Srivastava Lab

Samanvaya Srivastava 

B.S. and M.S., Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Cornell University

Postdoc, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago

Samanvaya is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UCLA. He completed his undergraduate and master's work from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and his Ph.D. with Lynden Archer from Cornell University, all in Chemical Engineering. Before coming to UCLA, he was a postdoctoral scholar with Matthew Tirrell at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago.

Samanvaya's research interests are in understanding the influence of intermolecular interactions on material structure and properties, with a broader aim to combine this fundamental understanding with molecular engineering and self-assembly processes to improve materials design. Samanvaya has received various awards, including the Austin Hooey Graduate Research Excellence Recognition Award at Cornell University (2013), the RSC Researcher Mobility Grant (2017), AIChE 35 under 35 (2020), and the NSF CAREER award (2020).

samsri<at>ucla<dot>edu

Department website           CV            Google Scholar

Antonio Garcia

B.S., Chemistry, CSU

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, UCI

Dr. Antonio Garcia IV is a postdoctoral scholar in the Srivastava group conducting research for an industry-funded project on the discovery of polyurethane-inorganic composites. Dr. Garcia IV brings his passion for environmental sustainability and is interested in exploring the potential for transforming recovered polyurethane materials into commercially useful organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Prior to his research endeavors in the Srivastava group, Dr. Garcia IV was a NIH MARC-U*STAR scholar at California State University, Los Angeles, where he received his undergraduate degree in chemistry. He subsequently pursued his doctoral studies in organic chemistry at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), under the advisement of Prof. Suzanne A. Blum. His doctoral research focused on advancing fluorescence microscopy methods to investigate polymer-catalyst dynamics and polymer molecular weight.

antoniogarciaiv<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Advait Holkar

B.Tech., Chemical Engineering, IIT Delhi

Advait is a graduate student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UCLA. His research focuses on the understanding the interaction between polyelectrolytes and charged nanoparticles and investigates the structure-property relations of the resulting complexes. He enjoys listening to music and exploring different cultures.

advaitholkar<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Divya Jayaram Iyer

B.Tech., Polymer Engineering & Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai

Divya is a graduate student in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at UCLA. In the Srivastava group, she is working on fabricating upcycled organic-inorganic composites, and studying the fundamentals of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates. Outside of lab, she enjoys hiking, playing the violin, and following cricket.

divyajayaram<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Holly Senebandith

B.A., Biology, Bryn Mawr College

M.S., Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, UCLA

Holly is a graduate student in the biochemistry, molecular and structural biology program at UCLA. As a graduate student in the Srivastava Group, she is working on protein encapsulation within polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) domains. In her spare time, Holly loves traveling and is an aerial fitness enthusiast.

hollys<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Fahed Albreiki

B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago

M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago

Fahed is a graduate student at the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at UCLA. As an undergraduate and MS student, he worked on understanding the effects of viscoelasticity on interfacial instabilities and pattern formation with a focus on purely elastic polymer solutions. He enjoys sports, art, and engaging in community-based activities. 

fahedalbreiki<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Caitlyn Fick

B.A., Chemistry, Scripps College

M.S., Chemistry, UCLA

Caitlyn is a graduate student in the chemistry department at UCLA. Outside of lab she loves to hike, run, and be outside with her friends and family.

caitlynfick<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Arthur Odenheimer

B.S., Chemistry, Louisiana State University

B.M., Flute Performance, Louisiana State University

Arthur is a graduate student in the Chemistry department at UCLA working in both Srivastava Lab and the Caram Lab. His research aims at using spectroscopic methods to better understand the self-assembly and properties of polymers. In his free time, he enjoys playing the flute, video games, and sitting outside and enjoying nature.

aodenh3<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Charlie Drucker

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Charlie is a graduate student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at UCLA working with both the Srivastavan and Peterson groups studying the rheology of dense emulsions. As a former line cook, Charlie spends most of his free time outside UCLA in the kitchen.

