Welcome to the Chavez Research Lab!
The Chavez Lab develops custom reactors and spectroscopic tools to advance understanding of dynamics in heterogeneous catalysts, addressing important challenges in energy production, chemical manufacturing, and emissions mitigation.
Nonequilibrium Catalysis Laboratory
Traditional chemical manufacturing and energy production systems rely on catalysts that dynamically evolve under reaction conditions. The Chavez Lab bridges the gap between nanophotonics, heterogeneous catalysis, and reactor engineering to track and direct these dynamic changes across precise spatial and temporal scales. By coupling real-time measurements with multimodal spectroscopic reactors, we aim to uncover the fundamental principles needed to design next-generation, adaptive catalysts for critical applications in sustainability and chemical manufacturing.
Recent Milestones
Professor Chavez featured on the cover of Scientific American in their inaugural class of Young American Scientists!
Professor Chavez serves as Discussion Leader for the Fundamental Understanding of Solar Fuel Production session at the 2026 Solar Fuels Gordon Research Seminar (May 2-3, 2026)
Professor Chavez delivers a talk about how metal oxide supports affect dynamic restructuring in bimetallic alloy catalysts at The 8th International Congress on Operando Spectroscopy (May 13, 2026)
Professor Chavez highlighted by UCLA Undergraduate Research Center for outstanding undergraduate mentoring (April 15th 2026)
Professor Chavez delivers an invited talk about thermal and nonthermal effects in plasmonic catalysis at the 2026 Solar Fuels Gordon Research Conference (May 3-8, 2026)
Address
Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Boelter Hall, UCLA
420 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Join Us!
Interested students should apply to the UCLA CBE graduate program.
Postdocs should email Prof. Chavez directly at stchavez@ucla.edu
