Principal Investigator

Sapna Sarupria

she/her

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota

Co-chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota

Other affiliations:

Chair, Computational Molecular Science and Engineering Forum(CoMSEF), AIChE
Vice Chair, Theory Subdivision of Physical Chemistry Division, ACS
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

Post-doctoral experience:

2009 - 2011:Department of Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, NJ

Education:

2009 - PhD, Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Insitute, NY
2004 - MS, Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, TX

Graduate Students

Porhouy Minh

she/her

PhD student, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota

Bio:

Porhouy (PH) received her B.A. in Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration) from St. Catherine University in Spring of 2021. Within the SAMPEL lab, PH will be investigating nucleation mechanisms of LJ and salt systems via advanced sampling methods. In her free time, she enjoys watching funny (ex: Modern Family) or crime TV shows (ex: Blacklist); while occasionally, goes on hikes too.

Praveen Muralikrishnan

he/him

PhD student, Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, University of Minnesota

Bio:

Praveen received his B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) in 2021. In the SAMPEL lab, he will be studying the effects of excipients on the thermostability of viruses in vaccines through simulations. Praveen is an avid follower of football (soccer), enjoys traveling and hanging out with his friends in his free time.

Leqian (Tim) Tan

he/him

PhD student, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota

Bio:

Tim graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2023 Fall with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. In the SAMPEL lab, he will focus on studying molecular dynamics simulations using different sampling schemes. In his free time, he likes to read novels, watch anime and learn about laptop hardware.

Harry Winston Sullivan

he/him

PhD student, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

Bio:

Winston graduated from the University of Utah in Fall 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computational Physics. As a member of the SAMPEL lab, he will focus on integrating machine learning with statistical mechanics and molecular dynamics. In his free time, he enjoys writing, exploring math and physics, and diving deep into analytical problems.

Anushka Mitra

she/her

PhD student, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota

Bio:

Anushka graduated from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in Summer 2025 with a Master’s in Chemistry. In the Sarupria group, she will be working on salt nucleation using enhanced sampling techniques and machine learning. She also enjoys painting, classical dancing and traveling in her free time.

Youcheng Wang

he/him

PhD student, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

Bio:

Youcheng graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. In the Sarupria group, he will be utilizing molecular simulations to design stable biologics.

Alumni

Jonathan Zajac: PhD in Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2026

Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher at UIUC

Naomi Trampe: PhD in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 2026

Varun Gopal: PhD in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 2026

Position after Graduation: Computational Scientist at EcoLab

Steven Hall: PhD in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

Salman Bin Kashif: PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 2024

Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher at University at Buffalo

Sina Chiniforoush: PhD in Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2023

Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Nevada

Jiarun Zhou: PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 2023

Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher at Arizona State University

Ryan DeFever: PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 2019

Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Notre Dame

Siva Dasetty: PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 2019

Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Chicago

Brittany Glatz: PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 2018

Position after Graduation: Staff Engineer at Kelaca

Youchi Zhang: MS in Chemical Engineering and Material Science, University of Minnesota, 2023

Salman Bin Kashif: Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2025-2026

Ernesto Cortes-Morales: Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2021-2023

Neetu Singh Yadav: Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2021-2023

Linkel Boateng: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 2016-2017

John Barrows: BS in Biochemistry, Clemson University

Position after Graduation: PhD Student at Medical University of South Carolina

Luke Hyunsik Rhym: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Position after Graduation: PhD Student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stephen Cotty: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Danielle Jacobs: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Position after Graduation: Naval Officer and Power School Instructor with US Navy

Walter Hanger (Judge): BS in Computer Science, Clemson University

Brandon Alverson: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

David Barton: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Dylan Bruckner: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Position after Graduation: PhD Student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Waring Hills: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Position after Graduation: Nuclear Engineer for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)

Kamryn Kant: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Aarin Henning: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University