Srivastava Lab
Self-Assembly of Soft Materials
The Srivastava Lab is based in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
We harness self-assembly as a tool for soft materials design. We are specifically interested in the role of electrostatic interactions, and our work spans from molecular design and synthesis to fabrication characterizations of nano-, micro- and macro-scale materials, with applications in consumer products (such as cosmetics, adhesive and coatings), biomedical and biochemical industries, construction materials and 3D printing.
Openings
We are building a multidisciplinary team of researchers. Currently, we are looking for graduate students to join our group.
Graduate Student Opening in the Srivastava Lab
We are looking to hire 1-2 graduate (MS and Ph.D.) students for an ongoing NSF-funded project on electrostatic hydrogel-based wet adhesives. This experimental research project will envisage polymer synthesis, material characterization, and application in diverse biomedical settings, and will offer ample opportunities for collaborations with biomedical scientists and clinicians. Students with a background in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry and biochemistry, and physics are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should email Samanvaya at samsri@ucla.edu
Postdoctoral researchers: We do not have any active openings currently. However, please email Samanvaya with a copy of your CV and a statement of research interests if your research interests match with our group's work.
Group News
[September 2023] Divya attends the CPI Polyurethane Technical Conference 2023 in San Antonio, TX as a CPI Scholar and wins the Best Paper Award. Well deserved Divya!
[September 2023] Our review on Interfacial Stabilization of Aqueous Two-Phase Systems led by Caitlyn and Zara is published on Materials Advances. Congrats to Caitlyn and Zara!
[September 2023] Fahed attends a workshop on Neutron Spin Echo at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and wins the best presentation award. Congrats Fahed!
[August 2023] Sam presents a seminar on Polyelectrolyte Complex Scaffoldings for Wet Adhesives and 3D Bioprinting Inks at the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department in Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
[August 2023] Fahed is selected as one of the winners of the TOC style figure competition at the Virtual Polymer Physics Symposium (VPPS 2023) online.
[August 2023] Fahed and Holly present their research on Electrostatic Hydrogels at the Virtual Polymer Physics Symposium (VPPS 2023) online.
[August 2023] Our work on a user-friendly graphical user interface for dynamic light scattering data analysis led by undergraduate students Mathew Salazar and Harsh Srivastav appears on Soft Matter. [PDF] Congratulations to Mathew and Harsh!
[August 2023] Divya wins the ACS PMSE Eastman Chemical Award at the ACS Fall 2023 Meeting in San Francisco, CA. Congrats Divya!
[July 2023] Sam presents on Polyelectrolyte Complex/Covalent Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels at the Polymer Physics (TSRC Workshop) in Telluride, CO.
[July 2023] Fahed attends and presents a poster on his research at GRC Science of Adhesion in Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.
[July 2023] Divya presents at the XIX International Congress on Rheology in Athens, Greece.
[July 2023] Sam participates in Structure and Dynamics of Polyelectrolyte Complex Hydrogels APS-U First Experiments Workshop at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL.
[July 2023] Caitlyn is awarded the Samantha T Mensah Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by the Chemistry Department. Congrats Caitlyn!
[June 2023] Sam presents on Polyelectrolyte Complex Scaffoldings for Wet Adhesives and 3D Bioprinting Inks at the 34th International Conference on Science and Technology of Complex Fluids in San Luis Potosi, México.
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