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Lydia Bourouiba

More About Lydia

Contact Info

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

77 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

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Associated Research Areas

Professor Bourouiba News + Media

Covid-19 diagnostic based on MIT technology might be tested on patient samples soon

Covid-19 diagnostic based on MIT technology might be tested on patient samples soon

A variety of MIT research projects could aid efforts to detect and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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Bursting bubbles launch bacteria from water to air

Bursting bubbles launch bacteria from water to air

A new study from Assistant Professor Lydia Bourouiba shows how bubbles contaminated with bacteria can act as tiny microbial grenades, bursting and launching microorganisms out of the water and into the air.

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New theory describes intricacies of a splashing droplet

New theory describes intricacies of a splashing droplet

Researchers have captured extremely fine details in a droplet as it splashes and creates a classic, crown-like sheet of fluid.

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Faculty Details

Education

  • 2008

    MCGILL UNIVERSITY

    Ph.D.

Research Interests

Focusing on the interface of fluid dynamics and epidemiology, the Bourouiba Group aims to elucidate the fundamental physical mechanisms shaping the transmission dynamics of pathogens in human, animal, and plant populations where drops, bubbles, multiphase and complex flows are at the core.
 
Key topics of research in the Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory include:

Fluid Dynamics:

  • Interfacial flows: bubbles, drops and films
  • Fluid fragmentation and droplet formation
  • Turbulence and multiphase flows
  • Mixing, transport, and pathogen deposition and contamination
  • Hydrodynamic instabilities and waves
  • Viscoelastic and biological fluids 

Health:

  • Contact dynamics and pathogen transport and disease transmission in epidemiololgy
  • Nosocomial diseases, respiratory diseases, waterborne diseases, and foliar diseases
  • Disease transmission and contamination in indoor environments, including hospitals.

We use a combination of theoretical  (applied mathematics, including differential equations, linear algebra, nonlinear dynamics, waves and stability) and experimental approaches (flow visualization, high speed imaging techniques, microscopy, image processing) to elucidate the fundamental physical mechanisms of transmission of nosocomial diseases, respiratory diseases, waterborne diseases, and foliar diseases where fluids are ubiquitous and to design and formulate new control strategies.

Bio

Learn more here.

Online Data

News Archive can be found here, and here.

Honors + Awards

(Selected)

  • 2023, G.K. Batchelor Lecturer at the University of Cambridge
  • 2023, Paul Gray Award for Public Service | For her impact on the field of public health, specifically her contributions in mitigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on society. 
  • 2022, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellow: For groundbreaking contributions to our fundamental understanding of unsteady fluid fragmentation and its application to the spread of contagious diseases. 

  • 2021, American Physical Society (APS) Fellow: For fundamental work in quantitatively elucidating the mechanisms of droplet impact and fragmentation, and for pioneering a new field at the intersection of fluid dynamics and transmission of respiratory and foodborne pathogens, with clear and tangible contributions to public health.
  • 2019 Ole Madsen Mentoring Award, in recognition of conspicuous contributions to inspiring, mentoring, and educating students, MIT
  • 2018 Shimizu Professorship, Stanford University
  • 2018 Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award, for creative and innovative junior investigators working on high impact ideas to generate breakthroughs and drive new directions in biomedical research.
  • 2014 Tse Cheuk Ng Tai’s Prize for Innovative Research in Health Sciences
  • 2011 Sigma XI Full Membership award

 

 

Memberships

(Selected)

  • American Physical Society
  • Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
  • American Mathematical Society
  • Society for Mathematical Biology
  • Sigma XI

Professional Service

(Selected)

MIT Service

(Selected)

  • 2015-2021 Founder and organizer of the MIT C.C. Mei Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS)
  • MIT Catalyst linQ Program, Faculty Advisor and Mentor: advising and mentoring of postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate researchers at various phases of project and translation development.

Teaching

  • Fluids and diseases (2.250/1.063-1.631/HST.537)
  • Nonlinear dynamics and turbulence (1.068-1.686/18.358/2.033)
  • Evolution of an Epidemic (HST.434)
  • Multivariable calculus (18.02)
  • Differential equations (18.03) 
  • Nonlinear dynamics II: continuum systems (1.062/18.354/12.207)
  • Linear Algebra (equivalent of 18.06 at MIT)
  • Topics in Biophysics and Physical Biology (guest lecturer, 8.590/7.74/20.416)
  • Undergraduate seminars in physical applied mathematics (guest lecturer, 18.384)
  • Nonlinear dynamics I (guest lecturer, 18.353/2.050/12.006)
  • Engineering Solutions to Societal Challenges (guest lecturer, 1.008)

Online Courses:

MIT Open Course Ware Scholar VIDEO Lectures

More:

More on other forums of teaching, outreach, and mentoring from K12 to the broader community - See HERE

Publications

Publications can be found here.

Video Gallery can be found here.

Image Gallery can be found here.

Patents

Bourouiba, L., Lee, S., and Heldt, T., (2020) Cerebrospinal fluid space draining catheters. US and International Patent Application PCT/US2020/060950.