Current Group Members

Richard Cobos

Hi, I’m Richard Cobos. I graduated from ESPOL in Ecuador with a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 2018 and a M.S. degree in Automation and Control in 2020. I joined the Khair group in November 2021. I am currently using theory and numerical simulations to study the electrophoresis of colloidal particles in large electric fields. Outside of work, I like to read, and play video games and boardgames.

R. Kailasham

I am R. Kailasham, a PhD graduate from the IIT Bombay-Monash Research Academy. For my doctoral research, I used theory and Brownian dynamics simulations to investigate the influence of internal friction on dilute polymer solution dynamics. I joined the Khair group as a postdoctoral fellow in August 2021. I am currently studying the dynamics of autophoretic particles computationally, and also working with experimentalists to understand self-propulsion in active droplets. In my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, and writing.

Angela Yang

Hi, I’m Angela! I graduated from the University of Southern California in 2019 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. I joined the Khair group in November 2019 and am co-advised by Dr. Robert Tilton and Dr. Steve Garoff. I am working on diffusiophoresis of colloids in confined geometries through theory and experiments. Outside of research I like to cook, swim, and spend time with friends.

Brian McKenzie

Hi, my name is Brian. I studied chemical engineering and math at the University of Florida for undergraduate. I joined the Khair group in 2020 and am co-advised by Dr. Robert Tilton and Dr. Steve Garoff. My research focuses on theoretical modeling of interfacial deformations induced by diffusiophoresis. In my free time, I love reading classics, biking, hiking, and weightlifting.

William Altawal

Hello, I am William Altawal. I graduated from the University of South Alabama with a B.S in chemical engineering in 2023. I joined the Khair group to study, using theory and computation, the effect of a harmonic electric field on particle-particle interactions in a fluid medium. I enjoy playing volleyball, chess, and playing video games in my free time. 

Emerson Uhlig

Hi, my name is Emerson Uhlig. I graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. After graduation, I spent one year in research and development at Sherwin Williams, and one year as a process engineer at Polar Semiconductor before joining the Khair group in 2023. I am studying transport processes at fluid-fluid interfaces. In my spare time I enjoy playing and listening to music, watching movies, cooking, rock climbing, playing pickup sports, hiking, and spending time with my friends.