Assistant professor of mechanical engineering Bhargav Rallabandi at the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) at the University of California Riverside (UCR) has been awarded a $540,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award to better predict and control the motion of microparticles in liquid. NSF CAREER awards are awarded to assistant professors to fund research that is expected to form a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. 

Microscopic particles suspended in liquid may not be seen to the naked eye, but how we can control these itty bitty fragments has a number of implications for real-world applications. These include how cells are manipulated for medical and analytical devices, how particles are assembled into structures and materials, and how self-propelled particles are developed.

With the NSF CAREER award, Rallabandi will develop new simulation methods to predict and control particle motion that is driven by rapid repetitive movements, or oscillations, of the suspension. The project will simulate individual particles, pairs of particles and, ultimately, assemblies of particles, taking into account the way interactions among the particles influence their motion.

Rallabandi’s grant includes a K-12 outreach component. High school students will participate through hands-on projects that are developed into training modules for teachers. Undergraduate and graduate students at UCR, especially those from underrepresented groups, will also gain access to educational and research opportunities.

Finally, the general public will get a chance to engage with the research findings, which will be demonstrated at the Ameal Moore Nature Center, located a few miles from the UCR campus in the city of Riverside.

To learn more about Rallabandi’s latest research, visit the FlowLab website.