“A genius is not born, but is educated and trained”
— László Polgár
Peter G. Vekilov
John and Rebecca Moores Professor
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Ph.D. Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Crystallography, 1991
M.S. Summa Cum Laude, Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow University, 1985
Office: S233, Engineering Building 1
Phone: (713)-743-4315
Fax: (713)-743-4323
Email: vekilov@uh.edu
“Ph.D is a license to think”
— Peter Vekilov
Current Graduate Students
Huan-Jui Lee (Henry)
Ph.D Candidate, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2021-Present)
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, USA (2021)
B.S. Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan (2015)
Email: hlee69@cougarnet.uh.edu
Research title: Inhibition of Hematin crystallization (Co-advised with Dr. Jeffrey Rimer)
“Henry’s Quote”
— Henry
Manasa Yerragunta
Ph.D Candidate, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2021-Present)
B. Tech. Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, India (2017)
Email: myerragu@cougarnet.uh.edu
Research title: Modification and control of organic crystallization (Co-advised with Dr. Jeffrey Rimer)
“Manasa’s quote”
— Manasa
Hariharan Annadurai
Ph.D Candidate, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2022-Present)
B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, SASTRA University, India (2020)
Email: ha20@cougarnet.uh.edu
Research title: Modeling Inhibition of β‐Hematin Crystals (Co-advised with Dr. Jeremy Palmer)
“It’s better to try and fail than to fail to try”
— Hariharan Annadurai
Radhika S. Menon
Ph.D Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2023-Present)
B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering, Anna University, India (2020).
Email: rsunilme@cougarnet.uh.edu
Research title: Amyloid beta 42: Structural diversity and dynamics
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”
— Radhika S. Menon
Rohith Pulluri
Ph.D Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2023-Present)
B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Osmania University, India (2023), https://thop-verse.com/team/pulluri-rohith/
Email: rpulluri@cougarnet.uh.edu
Research title: Polymorphism in organic crystallization
“There is nothing like weakness. You become weak when you don’t try to strengthen your weaknesses”
— Rohith Pulluri
Nghia Nguyen
Ph.D Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2024-Present)
M.Eng in Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota, (2023)
B.S in Biochemistry, San Jose State University, (2020)
Email: ndnguyen1@cougarnet.uh.edu
Research title: Methods to inhibit Aβ42 aggregation
“All great things have small beginnings”
— Nghia Nguyen
Fasahath Jaleel Quadri
Masters, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2024-Present)
B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, India (2021)
Email: fquadri@cougarnet.uh.edu
Research title: Inhibition of Hematin crystallization
Saikiran Anugam
Masters, Engineering Data Science, University of Houston (2023-Present), https://saikirananugam.com/
B.Tech in Computer Science, SR University, India (2023)
Email: saikiranugam@gmail.com
Research title: Solution convection and mesoscopic protein aggregation
“Dreams are not those you see in sleep, dreams are something that does not let you sleep”
— Saikiran Anugam
Former Graduate Students
David Yang
Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2018-Present
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, USA, 2017
B.S. Mathematics, Iowa State University, USA, 2017
Email: dshyang32@gmail.com
Research title: Study aggregation of tumor suppressor mutant p53
Lakshmanji Verma
Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2018-Present
B. Tech. Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India, 2015
Email: lverma2@central.uh.edu
Research title: Study structure and dynamics of the solvent and solute at the solvent-crystal interface (Co-advised with Dr. Jeremy Palmer)
Sima Mafimoghaddam
Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2019-Present
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2018
Email: smafimog@central.uh.edu
Research title: Study aggregation of amyloid-β (1-40) protein
Former Graduate Students
Yuechuan Xu
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 2016
Email: xyc0411@gmail.com
Research title: Study recombinant expression of amyloid-β (1-40) protein and its properties
2021-recent, Scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb
Rajshree Chakrabarti
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
M.S. Chemical Engineering, Indian Institue of Technology Madras, India, 2014
B.S. Chemical Engineering, West Bengal University of Technology, India, 2012
Research title: Study organic solvent structuring around solutes and crystal interface
2021-recent, Crystallization Scientist at Continuus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Wenchuan Ma
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2016
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China, 2012
Research title: Study crystallization (Co-advised with Dr. Jeffrey Rimer)
2021-recent, Postdoc at MIT
Sina Jamalzadegan
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2019
B.S. Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2019
Research title: Study Aggregation of tumor suppressor mutant P53 in human cells (Co-advised with Dr. Navin Varadarajan)
Mohammad Sadegh Safari
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2018
Research: Study of dynamics of protein aggregates using scattering techniques
2020-recent, Investigator at Seqirus
2018 – 2020, Postdoc at University of Princeton
Katy Olafson
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2017
Research: Mechanism of hematin crystallization and modes of antimalarial action
2017 – recent, Postdoc at MIT
Michael Byington
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston. 2017
Research: Study the effects of shear on protein nucleation precursors using light scattering techniques
