Dr. Sandeep Sharma

Professor

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Biography

Sandeep Sharma is a Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) who specializes in theoretical and computational chemistry, focusing on the development of advanced algorithms for electronic structure theory. He earned a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 2003 and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2009, where he studied under William H. Green. Following his doctoral studies, Sharma conducted postdoctoral research at Princeton University with Garnet Chan and at the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart with Ali Alavi before starting his independent career at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2016. His research aims to solve the Schrödinger equation to determine electronic wavefunctions, which encapsulate essential information about chemical systems, including energy and spectroscopic properties. His work has earned him several prestigious awards, such as the NSF Career Award, Sloan Research Fellowship, and the Camille-Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award. He is set to teach ChE/Ch 164, an introduction to statistical thermodynamics, in the 2025-26 academic year, covering fundamental concepts and applications in the field.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2025-01-01 — Present

California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA

Professor specializing in theoretical and computational chemistry.

Courses

ChE/Ch 164: Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics

Requirements for California Institute of Technology

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong background in mathematics and physical sciences
Application Checklist
  • Online Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Most Caltech graduate programs are PhD-only. GRE General and Subject tests vary by department; many have made them optional or no longer accept them.