Professor
Kripa Varanasi
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Interests
- Physico-Chemical Phenomena, Thermal-Fluids, Interfaces, Electromagnetism, Electrochemistry,
- Energy, Water, Agriculture, CO2, H2
- Biointerfaces, Soft Matter, Biomanufacturing, BioMedical
Professor Varanasi News + Media
Bubble-capturing surface helps get rid of foam
The Varanasi Research Group has developed system for reducing or eliminating foam buildup, which hinders many industrial processes. The team used specially textured mesh that make bubbles collapse as fast as they form.
A new way to make droplets bounce away
The Varanasi Research Group has developed a new approach to minimize the contact between droplets and surfaces, potentially preventing icing or soaking.
New surface treatment could improve refrigeration efficiency
A new surface treatment developed by the Varanasi Research Group could be used to improve refrigeration efficiency by promoting droplet formation and facilitating heat transfer.
Faculty Details
Education
-
1998
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS
B.Tech. -
2002
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT)
M.S. -
2004
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT)
Ph.D.
Bio
Kripa K. Varanasi is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. He received his B.Tech from IIT Madras, India and his SM (ME and EECS) and Ph.D from MIT. Prior to joining MIT as a faculty member, Prof. Varanasi was a lead researcher and project leader at the GE Global Research Center. At GE he received many awards for his work including Best Patent, Best Technology Project and Leadership Award. At MIT, the focus of his work is in understanding the physico-chemical phenomena at interfaces and developing novel materials, devices, and products that can dramatically enhance performance in energy, water, agriculture, transportation, medical, and consumer devices. He is passionate about entrepreneurship and translating technologies from lab to market. He has co-founded multiple companies including LiquiGlide, Dropwise, Infinite Cooling, and Everon24. Time and Forbes Magazines have named LiquiGlide to their “Best Inventions of the Year”. His Infinite Cooling project has won first prize at DOE’s National Cleantech University Prize, first prize Rice Business Plan Competition, first prize Harvard Business School Energy & Environment Start-up, first prize at MIT-100K, first prize at MassChallenge. Prof. Varanasi has received numerous awards for his work NSF Career Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, ASME Bergles-Rohsenow Heat Transfer Award, Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40. ASME Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award for outstanding achievements in Mechanical Engineering, APS Milton van Dyke award, and MIT Graduate Student Council’s Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising.