Ananya Chakravarti

Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Adviser: Jerelle Joseph
Year of Study: G3
Undergraduate School: The University of Chicago
Undergraduate Major: Molecular Engineering

Personal Bio

I'm originally from Buffalo, NY, and I did my undergrad in molecular engineering and linguistics at The University of Chicago! I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of various projects as an undergrad - starting out with experimental liquid crystals, then transitioning to computational molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanical modeling of Silicon Carbide. Two of my summers were spent doing computational polymers research in Germany through the DAAD RISE fellowship and ACS International REU experience. I even spent half a year working with a company on designing medical ostomy bags for patients! Besides research, I am super passionate about educational outreach in STEM as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Outside of the lab, my hobbies are music (singing, violin, composing), running, yoga, and baking. My favorite part of Princeton is the greenery and significant improvement in the weather (from where I used to live), so I love to spend time outdoors in nature!

Fun Fact

My favorite fun fact about myself is that the high school I went to had no walls inside! We all came out with very good focus because we had no silence while taking exams!

Research Pitch

My research is focused on solving big problems on the molecular level. Specifically, I am interested in looking at biomolecular components of cells that play a role in diseases and simulating the behavior of these on the molecular level. I do this using molecular dynamics, where we can predict behavior of materials over time using fundamental physicochemical properties! I love being in this field because it is so interdisciplinary - I combine physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and apply it into cell biology. By doing so, the goal is that we can decrease and prevent the impact of cell degeneration from disease and aging.

Upcoming Programs That I Am Attending:

Plans for Summer 2025

Not available to participate in Summer ReMatch+ program.