ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Purdue appoints IIT Kharagpur alumnus Kaustav Bera to faculty
The university said his research could contribute to new approaches in drug discovery and regenerative medicine.
-
Pranavi Sharma - Tue, 12, May 2026
- 01:56 EDT
- 19
Kaustav Bera / Purdue University
The Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University has appointed Indian-origin researcher Kaustav Bera as an assistant professor, expanding its work in biomolecular engineering, mechanobiology and advanced biomaterials.
Based in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue announced that Bera joins the university from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he serves as a Helen Hay Whitney Foundation postdoctoral fellow.
Bera’s research combines phototunable hydrogel systems, three-dimensional organoids and advanced microscopy to develop tissue-mimetic models designed to better replicate the structure and function of human organs.
He earned a doctorate in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University. His doctoral research examined how physical forces generated by body fluids regulate cell movement and the spread of cancer.
Bera also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.
According to Purdue, Bera’s work focuses on how physical forces within the cellular environment, including fluid properties and tissue mechanics, regulate cell behavior. The research has implications for diseases such as cancer and aims to understand how mechanical and molecular signals influence tissue function and disease progression.
The university said the research could contribute to new approaches in drug discovery and regenerative medicine.
Bera has published research in journals including Nature, Nature Materials, Advanced Materials and Science Advances. Purdue said he has secured more than $300,000 in individual research funding as a principal investigator.
His research has also examined how extracellular fluid properties influence cell migration and cancer metastasis, and how phototunable biomaterials can be used to study tissue morphogenesis and tissue homeostasis.
In addition to research, Purdue said Bera has been involved in teaching and mentorship. He designed and taught engineering courses, including a freshman-level curriculum at Johns Hopkins introducing students to bioengineering methods for studying cell biology.
Bera has also served in leadership roles with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Postdoctoral Association of Colorado Boulder and National Cancer Institute Junior Investigator Meetings.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login