Bio
We are a curiosity driven research group working in the field of physical biology. Our approach brings together experimental and theoretical techniques from soft-condensed matter physics, fluid dynamics, theory of computation and unconventional micro and nano-fabrication to open problems in biology: from organismal to cellular and molecular scale. We design and build precision instrumentation including droplet microfluidic tools to probe and perturb biological machines and their synthetic analogues. Along the way, we invent novel technologies in global health context with clinical applications in extreme resource poor settings.
Academic Appointments
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Associate Professor, Bioengineering
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Senior Fellow, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment
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Member, Bio-X
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Faculty Fellow, Stanford ChEM-H
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Affiliate, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment
Administrative Appointments
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Core Leadership Team, Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health (2017 - Present)
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Board member,, Jasper Ridge Reserve, Stanford (https://jrbp.stanford.edu) (2017 - Present)
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Co-Founder, Board Member, Foldscope Instruments, Inc. (www.foldscope.com) (2016 - Present)
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Board member, Ciencia Puerto Rico (https://www.cienciapr.org) (2017 - Present)
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Board Member, PIVOT (http://pivotworks.org) (2017 - Present)
Honors & Awards
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MIT Ideas Sustainability Prize, MIT (2003)
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Lemelson MIT Student Finalist Award, Lemelson Foundation (2008)
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Junior Fellow (Physics), Harvard Society of Fellows (2008-2011)
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Frederick E. Terman Fellow, Stanford University (2011-2013)
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TED Senior Fellow, Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) (2011-2013)
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Pew Scholar, Pew Foundation (2013-2017)
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Brilliant 10, Popular Science Brilliant 10 (2014)
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TR35, MIT Technology Review (2014)
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Emerging Explorer, National Geographic (2015)
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MacArthur Fellow, MacArthur Foundation (2016)
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HHMI-Gates Faculty Scholar, HHMI (2016-2021)
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25 People Shaping the Future, Rolling Stone Magazine (2017)
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Chan Zuckerberg BioHub Investigator, Chan Zuckerberg BioHub (2017)
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INDEX Design Award, INDEX (2017)
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NSF “Vizzies” Experts’ Choice Award, Popular Science (2017)
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Tau Beta Pi Teaching Award, Tau Beta Pi (2017)
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WIRED’s Next List, WIRED (2017)
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Inaugural Fellow, Leading Interdisciplinary Collaborations, Stanford Woods Institute (2018)
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Town & Country's 50, Town & Country Magazine (2018)
Professional Education
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Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Field of Study: Applied Physics (MAS) (2008)
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M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Field of Study: Applied Physics (MAS) (2004)
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B.Tech, Indian Institute of Technology, Field of Study: Computer Science and Engineering (2002)
Community and International Work
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Foldscope, India
Topic
Low-cost scientific instruments
Partnering Organization(s)
India Dept of Biotechnology
Populations Served
All
Location
International
Ongoing Project
Yes
Opportunities for Student Involvement
No
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Low-cost scanning of oral cavity, Kenya and India
Topic
oral cancer
Location
International
Ongoing Project
Yes
Opportunities for Student Involvement
Yes
Patents
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Zhang, S., Mershin, A., Kaiser, K., Cook, B., Graveland-Bikker, J.F., Prakash, M., Kong, D., Maguire, Y.,. "United States Patent US9714941 Bio-sensing nanodevice", Jul 25, 2017
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Prakash M., Cybulski J., Clements J.. "United States Patent US9696535 Foldscope: Ultra-low-cost fluorescence microscope constructed via folding", Leland Stanford Junior University,, Jul 4, 0017
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Prakash M., Gershenfeld N.. "United States Patent US9404835 Microfluidic bubble logic", Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Aug 2, 0016
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Chow B., Joo J., Prakash M.. "United States Patent US8367435 Methods and apparatus for control of hydrothermal nanowire synthesis", Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jun 16, 0013