Rajat Subhra Ghosh
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston. 2016
Research: Mechanism of Cluster Formation in Protein Solutions and
the Role in the “Two-step nucleation” Theory
Megan Ketchum
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2016
Research: Pathological crystallization from mixed aqueous-
organic solvents
2017 – Recent, Process Engineer at GlaxoSmithKline
Nicholas Collett
M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Houston. 2015
Maria Vorontsova
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Houston. 2016
Research: Physicochemical aspects of the two-step nucleation of protein solutions
- Anupam Aich – 2015, Microfluidics cell for polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin, Currently Postdoctoral Assistant at University of Minnesota
- Veselina Uzunova – 2010, Nucleation of sickle cell hemoglobin polymers, Currently Postdoctoral Associate at the Technical University – Dresden, Germany
- Weichun Pan – 2006, Interactions in solutions of proteins, Currently Professor at Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou China
- Yasser Qutub – 2006, Crystallization of membrane proteins, Currently Chief Technology Officer, Bayer Chemicals, Baytown, Texas
- Panagiotis Katsonis – 2006, Monte Carlo simulations of phase diagrams, Currently Research Scientist at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
- Dimitra Georgiou – 2006, AFM characterization of protein crystals, Currently Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
- Luis Filobelo – 2005, Phase behavior in protein solutions, Currently Research Engineer at Shell Chemicals
- Mrinal Shah – 2005, Pattern formation during phase transitions in protein solutions, Currently Associate Director at AbbVie, NJ
- Angela Feelings-Taylor – 2001, NIH-funded MD/Ph.D. student, Hemoglobin crystallization, Currently physician practicing in Huntsville, AL
- Ye Li – 2011, Mechanisms of cluster formation in protein solutions, Currently Ph.D. candidate at University of Houston
Former Undergraduate Students
Hiba Ahmed, Senior
Luke Bauer, Senior
Phillip Reed, Senior
Eugenia Rivero, Junior
- Gage Murray – 2014: cluster in protein solutions
- Tam Nguyen – 2013-2015: hematin crystallization
- An Tranh – 2013: metastable mesoscopic clusters in protein solutions
- K.C. Schuette – 2011-2013: effects of free heme on hemoglobin phase behavior
- Dmitry Galushko – 2011-2012: clusters and nucleation in protein solutions
- Katelyn Tran – 2011-2012: microfluidics device for sickle cell hemoglobin investigations
- Duong Lam – 2011: mesoscopic clusters in protein solutions
- Rachel Clark – 2009-2010: heme effects on sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization
- Kenuo (Karen) Wang – 2008-2009: liquid-liquid separation in sickle cell hemoglobin solutions
- Rawan Abu-Khurma – 2008-2009: sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization
- Frank Truong – 2005-2006: Interactions and aggregation of proteins in non-aqueous solvents
- Pham Ngoc – 2004-2005: determination of the viscosity in protein solutions
- Michael Rauschhuber – 2003-2004: proteins in non-aqueous solvents
- Tony Navaro – 2003: Mechanical properties of crystals grown in silica gels
- Lisa Bergeron – 2002-2003: solubility and crystallization of insulin; fibril formation
Former Post Docs
- Dr. Elena Petrova (2011-2013) – microfluidics, HbS polymerization, hematin crystallization
Currently at Tomowave Laboratories, Houston, TX - Dr. Weichun Pan (2007–2008) – clustering, viscosity, cytosol crowding
Currently Professor at Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou China - Dr. Oleg Galkin (1998–2007) – nucleation and dynamics of formation of protein solid phases
Currently Research Scientist, Physical Optics Inc., Los Angeles - Dr. Olga Gliko (2000–2004) – step pattern evolution, molecular mechanisms of crystallization
Currently Research Scientist, Ensysce Corp., Houston - Dr. Ilya Reviakine (2002–2004) – AFM characterization of the mechanisms of defect formation
Currently Group Leader, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany - Dr. Nicolas Booth (1999–2004) – stability of step trains in inorganic crystal growth
Currently Director of Research & Development, Chronologic, Pasadena, CA - Dr. Dimiter Petsev (1998–2002) – molecular interactions and aggregation in solutions
Currently Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of New Mexico - Kai Chen (2000–2001) – AFM imaging of protein crystals, aggregates and polymers
- Michelle Wu (2000–2001) – phase transitions in protein solutions
- Eva Rosenbach (1999–2000) – effects of transport conditions on defect-causing kinetics instabilities
- Dr. Siu-Tung Yau (1998–2000) – AFM studies of protein crystals, molecules and aggregates
Currently Professor of Electrical Engineering, Cleveland State University - Dr. Hong Lin (1998–2000) – numerical simulations of transport and crystallization processes
Currently Research Scientist II, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Former Fulbright and Visiting Scholars Hosted
- Dr. Weichun Pan – 2020, The School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, China
- Thomas Bessy – 2013, Chimie ParisTech: inhibitors for hematin crystallization
- Madeleine Bartel – 2013, Chimie ParisTech: solubility of barnase and R-nase A
- Melissa Freundlich – 2012, Chimie ParisTech: determination of free heme in the red cell cytosol
- Dr. Lie-Ding Shiau – 2009, Chang Gung University, Taiwan: separations in solution
- Dr. Simon Brandon – 2001-2002, The Technion, Israel: Monte Carlo simulations and modeling
- Dr. M. Dolores Serrano – 1999-2000, University of Madrid: polymerization of deoxy-HbS
Former High School Students
- Aman Patel – Dulles High School, 2012-2015, crystallization of hematin
- Mary Tapscott – St. John Academy, 2009, liquid-liquid separation in protein solutions
- Elizabeth Hines – Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, 2008, polymerization of HbS
- Aseema Mohanty – Clear Lake High School, 2003, protein crystallization
Group Pictures
