Small-angle scattering using Light, X-ray and Neutrons
Biofilm as a viscoelastic membrane
Three dimensional reconstructed confocal microscopic image of a biofilm.
Biofilms formed by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are abundantly found on Earth. All they require is a moisture-laden interface and nutrients to grow. The majority view is that biofilms are harmful.
Our research views biofilms as biodegradable, sustainable materials. Currently, we are studying the mechanical and structural properties of films formed by the non-pathogenic fungus Neurospora discreta to design biofilm membranes for treating toxic industrial effluents.
Biofilms are a form of active matter in which energy transported across the boundary of the system is transduced to increase the biomass. Our research identifies factors that can increase biofilm biomass and, consequently, mechanical strength.
We employ several techniques to characterize the material which include Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear Rheology, Dynamical Mechanical Analyzer, Confocal Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Small-angle X-ray scattering.
Micro-fluid Mechanics
Strategies for efficient mixing of liquids in the laminar flow regime.
Theories of mixing
Low-dimensional Chaos in microfluidics
Theoretical Microfluidics
Velocity field stirring the fluid around obstacles
At the microscale, life of a fluid is boring. When fluids of two different concentrations are introduced in a microchannel, most fluid particles move in a straight line. The two fluids acknowledge each other only at the interface. We would like to stir them up to make their life exciting. We want them to mix and mix fast.
Collaborators and Students
Ph. D Students
Aiswarya N M (Aug. 2019)
Thesis Topic: Relationship between viscoelasticity and microstructure of fungal biofilms.
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Asma Ahmed, Natural and Applied Science, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK
As Co-Supervisor: Subba Rao Y V (Ph. D. completed in Dec 2020)
Thesis Title: Controlling Advection and Transport of Vortices Using Obstacles in Passive Micro-mixers: Numerical Simulation and Experiments.
G. K. Ankush (2017B5A41552H) - Masters Thesis (Jan 2022)
P. Vishal (2017B5A41034H)
Our research focusses on designing mixers. This entails fundamental understanding of microscale mixing. We exploit recent advances in Hamiltonian Fluid Mechanics, and Dynamical Systems Theory and perform finite element numerical simulation to gain insights into the mixing process.
