Rate My Professor Ajay Kottapalli

Ajay Kottapalli is Associate Professor and Chair of the Bioinspired MEMS and Biomedical Devices group at the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen. He obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Nanyang Technological University in alliance with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through the Singapore-MIT Alliance Graduate Fellowship in 2013. Prior degrees include a Master of Technology in Solid State Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 2009, a Master of Science in Physics specialized in Photonics from Sri Sathya Sai University in 2007, and a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Physics from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in 2005. Kottapalli joined the University of Groningen in 2018 as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Advanced Production Engineering at ENTEG, advancing to his current associate professorship. Previously, he held positions as Principal Research Scientist (2017-2018) and Research Scientist (2015-2017) at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, and Postdoctoral Associate there from 2013 to 2015. He maintains a Research Affiliate role at the MIT Sea Grant College Program since 2018.

His research specializes in nature-inspired micro/nano sensors, biomimetic materials and sensors, MEMS/NEMS, nanofabrication, flexible and printed electronics, wearable and biomedical sensors, and 2D sensing materials with TENG/PENG energy harvesting. The Bioinspired MEMS and Biomedical Devices group develops ultrasensitive artificial sensors mimicking biological designs in sensing principles, morphology, materials, and functionality for biomedical and healthcare applications, including preventive maintenance and safe clinical practices. Key achievements include the ERC Starting Grant in 2022 for seal whisker-inspired sensors, NWO MetaFlow project grant in 2024 with Dr. Anastasia Krushynska, ERC Proof of Concept Grant for safer IV infusion therapy, and nomination for the Huibregtsen Prize 2025. Selected publications are 'From Biological Cilia to Artificial Flow Sensors: Biomimetic Soft Polymer Nanosensors with High Sensing Performance' (Scientific Reports, 2016), 'Fish-inspired self-powered microelectromechanical flow sensor with biomimetic hydrogel cupula' (APL Materials, 2017), 'Ultralightweight and 3D Squeezable Graphene-Polydimethylsiloxane Composite Foams as Piezoresistive Sensors' (ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019), and 'Electrically Conductive 3D-Printed Piezoresistive Metastructure Lattice Sensors' (2026). Kottapalli was named among the Top 10 Innovators Under 35 in Asia by MIT Technology Review, co-founded Sencilia BV as scientific founder and advisor, holds patents such as Microflow sensor (WO2025262176), and serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Sensors Journal and PLOS One, and Editorial Board Member for npj Flexible Electronics and npj Soft Matter.