Shreyas S. Rao, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor
  Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
  The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Education

Postdoctoral, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2014-2015
Postdoctoral, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2013-2014
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2012
M.S., Chemical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2010
B.E. Chemical Engineering, R.V. College of Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University, India, 2007


Biographical Information

Dr. Shreyas Rao is a tenured Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of Alabama. Dr. Rao completed his graduate work in the area of neural biomimetic materials for investigating cancer cell behaviors under the guidance of Dr. Jessica Winter at The Ohio State University. His postdoctoral work performed at Northwestern University and The University of Michigan under the guidance of Dr. Lonnie Shea developed novel technologies for early detection of metastatic disease. Dr. Rao is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award (2018), METAvivor Early Career Investigator Award (2020), American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award (2021), and was named ‘Emerging Leader in Biological Engineering’ in 2019, by the Journal of Biological Engineering, an official publication of the Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE). He has also received the American Institute of Chemists Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Joseph H. Koffolt Graduate Fellowship, Pelotonia Graduate Research Fellowship, and was invited as a “top student innovator” to the first Procter & Gamble Innovation Camp.


Postdoctoral Research Associates

Dr. Venu Yakati
Dr. Sumiran Gurung

Graduate Students

Kasra Goodarzi
PhD ChBE student
Expected Graduation Year: 2024
Nick Lenart
PhD ChBE Student
Paromita Sarker
PhD ChBE Student
Elle Hellwarth
PhD ChBE Student

Undergraduate Students

Kyra Berger
BS ChBE Student
​Expected Graduation: Spring 2025

Alumni and Visiting Students

NameDegree and YearCurrent Position (if known)
Rachel Lane B.S., 2024Engineer, Nephron Pharmaceuticals
Sofia LunaB.S., 2024Ph.D. program, BME, Vanderbilt University
Raghu Vamsi KondapaneniPh.D., 2023Postdoctoral Researcher, Vanderbilt University
Madeline FisherM.S., 2022Research Associate, BlueRock Therapeutics
Rachel WarrenB.S., 2022Ph.D. program, BioE, University of Maryland
Pinaki NakodPh.D., 2022R&D Scientist, BIOMILQ, Inc.
Isaiah RobertsB.S., 2024 (Howard University)B.S. (ChE) student, Howard University
Emma SandersB.S., 2021M.D. Program, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Akshay NarkhedePh.D., 2020 M.S., 2018Upstream Process Development Scientist, Shattuck Labs, Inc.
Brandon EdneyB.S., 2020M.D Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kasie CooganB.S., 2020Production Engineer, Dow Chemical Company
Payton StoneB.S., 2020Ph.D Program, ChE, Vanderbilt University
James CrenshawB.S. 2019M.D Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Nicole SemperteguiB.S. 2019Ph.D Program, BME, Cornell University
Courtney Geary  B.S., 2019 
Riley ManningB.S., 2018Ph.D. Program, BME, University of Minnesota
Anne Lehmann  B.S., 2018 
Mary Alsobrooks  B.A., 2018University of Alabama
David Yaroshevsky  B.S., 2018 (Georgia Tech)Veeva Systems
John StofferB.S., 2017M.D. Program University of Cincinnati