Originally from the island of Mauritius, Chitavi earned a double bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology at the University of Rochester, where she focused on nanoparticle characterization in the context of allergic contact dermatitis in the DeLouise Lab. Chitavi started in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering PhD program in 2015 where she is co-advised by Dr. Melody Swartz and Dr. Jeffrey Hubbell. On campus, she is involved with PME social circle, the multi-cultural graduate committee, the IMPACT mentorship program, and ballroom.
Chitavi investigates targeted adjuvanted biomaterials to improve vaccination platforms, especially in cancer immunotherapy.