Aluru serving CoE as Director of Computational Science and Engineering

In June 2012, MechSE professor Narayana Aluru was appointed the Director of Computational Science and Engineering for the College of Engineering. A Richard W. Kritzer Professor, his research has significantly advanced the understanding of physics at the micro and nanoscale—particularly with respect to microelectromechanical (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems and nanofluidics.

Aluru’s research group has pioneered the development of advanced computational methods and novel theories for non-continuum effects in mechanical, electrostatic, and fluidic problems at small scales. While some of his studies have elucidated molecular mechanisms governing experimental observations, his computational discoveries have revealed novel physical phenomena at small scales.

"I try to predict things before experiments take place in some cases—computational discoveries," Aluru said.

He joined the Illinois faculty in 1998 after a postdoctoral stint at MIT and earning his Ph.D. from Stanford. He joined MechSE in 2004 as an associate professor and became a full professor in 2006.