Biography
Prabir Patra studies the fundamentals of biophysical science processes at a nanoscale and applies them for novel biomedical engineering applications. Keeping this as the central theme, his research is directed toward two major areas. The first area involves continued research efforts on multifunctional polymer-nanomaterials systems, biologically inspired nanomaterials and computational bioengineering using advanced software tools. The second area involves biomaterials and tissue engineering using synthesis-structure-property-function relationships. In essence, Patra group focuses on the application of evolving nanotechnologies in tissue engineering and biomedical devices. Prabir develops computational models and combines them with wet lab experiments and machine learning to study how cellular assembly such as but not limited to brain organoids forms and how engineering methods could be employed in understanding their formation processes. Dr. Patra teaches courses in biomaterials, nanofabrication, tissue engineering and bioelectronics to undergraduate and graduate students and research methods for engineering graduate students at MS and PhD levels. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and book chapters, and he is an inventor one U.S. Patent. Dr. Patra is passionate about mentoring students and faculty, promoting STEM education, and participating in K-12 outreach to increase students’ interest and self-confidence in pursuing STEM careers.