Srikar Vengallatore

Biography

Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) B.Tech. Banaras Hindu University

Research Interest

Microsystems and nanosystems (MEMS/NEMS) are miniaturized engineering devices that are manufactured using micrometer- and nanometer-scale structural components. These small systems are being developed for a staggering array of applications that range from sensing and displays to portable power generation and medical diagnostics. My research interests reside at the intersection of three fields: MEMS/NEMS, Energy, and Materials Science. Our research activities focus on two main thrust areas. The first is energy dissipation and structural damping in micro/nanomechanical resonators. Using both theory and experiments, we study thermoelastic damping in micromachined structures and internal friction in thin films. The results emerging from these studies are used to formulate scale-dependent process-structure-property relationships to guide the design of resonant microsensors. The second thrust area focuses on the design and prototyping of MEMS for energy harvesting and energy storage. We are currently developing advanced materials and processes for piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters and a Rankine micro-engine for harvesting waste heat.