Dr. Rahul Agarwal

Education

• Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering - IIT Kharagpur (2022)
  Thesis Supervisor- Prof. Suman Chakraborty; Microfluidics and Point-of-Care Medical Diagnostics
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, U.S. (2017)
  Thesis Supervisor- Prof. Gerald Morrison; Computational Analysis of a Centrifugal Pump
• B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering- IIT Indore (2015)
  Thesis Supervisor- Prof. Gautam Biswas; Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Nanoscale Osmosis

Experience

• Assistant Professor, JBMSHST, IIT Guwahati (2025-Present)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physics and Materials Science, Anupam Sengupta Group, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2024-2025). Link
• Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Engineering, Marc Madou Group, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico (2022-2024). Link

Research Interest

1. Smart, Affordable Biosensors for Point-of-Care Medical Diagnostics

   Our research group engineers smart, low-cost Point-of-Care (POC) devices at the interface of biochemistry, healthcare, and data science. We harness advanced biochemical reactions and immunoassays—including cutting-edge lateral flow technologies and portable biosensors—to rapidly detect disease biomarkers, pathogens, and key analytes. Our mission is to deliver user-friendly, robust, and scalable medical solutions that can be deployed in real-world and resource-limited settings.

2. Mechanobiology and Biophysics: Unraveling Disease Mechanisms

   We dive deep into mechanobiology and biophysics, exploring how cancer cell adhesion to the endothelium and tissue calcification underpin disease mechanisms. Our team also translates breakthroughs in biomineralization and marine ecology—such as microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP)—into innovations relevant for both tissue health and environmental applications like carbon capture.

3. Computational Biofluid Dynamics and Active Matter in Health and Engineering

   Our third core pillar is computational biofluid dynamics, where we model and optimize the flow of blood, bacteria, and active matter in physiological systems. By analyzing the complexities of turbulence, tissue interactions, and device performance, we create new opportunities for advancing healthcare technology.

Research Projects

Suitable for M.Tech. Students:

1. Smart, Affordable Biosensors for Point-of-Care Medical Diagnostics (POC)
• Optimizing Fluid Flow Through Porous Media in Lateral Flow Assays: Optimize sample migration in porous materials, aiming to improve detection speed and sensitivity in POC diagnostic strips.
• Investigate and Improve Biochemical Reaction Kinetics at the Test/Control Lines: Develop and validate models for antigen–antibody binding reactions occurring at test lines, incorporating parameters such as reaction rates, diffusion, and competitive binding.
• Designing Microfluidic Channel Geometries for Enhanced Mixing: Simulate various microfluidic channel designs to maximize mixing efficiency, minimize dead volume, and achieve uniform reagent distribution, thereby improving assay reliability.
2. Mechanobiology and Biophysics: Unraveling Disease Mechanisms
• Investigating Cancer Cell Adhesion to the Endothelium Under Shear Flow: Investigate cancer cell–endothelial interactions to understand how shear stress impacts adhesion under physiological flow, relevant to metastasis.
• Investigating Tissue Calcification Processes Using Reaction-Diffusion Approaches: Develop models to simulate the deposition and growth of mineral phases within soft tissues, providing insights into diseases like vascular calcification.
• Analyzing Microbially-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) for Carbon Capture: Model the biochemical and physical processes governing MICP in marine or soil environments, optimizing parameters for maximum carbon sequestration.
3. Computational Biofluid Dynamics and Active Matter in Health and Engineering
• Simulation of Blood Flow Through Stenosed or Bifurcated Arteries: Study laminar-turbulent transition and its effects on oxygen delivery and wall shear stress, thereby assessing the damage to arterial wall.
• Modeling Active Bacterial Transport in Blood Flow: Implement models to simulate the movement of bacteria within flowing blood, including interactions with red and white blood cells and the active motility of bacteria.
• Multiscale Modeling of Blood-Borne Particle Dynamics (e.g., drug carriers, pathogens): Couple discrete particle tracking with bulk flow simulations to predict how particles disperse, marginate, or adhere within complex vascular geometries.

Suitable for Ph.D. Students

1. Development of Multiplexed Point-of-Care Platforms for Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Disease Biomarkers

   Pursue the next generation of POC devices capable of rapidly identifying several biomarkers from a single drop of blood or bodily fluid, integrating advances in biochemical assay design, materials engineering, and scalable device fabrication. This project includes creating robust strategies to minimize cross-reactivity and maximize clinical reliability, with digital data integration for health monitoring.