c.drucker<at>ucla<dot>edu

Vihar Trada

B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois, Chicago

Vihar is a graduate student in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at UCLA. In his undergraduate studies, he assembled an apparatus that can characterize certain extensional flow properties of complex fluids such as hand soaps. He enjoys hiking and roller coasters, and in his free time, he listens to classical music and plays chess.

vtrada<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Zara Khan

B.Tech., Polymer Science and Chemical Technology, Delhi Technological University, India

Zara is a graduate student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at UCLA. She has recently joined the Srivastava Lab. In her undergraduate studies she has worked on hydrogels and their characterization. Outside of work, she likes traveling, reading, and following tennis.

khanzara<at>ucla<dot>edu

Haleema Kashif

B.S., Chemistry, UCLA

Haleema is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running, boxing, and capoeira. 

hkashif316<at>ucla<dot>edu

Riddhi Kaley

B.Tech., Oils Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai

Riddhi is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA. In her undergraduate studies, she worked on the synthesis of eco-friendly plasticizers. Outside of the lab, she likes reading books and watching sitcoms. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and traveling. 

kaleyriddhi<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Vanessa Huaco

Vanessa is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Chemical Engineering. In the future, she plans on enrolling in graduate school to pursue a doctoral degree. She began working with the Srivastava Lab through the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) and will be continuing to work with the lab this academic year. Aside from research, she enjoys baking/cooking, music, and spending time with her family.

vhuaco<at>ucla<dot>edu

Tianyue Yu

Tianyue Yu is an undergraduate student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UCLA. She is interested in studying adhesives using polyelectrolytes. In her spare time, Tianyue likes drawing, hiking, and fishing.

tianyueyu<at>ucla<dot>edu

Peter Goh

Peter Goh is a UCLA Chemical Engineering Undergraduate from Singapore, intending to pursue a Geography/Environmental Science Minor. He started volunteering in the Summer of 2022 at the end of his first year. During his free time, Peter is an avid rock climber and enjoys other outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. His other hobbies include cooking and baking. 

petergohrf01<at>ucla<dot>edu

Orchid Pyone

Orchid Pyone is an undergraduate chemical engineering student at UCLA from Myanmar. She joined Srivastava lab starting in the Summer of 2023. Outside of lab, Orchid enjoys playing badminton, traveling, and going to concerts.

orchidwang<at>ucla<dot>edu

Maanasi Narayan

Maanasi is a third-year Materials Engineering student interested in the characterization of soft materials. Outside the lab, she is involved with the campus organization Bruin Supermileage. 

maanasihd<at>ucla<dot>edu

Anuraag Tandon

Anuraag Tandon is an incoming freshman to UCLA planning to major in Bioengineering on a premedical path. He is interested in studying adhesive properties of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family, going out on runs, and playing tennis.

anutandon<at>ucla<dot>edu

Lyla Lau

Lyla is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Materials Engineering. Outside of the lab, she is interested in sustainable fashion, film, and music/concerts. 

lylalau<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Emma Mcintosh

Emma is a UCLA Chemical Engineering undergraduate from Singapore. She joined the Srivastava Lab through the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge URP in fall 2023. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running, baking and travelling. 

emmamcintosh<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Julia Chow

Julia Chow is a third-year Civil Engineering Major & Energy and the Environment Minor from San Francisco. Outside of the lab, she enjoys skiing, backpacking, and running. 

juliachow<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Gauri Arora

Gauri Arora is an undergraduate student, currently pursuing Bioengineering at UCLA. She joined the Srivastava Lab in the start of 2024, and her research aims are in studying biosubstrates and adhesive properties of polyelectrolytes. Outside of the lab, she enjoys listening to music, singing, and reading. 

gauriarora<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu

Sophia Gladkevich

Sophia is a UCLA Chemical Engineering undergraduate student from the Bay area. She joined the lab starting 2024 and is interested in working with polyurethane foams. In her free time she enjoys puzzles, outdoor runs, and exploring Los Angeles with friends.  

sgladkev<at>g<dot>ucla<dot>edu