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
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
2020Group Members:(top, left to right) Wenchuan, Weichun, Ted, Alex, Sina, Lakshmanji, (front, left to right) Foyin, Yuechuan, Peter, Sima, David, Rajshree
Group Members: Megan, Vincent, Eugenia, Phillip, Mike, Katy, Luke, Rajat, Hiba, Nick, Mohammad, Peter
Group Members (from left to right): Peter, Megan, Maria, Katy, Mohammad, Mike
2014 Group Picture (from left to right): Peter, Megan, Tam, Katy, Maria, Mike, Anupam, and Mohammad
