"A genius is not born, but is educated and trained"

— László Polgár

Principal Investigator

Prof. Peter G. Vekilov

Prof. Peter G. Vekilov

John and Rebecca Moores Professor

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

S233, Engineering Building 1

(713) 743-4315

vekilov@uh.edu

Our research group investigates crystallization thermodynamics and kinetics, protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disease, antimalarial drug mechanisms, and polymorphism in organic crystals. To achieve this, our team combines atomic force microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and analytical theory to understand and control how molecules assemble into ordered and disordered solid phases.

  • Ph.D. Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Crystallography, 1991
  • M.S. Summa Cum Laude, Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow University, 1985

Former Graduate Students 25

Anupam Aich

Ph.D.

2015

David Yang

David Yang

Ph.D.

2022

Dimitra Georgiou

Ph.D.

2006

Katy Olafson

Katy Olafson

Ph.D.

2017

Lakshmanji Verma

Lakshmanji Verma

Ph.D.

2022

Luis Filobelo

Ph.D.

2005

Maria Vorontsova

Maria Vorontsova

Ph.D.

2016

Megan Ketchum

Megan Ketchum

Ph.D.

2016

Michael Byington

Michael Byington

Ph.D.

2017

Mrinal Shah

Ph.D.

2005

Nicholas Collett

Nicholas Collett

M.S.

2015

Panagiotis Katsonis

Ph.D.

2006

Rajat Subhra Ghosh

Rajat Subhra Ghosh

M.S.

2016

Saikiran Anugam

Saikiran Anugam

M.S. Student (Engineering Data Science)

2023 – 2025

Sima Mafimoghaddam

Sima Mafimoghaddam

Ph.D.

2023

Sina Jamalzadegan

Sina Jamalzadegan

M.S.

2021

Veselina Uzunova

Ph.D.

2010

Weichun Pan

Ph.D.

2006

Wenchuan Ma

Wenchuan Ma

Ph.D.

2021

Yasser Qutub

Ph.D.

2006

Ye Li

Ph.D.

2011

Yuechuan Xu

Yuechuan Xu

Ph.D.

2021

Former Undergraduate Students 20

An Tranh

B.S.

2013 – 2013

Dmitry Galushko

B.S.

2011 – 2012

Duong Lam

B.S.

2011 – 2011

Eugenia Rivero

Eugenia Rivero

B.S. (Junior)

Frank Truong

B.S.

2005 – 2006

Gage Murray

B.S.

2014 – 2014

Hiba Ahmed

Hiba Ahmed

B.S. (Senior)

K.C. Schuette

B.S.

2011 – 2013

Katelyn Tran

B.S.

2011 – 2012

Kenuo (Karen) Wang

B.S.

2008 – 2009

Lisa Bergeron

B.S.

2002 – 2003

Luke Bauer

Luke Bauer

B.S. (Senior)

Michael Rauschhuber

B.S.

2003 – 2004

Pham Ngoc

B.S.

2004 – 2005

Phillip Reed

Phillip Reed

B.S. (Senior)

Rachel Clark

B.S.

2009 – 2010

Rawan Abu-Khurma

B.S.

2008 – 2009

Tam Nguyen

B.S.

2013 – 2015

Tony Navaro

B.S.

2003 – 2003

Van Khanh Nguyen

Van Khanh Nguyen

Undergraduate (Senior, Chemical Engineering)

2025

Former Post Docs 11

Dr. Dimiter Petsev

Ph.D.

1998 – 2002

Dr. Elena Petrova

Ph.D.

2011 – 2013

Dr. Hong Lin

Ph.D.

1998 – 2000

Dr. Ilya Reviakine

Ph.D.

2002 – 2004

Dr. Nicolas Booth

Ph.D.

1999 – 2004

Dr. Oleg Galkin

Ph.D.

1998 – 2007

Dr. Olga Gliko

Ph.D.

2000 – 2004

Dr. Siu-Tung Yau

Ph.D.

1998 – 2000

Eva Rosenbach

1999 – 2000

Kai Chen

2000 – 2001

Michelle Wu

2000 – 2001

Former Fulbright & Visiting Scholars 7

Dr. Lie-Ding Shiau

Ph.D.

2009 – 2009

Dr. M. Dolores Serrano

Ph.D.

1999 – 2000

Dr. Simon Brandon

Ph.D.

2001 – 2002

Dr. Weichun Pan

Ph.D.

2020 – 2020

Madeleine Bartel

2013 – 2013

Melissa Freundlich

2012 – 2012

Thomas Bessy

2013 – 2013

Former High School Students 4

Aman Patel

2012 – 2015

Aseema Mohanty

2003 – 2003

Elizabeth Hines

2008 – 2008

Mary Tapscott

2009 – 2009

Group Pictures