of genomics and sensory for identifying natural antioxidants to improve shelf life of mayonnaises. 12th Australian and New Zealand Sensory and Consumer Science Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 5-7 February 2018.
Thesis
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara (2019). Identifying natural products for improving shelf life of mayonnaise. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2019.146
Research Reports
Kaserzon, Sarit, Shiels, Ryan, Elisei, Gabriele, Li, Yan, Carswell, Christina, Xia, Summer, Prasad, Pritesh, Gallen, Michael, Reeks, Tim, Thompson, Kristie, Taucare, Grechel, Marano, Kirsty, Sara Ghorbani Gorji, Mueller, Jochen, Prazeres, Martina and Walker, Kaye (2023). Pesticide analysis for the inshore Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program (MMP). Brisbane, QLD Australia:
Tscharke, Ben, Shiels, Ryan, Mackie, Rachel, Gorji, Sara, Prasad, Pritesh, Carswell, Christina, Teimouri, Homa, Cheneval, Olivier and Kaserzon, Sarit (2021). Passive sampling for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at Brisbane Airport. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences.