Research Labs
Advanced bioadhesives/sealants for wound closure and surgical applications, novel elastin-based biomaterials for soft tissue engineering, conductive biomaterials for cardiac tissue engineering, multifunctional nanocomposite hydrogels for drug/gene delivery, 3D bioprinted tissue engineered constructs.
Jane Chang
Lab
Plasma chemistries and surface kinetics, atomic layer deposition of complex and multifunctional oxide materials, semiconductor processing and chemistry, computational surface chemistry, nanostructured complex oxides.
The Chavez lab research program advances two synergistic thrusts on supported metal catalysts: (1) thermocatalysis, where we develop cutting-edge reactor–materials platforms and utilize operando measurements to uncover how catalysts operate and evolve under realistic conditions; and (2) photocatalysis, where we leverage light–matter interactions to probe and actively control catalytic pathways in real time. Insights from each thrust inform the other, enabling the rational design of catalysts and reactors that deliver programmable performance.
Biomolecular design and evolution in two nanoscale systems: simple synthetic cells and bacteriophages (phages).
Applying molecular and synthetic biology techniques to rewire and construct novel biological circuits for applications in health and medicine, particularly in cell-based immunotherapy.
Control of nonlinear and hybrid process networks, Distributed and economic model predictive control, fault-tolerant control and process safety, water and energy system modeling and control, control and optimization of multiscale process systems, model reduction, optimization and control of nonlinear distributed parameter systems, multiscale modeling and control of particulate and solar cell systems.
Surface nano-structuring with polymers and organosilanes, graft polymerization, membranes: desalination, ultrafiltration and pervaporation, surface crystallization, neural networks for quantitative-structure property estimation, intermedia and multimedia transport in environmental systems, environmental impact assessment.
The de Souza Lab investigates how electrochemical interactions organize materials across scales—from interfaces to colloidal
assemblies—then applies these principles to understand soft and living matter and to engineer separation platforms. Bridging physics-based modeling and experiment, their research connects fundamental science to applications in biotechnology, biophysics, health, and sustainability.
Research in the Eisler group is centered around the understanding and manipulation of light transport through nanoscale materials. By combining chemical syntheses of complex nanostructures and nanophotonic design, we aim to advance fundamental understanding of how light and nanostructures interact and leverage this to create transformative optoelectronic devices for solar energy, lighting, and computation.
Research in the Jiang Laboratory uses biomolecular design to address current limitations in the delivery of nucleic acid and protein cargoes for therapeutic genome editing and gene therapy. Our work aims to engineer advanced delivery systems, using both nanoparticle synthesis and cargo-engineering strategies, to overcome barriers in targeted tissue delivery and subcellular localization.
The long-term goal of the Li group @UCLA is to invent new tools and materials that address important challenges in sustainability and health. For example, we are leading efforts to leverage the powerful cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) tool to address grand challenges in sustainability. These efforts have led to significant breakthroughs in our understanding of batteries (Science 358, 506, 2017; Science 375, 66, 2022) and electrocatalysts (Nature Energy 8, 138, 2023), which represent important clean energy technologies necessary for securing energy resilience and security.
The Houk Group solves problems in organic and bio-organic chemistry using theoretical and computational methods and programs. Theoretical predictions and designs of new reactions, reagents, and catalysts are tested experimentally in the Houk lab or with collaborators.
Plasma simulation, process design, process optimization, process control.
Focuses on the conception and development of new technologies derived from living things and on the molecular engineering of surfaces for materials and nanoelectronics applications.
The Morales-Guio Lab is interested in electrochemical catalysis, particularly with respect to energy and chemical transformations for sustainable energy applications. Our research spans across multiple chemical engineering subfields, from material synthesis and electrochemical testing to kinetic modeling and design of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical cells.
Research in the Nandy Laboratory integrates theory, molecular modeling, simulation, and machine learning to understand and design materials at the intersection of soft and hard matter. We seek to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying how biological systems interact with transition metals. In parallel, our group develops and applies machine learning methods for molecular systems, spanning both discriminative and generative modeling.
Cancer Metabolism, Metabolic Engineering, Bioenergy, CO2 fixation, Systems Biology, Computational Biology, Metabolomics, Metabolic Flux Analysis, Metabolic Control Analysis.
The Peterson lab studies fundamental problems in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics and materials processing, from theoretical analysis to computational and experimental studies.
First principles atomic scale simulations, quantum chemistry, applications to heterogeneous catalysis: active sites and reaction mechanisms, nano-materials for depollution and energy transformation, molecules at surfaces.
Catalytic conversion of alternative energy and chemical feedstocks, heterogeneous catalysis and kinetics, catalyst design, surface chemistry and characterization.
Research in the Srivastava Laboratory utilizes molecular design and self-assembly of mesoscopic building blocks to address current limitations in biotechnology and nanotechnology. Our work aims to harness charge interactions among macromolecules and nanomaterials to modulate self-assembly of multifunctional novel materials.
At the Su Lab, we’re reimagining how medicines are made and delivered—by engineering therapeutic cells directly within the body. Harnessing the power of RNA delivery, cell engineering, and immunology, we strive to unlock a new generation of cell and gene therapies that are more precise, accessible, and effective for cancer, autoimmune disorders, and beyond.
Research in the Zheng Laboratory aims to understand and control transport processes in electronic polymers through molecularly programming network topology and dynamics. These fundamental insights will be applied to create bio-interfacing electronic materials and devices for health monitoring, therapeutics and neuromorphic computing.