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RLRao LabDepartment of Chemistry · Deccan Institute of Science

People

Our lab brings together chemists, physicists, engineers and data scientists from six countries.

Principal Investigator

Prof. Ananya Rao

Professor of Chemistry

Ananya leads the lab. She loves a good cyclic voltammogram and a better cup of chai.

Research Scientists

Dr. Daniel OkaforSenior Research ScientistResearch focusSynchrotron X-ray methodsIn the lab2018–Emaild.okafor@example.edu

Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Lena FischerPostdoctoral ResearcherResearch focusSolid-state electrolytesIn the lab2023–

Dr. Arjun MehtaPostdoctoral ResearcherResearch focusBattery ageing modelsIn the lab2024–

PhD Students

Priya NatarajanPhD StudentResearch focusSodium layered oxidesIn the lab2021–

Sam KowalskiPhD StudentResearch focusHard-carbon anodesIn the lab2022–

Mei ChenPhD StudentResearch focusOperando spectroscopyIn the lab2022–

Ravi IyerPhD StudentResearch focusElectrolyte additivesIn the lab2023–

Fatima Al-SayedPhD StudentResearch focusPolymer electrolytesIn the lab2023–

Jonah BrooksPhD StudentResearch focusMachine learning for materialsIn the lab2024–

Master's Students

Ana SouzaMaster's StudentResearch focusSelf-healing bindersIn the lab2025–

Undergraduate Researchers

Kiran DesaiUndergraduate ResearcherResearch focusBattery recyclingIn the lab2025–

Lab Management

Meera PillaiLab ManagerIn the lab2017–Emaillab@example.edu

Alumni

Dr. Tomás HerreraCurrent positionAssistant Professor, University of ChilePostdoctoral Researcher, 2019–2023

Dr. Aisha BelloCurrent positionScientist, a battery start-up in BengaluruPhD Student, 2017–2022

Dr. Vikram ShahCurrent positionPostdoc, Stanford UniversityPhD Student, 2016–2021