Master Student
Email: salot31@seas.upenn.edu
220 S 33rd St
Towne 345
Philadelphia, PA, 19104
Bio
2021-2025: B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
2026-Present: MS. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Current Research
My research focuses on the removal of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically PFOA, from contaminated water using self-assembled nanoporous membranes. Building on the principles of surfactant-driven self-assembly, I fabricate nanofiltration membranes derived from amphiphilic surfactants, which form well-defined mesophases with monodisperse, nanoscale pores. These mesophases are cross-linked via UV polymerization to create robust, permanently nanoporous membrane structures with sub-1 nm pore sizes. Through structural characterization of the cross-linked hexagonal phases and systematic transport studies, I evaluate the membranes’ ability to selectively reject PFAs while maintaining high permeability. This work advances the development of energy-efficient membrane technologies for emerging water purification challenges.