2. Integrative Studies on the Dual Role of Mineralization in Tissue Health and Cancer Progression

   Investigate how physiological and pathological mineralization impacts both normal tissue repair and cancer development. This research could look at regulatory pathways connecting biomineralization to cell signaling in metastasis and tissue stiffening, using advanced imaging, bioinformatics, and lab-on-chip platforms for experimental confirmation.

3. Exploring the Influence of Flow-Induced Forces on Microbial Behavior and Host-Pathogen Interactions in Vascular Networks

   Study how local shear stress, turbulence, and blood flow patterns alter the motility, colonization, and immune evasion of microbes (such as bacteria and fungi) within the circulatory system. Employ microfluidic experimentation and advanced imaging to map interaction landscapes, offering insights relevant to infection control, sepsis, and targeted drug delivery.

Key publications

• Rahul Agarwal, Sergio Omar Martinez Chapa, and Marc Jozef Madou. "Theoretical analysis of immunochromatographic assay and consideration of its operating parameters for efficient designing of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) detection." Scientific Reports 13.1 (2023): 18296.DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45050-1. (IF: 4.6). Link
• Rahul Agarwal, Arnab Sarkar, Arka Bhowmik, Devdeep Mukherjee, and Suman Chakraborty. "A portable spinning disc for complete blood count (CBC)." Biosensors and Bioelectronics 150 (2020): 111935. DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111935. (IF: 12.5) Link
• Rahul Agarwal, Arnab Sarkar, Subhechchha Paul, and Suman Chakraborty. "A portable rotating disc as blood rheometer." Biomicrofluidics 13, no. 6 (2019): 064120. DOI: 10.1063/1.5128937. (IF: 3.2). Link
• Rahul Agarwal, Arnab Sarkar, and Suman Chakraborty. "Interplay of Coriolis effect with rheology results in unique blood dynamics on a compact disc." Analyst 144, no. 12 (2019): 3782-3789. DOI: 10.1039/C9AN00645A. (IF: 4.2). Link
• Rahul Agarwal, and Suman Chakraborty. "Analytics with blood on hybrid paper-rotating disc device." Sensors and Actuators Reports 4 (2022): 100122. DOI: 10.1016/j.snr.2022.100122. (IF: 5.9) . Link
• Rahul Agarwal, Abhay Patil, and Gerald Morrison. "Efficiency Prediction of Centrifugal Pump Using the Modified Affinity Laws." Journal of Energy Resources Technology 142, no. 3 (2020): 032102. DOI: 10.1115/1.4044940. (IF: 3) . Link
• Masoud Madadelahi, Rahul Agarwal, S.O.M. Chapa, and Marc J. Madou. "A roadmap to high-speed polymerase chain reaction (PCR): COVID-19 as a technology accelerator." Biosensors and Bioelectronics 244 (2023): 115830. DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115830. (IF: 12.5). Link
• Victor Pakira, Rahul Agarwal, Subhamoy Chatterjee, Arghya Mukherjee, and Suman Chakraborty. "Lipidest: a lipid profile screening test under extreme point of care settings using a portable spinning disc and an office scanner." Analytical Methods 15, no. 20 (2023): 2427-2440. DOI: 10.1039/D3AY00412K. (IF: 3.1). Link
• Abhiram Hens, Rahul Agarwal, Gautam Biswas. “Nanoscale study of boiling and evaporation in a liquid Ar film on a Pt heater using molecular dynamics simulation.” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 71 (2014): 303-312. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2013.12.032. (IF: 5.2). Link
• Gerald Morrison, Wenjie Yin, Rahul Agarwal, and Abhay Patil. "Evaluation of effect of viscosity on an electrical submersible pump." In ASME 2017 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting. American Society of Mechanical Engineers Digital Collection, 2017. DOI: 10.1115/FEDSM2017-69157. Link

Patents

• Rahul Agarwal, Arka Bhowmik, Arnab Sarkar, Devdeep Mukherjee, Suman Chakraborty. “A Point of Care System Comprising Blood/Body Fluid Counting Kit”. Patent No. 568043. (Granted).

Join Us

These interdisciplinary challenges welcome students from biotechnology, chemistry, pharmacy, as well as core engineering fields such as mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering—inviting all to innovate where medicine, biology, and next-generation healthcare technology converge. We enthusiastically welcome applications from students and researchers with an interest in any approach—whether experimental, computational, or theoretical. Join us to shape the future of interdisciplinary biomedical innovation!

If you are interested to apply or know more, please send an email to: rahulag@iitg.ac.in.

External Profiles

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