“A genius is not born, but is educated and trained”
— László Polgár
Principal Investigator
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
Current Students
Huan-Ji 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)
Research: Inhibition of Hematin crystallization (Co-advised with Dr. Jeffrey Rimer)
Email: hlee69@cougarnet.uh.edu
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)
Research: Modification and control of organic crystallization (Co-advised with Dr. Jeffrey Rimer)
Email: myerragu@cougarnet.uh.edu
Hariharan Annadurai
Ph.D Candidate, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2022–Present)
B.Tech, SASTRA University, India (2020)
Research: Modeling Inhibition of β‐Hematin Crystals (Co-advised with Dr. Jeremy Palmer)
Email: ha20@cougarnet.uh.edu
“It’s better to try and fail than to fail to try”
Radhika S. Menon
Ph.D Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2023–Present)
B.Tech, Anna University, India (2020)
Research: Amyloid beta 42: Structural diversity and dynamics
Email: rsunilme@cougarnet.uh.edu
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”
Rohith Pulluri
Ph.D Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2023–Present)
B.Tech, Chemical Engineering, Osmania University, India (2023)
Research: Polymorphism in organic crystallization
Email: rpulluri@cougarnet.uh.edu
“There is nothing like weakness. You become weak when you don’t try to strengthen your weaknesses”
Alejandro Veliz
Ph.D Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2023–Present)
M.S., Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA (2023)
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA (2022)
Research: Polymorph prediction via molecular dynamics modeling (Co-advised by Dr. Gul Zerze)
Email: Aveliz3@carya.rcdc.uh.edu
“Journey before destination”
Nghia Nguyen
Ph.D Student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2024–Present)
M.Eng, Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota (2023)
B.S., Biochemistry, San Jose State University (2020)
Research: Methods to inhibit Aβ42 aggregation
Email: ndnguyen1@cougarnet.uh.edu
“All great things have small beginnings”
Fasahath Jaleel Quadri
Masters, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston (2024–Present)
B.Tech, Chemical Engineering, India (2021)
Research: Inhibition of Hematin crystallization
Email: fquadri@cougarnet.uh.edu
Saikiran Anugam
Masters Thesis, Engineering Data Science, University of Houston (2023–Present)
B.Tech, Computer Science, SR University, India (2023)
Research: Suppression of Shear Flow in Microgravity Strengthens Non-Specific Protein Contacts to Enhance Aggregation
Email: saikirananugam@gmail.com
Website: saikirananugam.com
“Dreams are not those you see in sleep, dreams are something that does not let you sleep”
Van Khanh Nguyen
Undergrad, Senior in Chemical Engineering, University of Houston
Scholarship: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2025)
Research: Polymorphic form III of Mefenamic Acid
Email: vnnguy28@cougarnet.uh.edu
Former Grad Students
David Yang, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2022
Research: Aggregation of tumour suppressor mutant p53
Lakshmanji Verma, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2022
Research: Structure and dynamics of solvent and solute at the solvent–crystal interface (Co-advised with Dr. Jeremy Palmer)
Sima Mafimoghaddam, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2023
Research: Aggregation of amyloid-beta (1-40) protein
Yuechuan Xu, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
Research: Recombinant expression of amyloid-β (1-40) protein and its properties
Rajshree Chakrabarti, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
Research: Organic solvent structuring around solutes and the crystal interface
Wenchuan Ma, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
Research: Crystallization mechanisms of anti-malarial drug (Co-advised with Dr. Jeffrey Rimer)
Sina Jamalzadegan, M.S.
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
Research: Aggregation of tumor suppressor mutant p53 in human cells (Co-advised by Dr. Navin Varadarajan)
Mohammad Sadegh Safari, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2018
Research: Dynamics of protein aggregates using scattering techniques (Co-advised by Dr. Jacinta Conrad)
Katy Olafson, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2017
Research: Hematin crystallization mechanism and antimalarial action
Michael Byington, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2017
Research: Shear effects on protein nucleation precursors via light scattering
Rajat Subhra Ghosh, M.S.
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2016
Research: Cluster formation in protein solutions and two-step nucleation theory
Megan Ketchum, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2016
Research: Pathological crystallization in mixed aqueous-organic solvents
Nicholas Collett, M.S.
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2015
Maria Vorontsova, PhD
Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2016
Research: Physicochemical aspects of two-step nucleation in 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
