Mechanobiology refers to the biological and physical processes by which cells sense and respond to mechanical signals. The mechanobiology of eukaryotic (e.g., human) cells and tissues has been a subject of extensive research over the last two decades, and several studies have revealed a strong relationship between mechanics and cell fate. Despite these developments, very little is known about how pathogenic bacteria and biofilms sense and respond to their mechanical environment in the context of infections. Interestingly, bacteria within our bodies (e.g., gut, airway, urinary tract, bloodstream) and in the environment are subject to varying mechanical forces, and there are several contexts in which mechanics promote bacterial virulence. For example, the curved shape and swimming motility of Vibrio cholerae aids in breaking the intestinal mucus barrier, causing infection. 

Our research combines ideas and techniques from experimental biology, solid/fluid mechanics, micro/nanofabrication, transport processes, and modeling to address several open questions spanning bacterial mechanobiology and biomechanics in the context of infection. We are interested in understanding aspects related to cellular physiology, cellular sensing and signaling processes, morphological evolution and dynamics of microbial colonies and biofilms across a wide range of physiologically relevant mechanical (e.g., flow, soft substrates) and biochemical environments. In addition, we leverage this biophysical understanding to engineer novel biological and physical functionalities in cells and develop innovative biotechnologies and measurement tools to combat infections.

Advancing disease diagnostics requires innovative tools that leverage the fundamental principles of physics and engineering. Traditional point-of-care diagnostic tests hold significant promise but face technical hurdles such as sensitivity, speed, and ease of use. Our research seeks to overcome these limitations by designing and engineering the next-generation microfluidics-based diagnostic platforms that leverage biophysical properties of biomolecules and disease markers. 

Our work integrates a wide range of cutting-edge approaches, including traditional nucleic acid amplification techniques, next-generation sequencing (NGS), CRISPR-based detection, microscale transport phenomena and molecular sensing, to create transformative diagnostic platforms. With a dual focus on portability for field use and scalability for clinical labs, our work aims to bridge the gap between fundamental diagnostics research and real-world applications, ultimately delivering impactful solutions that improve global health outcomes.

Micro/nano scale transport phenomena in multiphase systems and complex geometries encompass the interactions among fluids, particles, and interfaces, where mass, momentum, and energy transfer converge. Such phenomena are central to processes and applications spanning drug delivery, oil recovery, bio-transport, phase separation, biomolecular condensation, and advanced materials manufacturing.

Our lab is interested in understanding the fundamental processes that underlie droplet coalescence, nanoparticle assembly, and interfacial dynamics in multiphase systems to deduce the intricate mechanisms governing the interplay of complex fluid phenomena at the micro and nano scales. We combine high-speed imaging, microfabrication, and computational modeling to study the evolution of spatiotemporal flow fields and particle transport, characterize interfacial tension, and isolate the roles of confinement, surfactants, nanoparticles, and external fields in these systems.