Saad Bhamla is an Assistant Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech, where he runs a curiosity-driven lab that explores research questions in organismic biophysics, soft matter and frugal science. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Saad was a Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioengineering at Stanford University (with Manu Prakash), where he also completed his PhD in Chemical Engineering (with Gerry Fuller). Saad is a prolific inventor and his most notable inventions includes a 20-cent paper centrifuge, a 23-cent electroporator and the 96-cent hearing aid. Saad's work is recognised by numerous awards including an NSF CAREER, Innovation in MedTech Award, and INDEX: Design to Improve Life Award. Saad is also a National Geographic Explorer. Outside of the lab, Saad loves to go hiking with his partner and two dogs (Ollie and Bella).
Brief CV
2017, PostDoc, BioEngg, Stanford University (w/Manu Prakash)
2015, PhD, Chemical Engg, Stanford University (w/Gerry Fuller)
2010, B.Tech, Chemical Engg, IIT Madras
Notable Awards
2020, NSF CAREER
2019 National Geographic Explorer
2018 Beazley Design Award
2017 Medgadgets Best Medical Technology
2017 INDEX: Design to Improve Life Award
2016 Innovation in MedTech Award, AIF and Stanford
2016 Stanford Dean's Postdoctoral Fellowship
2016 Centennial Teaching Award, Stanford Univ
2015 Milton van Dyke Award, APS DFD
2014 Accel Innovation Scholar
Notable Publications:
1. Byagathvalli et al., An ultra-low-cost electroporatord, PLOS Biology (2020)
2. Mathijssen et al., Collective intercellular communication through ultrafast hydrodynamic trigger waves, Nature (2019)
3. Ilton et al., Principles of cascading power limits in small, fast, biological and engineered systems, Science (2018)
4. Bhamla et al., Hand-powered ultra-low cost paper centrifuge, Nature Biomedical Engineering (2017)
Current Funding Sources:
1. National Science Foundation
2. National Geographic Foundation
3. Capita Foundation
4. Open Philanthropy Project
5. Renewable Bioproducts Institute, Georgia Tech
6. Mindlin Foundation