Amanda B Marciel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and William Marsh Rice Trustee Chair
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | Rice
MS 306 | 231 Space Science and Technology Building
am152@rice.edu | 713-348-7231
@MarcielLabRice
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Kendra Khodabandehloo
I did an accelerated masters at the University of Southampton, where I conducted experiments and computational analysis of diffusion in novel optical fiber structures. Currently studying the Coulomb interactions of polyampholytes in the dilute regime and learning how to synthesize peptoids. In my spare time I sleep, read and try to read about computational modeling.
Jose Castro
Undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, with a background in computer science. Undergraduate research in Bioengineering specializing in protein engineering. Currently pursing a Ph.D., studying the heterogeneity of polymer membranes and its effects on ion transport. In my spare time I like to hike and play basketball.
RESEARCH INTERNS
Jeremy Rosado
Jeremy Rosado is a high school physics teacher and research intern in the Marciel Lab through Rice University and the NSF’s NanoRET program. He analyzes data to help study how the block length of oppositely charged peptides affects their secondary structure and aggregation. Jeremy holds degrees in Biology (B.S.) and Clinical Psychology (M.S.) and has over nine years of experience teaching AP Physics and astronomy. His long-term goal is to pursue a PhD in psychology with a focus on neuroscience, combining his teaching experience and passion for inquiry-driven science to advance both research and education.
AlUMNI
Dr. Winnie Shi
Current position: Postdoc at ORNL
Undergraduate degree in bioengineering-biotechnology at UC San Diego. Currently studying how electrostatic interactions affect polymer solution behavior through biomimetic models. Often makes lab memes on Friday nights and cooks a mean bowl of cereal.
Dr. Mo Samani
Current position: TEXDOT
I did my bachelors in Chemical Engineering where I worked on improving mechanical properties of fibrin-based bio-adhesives (Sharif UT, class of ’18). I’m leveraging unique properties of peptoids to crack the behavioral code of comb and bottlebrush polymers, and I also enjoy doing some microscopy and light scattering. In my free time I usually hang out with friends, read books, play video games, and listen to some indie and country music.
Dr. Nataira M. Pagán Pagán
Current position: ChampionX.
Nataira M. Pagán Pagán graduated from University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez with a B. S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 2015 and a M. S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 2018. Her M. S. research work focused on the synthesis and characterization of sulfonated polymer metal nanocomposites membranes with bacterial disinfection activity in water purification applications. In 2019, she joined Prof. Marciel research group as a Ph. D. student. Her research focuses on the investigation of interfacial film dynamics in asphaltene-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions at the single molecule level.
Dr. Shahryar Ramezani
Current position: Postdoc at UVA with Prof. Liheng Cai
I did my undergrad in Sharif University of Technology, where I earned my BSc. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry. For my undergrad research I worked on simulation of microfluidic channels as a way of enhancing tissue culture oxygenation. Currently I’m working on the synthesis of polymer brushes, which are chains of polymers attached to a surface from one end. Also, I’m studying dynamics and interactions of polymer brushes with particles at a single-molecule level, using fluorescent microscopy and spectroscopy. In my free time I enjoy catching a show, watching sports or reading a book from time to time.