Prajay Patel

Dr. Prajay Patel is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Dallas. He holds a PhD from the University of North Texas and completed postdoctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory. His research focuses on computational chemistry, particularly in catalysis, organometallic systems, and cheminformatics. Patel integrates quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, and machine learning to study reaction mechanisms and material properties, with applications in polymer upcycling and sustainable energy.

Dr. Patel's academic journey includes undergraduate studies in Chemistry and Mathematics at the University of Texas at Arlington. He has developed expertise in computational methodologies such as the Correlation Consistent Composite Approach (CCCA) and domain-based Local Pair Natural Orbital (DLPNO) methods. His work bridges theoretical and experimental techniques, including collaborations on X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis with Argonne scientists.

His teaching portfolio includes physical chemistry and forensic chemistry courses, with plans to introduce specialized courses in computational chemistry and Python for scientific visualization. Research in the Patel group emphasizes surface organometallic chemistry, single-atom catalyst design, and AI-driven property prediction for drug-like molecules.

Notable collaborations include projects with Argonne National Laboratory on supported catalysts for polymer upcycling and fuel cells, as well as intra-university partnerships studying aryne-boron chemistry and semiconductor-mediated dye degradation. His lab explores redox non-innocent supports using lithium-ion battery materials, demonstrating interdisciplinary innovation in catalysis and sustainability.