Highlights
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Narayana R. Aluru
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Ph.D. Civil (Major) & Electrical (Minor) Stanford University 1995
- Research Statement:
- Professor Aluru studies problems at the crossroads of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science and chemical engineering. His work in the area of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) revealed previously unknown nonlinear dynamic phenomena, such as complex oscillations, period doubling bifurcation to chaos, and U-sequence. These insights led him to perform fundamental studies on thermoelastic damping in MEMS and to develop a new model to predict thermoelastic damping for complex nonlinear oscillations encountered in NEMS.
In another effort, he developed the first bio-MEMS and microfluidics models for the analysis and design of lab-on-a-chip applications, as well as mathematical models for pH- and electric field-responsive hydrogels-materials with potential applications in small-scale sensing and actuation.
Professor Aluru also studies the unique physics that occur at the nanometer level. He discovered several new physical phenomena through nanofluidics research, including charge inversion, flow reversal, anomalously immobilized water, asymmetric dependence of fluid and ion transport on surface charge, and enhanced conductivity in nanopores. His recent investigations of surface diffusion demonstrated that liquid molecules move as much as 30 times faster over a solid surface when that surfaced is only partially covered by such molecules, and that larger molecules move faster on a partially covered surface than shorter ones do. His other work in nanofluidics includes the multiscale modeling of the transport of water and other ions through membranes, studying the function of biological channels in the membranes of living cells, investigating the use of carbon nanotubes to filter pathogens and other toxins out of water, and exploring the use of carbon and boron nanotubes to speed the removal of salt from water during reverse osmosis.
- Research Interests:
- Computational Analysis and Design Aspects of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS), Micro/Nano-Fluidics, Bio-MEMS and NEMS
- Computational Methods (Meshless, Finite-element and Boundary-element), Stochastic Techniques, Low-order Models, Compact Models, Fast Algorithms and Parallel Computing
- Atomistic Methods (Molecular Dynamics, Monte Carlo), Multiscale Techniques
- For more information:
- Research Website
- Research Page
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Teaching:
- List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (for ME 370), Fall 2008
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Research:
- R. H. Gallagher Young Investigator Award from the United States Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM), 2007
- ASME Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award, 2006
- NCSA Faculty Fellow, 2006
- Willett Faculty Scholar Award, 2002-2008
- Xerox Award for Faculty Research (Assistant Professor level), 2002
- Distinguished Young Author Award from Computer Modeling in Engineering and Sciences (International Journal), 2001
- NCSA Faculty Fellow, 1999
- NSF CAREER Award, 1999
- Nominated by UIUC to Hewlett-Packard as one of two UIUC faculty for Hewlett-Packard Fellowships, 1998