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

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

Ph.D. Student, Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 2022-Present

B. Tech. Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, India, 2017

Email: myerragu@cougarnet.uh.edu

Research title: Study the modification and control of organic crystallization (Co-advised with Dr. Jeffrey Rimer)

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 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Group Pictures