R Bharath Venkatesh
Chemical Engineer interested in Nanoscale Engineering, Polymer Physics, Rheology, and Interfacial Phenomena
About me
- Postdoctoral Research, University of California, Santa Barbara (Advisor: Rachel Segalman) (2022 - Present)
- Masters of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) & Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Pennsylvania (Advisor: Daeyeon Lee) (2016 - 2022)
- Bachelors in Technology (B.Tech.), National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli (2012 - 2016)
I am a chemical engineer interested in controlling the dynamic properties of polymeric materials at the nanoscale. I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of chemical engineering research and the ability to apply core principles to real-world problems. I aim to engineer sustainable materials, processes supporting a circular economy, and cleaner energy storage devices.
Core competencies: Nanoscale Fabrication and Characterization, Polymer and Colloidal Synthesis, Polymer Characterization, Electrochemical Characterization, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Research interests: I leverage my expertise in polymer science, interfacial phenomena, rheology, and nanoscale engineering to control the properties of materials and design sustainable processes.
Awards and Honors
2024 Winner, Georgia Tech Polymer Postdoctoral Talk Competition
2024 Speaker, PMSE Future Faculty Symposium, ACS Fall National Meeting
2024 Speaker, Future of Rheology Seminar, organized by the Society of Rheology
2023 and 2024 UCSB Material Research Laboratory Heeger Fellowship Travel Award
2022 Speaker, Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium, ACS Spring National Meeting
2021 Finalist, Langmuir Graduate Student Oral Presentation Award Competition, ACS Colloid & Surface Science Symposium
2018 Masters Research Award – honorary commendation for master's research projects at the University of Pennsylvania
2016
ETS TOEFL
Scholarship Award – given annually to 15 Indian
students pursuing higher education abroad
Selected Oral Presentations
Invited Talks
- Georgia Tech Polymer Postdoctoral Oral Presentation Award Nov 2024 - Engineering the activity and selectivity of catalytic polymer upcycling by understanding pore-scale transport and reactivity
- Future of Rheology Seminar Apr 2024 – Nanoscale Rheology of Polymers in Porous Media – Extreme Confinements and Reactive Environments
- UPR PREM Seminar Jan 2022– How to Make Materials at Nanoscale? – Invited presentation to undergraduate researchers at the University of Puerto Rico Cayey
Contributed talks
- Venkatesh RB, Bingaman J, Scott S, Walker LM, Segalman RA. Polymer Scission in Catalytic Nanopores: Role of Polymer Dynamics in Upcycling. AIChE Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA
- Venkatesh RB, Bingaman J, Scott S, Walker LM, Segalman RA. Pore-level Catalytic Activity of Macromolecular Deconstruction via Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy. ACS Fall 2024 Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (in the PMSE Future Faculty Symposium session)
- Venkatesh RB, Bingaman J, Scott S, Walker LM, Segalman RA. Mapping Pore-Level Activity of Catalysts for Polymer Upcycling through Dielectric Spectroscopy. APS March Meeting 2024, Minnesota, MN
- Venkatesh RB, Lee D. Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Polymer in Nanoparticle Packings Under Varying Humidity Conditions. ACSSpring 2022 National Meeting, San Diego, CA (in the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium session)
- Venkatesh RB, Lee D. Leaching-Enabled Capillary Rise Infiltration (LeCaRI) and Lateral Diffusion of poly (dimethylsiloxane) in Nanoparticle Packings. APS March Meeting 2022
- Venkatesh RB, Lee D. Polymer Dynamics in Disordered Nanoparticle Packings. AIChE Annual Meeting 2021, Boston, MA
- Venkatesh RB, Lee D. Confined Polymer Mobility in Disordered Nanoporous Packings. ACS Colloid & Surface Science Symposium 2021 (in the Langmuir Graduate Student Oral Presentation Award session)