Faculty

My research interests are in the intersection of statistical physics, combinatorics and probability.

Our lab studies the neural and computationalbasis of movement planning and control with an emphasis to understand the basis of flexibility and control that is the hallmark of intelligent action. From the perspective of behavior we seekto understand the nature of computations that enable motor control; from the perspective of the brain we seek to understand the contribution of circumscribed neural circuits to motor behavior; and by recording the electrical activity of neurons and muscles we seek to understand how such computational processes are implemented by the brain. Our research interests span the fields of visual perception, decision-making, and the generation of motor behavior and involve the application of cognitive/psychophysical,neuropsychological and electrophysiological techniques.

Soft Matter/Complex fluids, Bacteria, Biofilms, Microfluidics, Opto-electrofluidics and Biophysics

Statistical Machine Learning, Spectral Graph Methods, Deep Learning, Algorithmic Algebra.

Molecular simulation and coarse-graining methods. Membrane biophysics. Mechanobiology.

Discovery of Catalysts and Mechanisms for Sustainable Energy Conversion

MEMS/NEMS MEMS and NEMS Sensors Fundamental research in NEMS/MEMS

Visual analytics, Data association over graphs, Data fusion and consistency, Applications of computer vision and machine learning in bio-medical image analysis, video surveillance.

Recent studies have identified a small subpopulation of cells within several cancers termed as cancer stem cells (CSCs). These CSCs play critical roles in tumor initiation, progression, and maintenance. Furthermore, CSCs remain unaffected by currently used chemotherapeutic drugs, thereby leading to chemotherapy failure and cancer recurrence. The research focus of my laboratory is to understand the unique molecular mechanisms operating within CSCs, and find novels ways for targeting them. Work done in my laboratory has identified AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a key signaling molecule in the regulation of breast cancer stem-like properties, survival and drug resistance. Current interests are in understanding the molecular mechanisms downstream of AMPK activation that contribute to cancer progression.

Positivity and analysis; representation theory of Lie algebras and algebras with triangular decompositions; combinatorics and discrete mathematics (with connections to the two research areas above).

Neurobiology of Pain and Itch

Visual perception, Image processing, Neuroscience

Physics of compact objects, astrophysical fluid dynamics andaccretion disk theory, nuclear astrophysics, astroparticle physicsand cosmology, field theory in curved space-time.

Materials Science Ceramics

Dynamo theory and models, Planetary magnetism, Magnetohydrodynamics, Vortex dynamics.

Research broadly examines the role of genetic variants in shaping our inherited traits and determining our predisposition to complex diseases, especially type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, cognition and neurodegeneration

Wireless communications, Signal Processing.

Signal Processing, Image Processing.

Neuromorphic Engineering, Analog/Digital IC design, Computational Neuroscience, Machine learning