Dr. Subramanian is also a faculty member in
I was appointed to the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on December 1, 2001. Prior to this position, I held a tenure-track position with the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota for four years. My position at both universities included teaching and research responsibilities at the graduate and the undergraduate levels. Prior to my appointment at the University of Minnesota, I was employed as a research associate with the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. My interests are in the area of bioengineering, where engineering principles are called upon to solve applied problems in biological systems.
Dr. Subramanian's interests are in the area of bioengineering, where engineering principles are called upon to solve applied problems in biological systems.
Engineers now have the tools to design biological products and processes at the molecular level. The ability to manipulate the strength and specificity of protein-binding or cell-matrix binding events provides tremendous leverage for the development of novel biopharmaceuticals and biomolecularly-engineered surfaces.
Dr. Subramanian's is interested in protein adsorption at material surfaces in the area of bioseparations, and research currently involves the synthesis and characterization of zirconia aggregates with hierarchically structured pore architecture.
Focus is placed on better understanding the mechanism of biomolecule transport as well as a fundamental investigation into the thermodynamics and the nature of affinity of these interactions.
In a parallel investigation, research is being conducted in the mechanisms that form the basis for improving the short-term and long-term biorecognition at material surfaces. The proposed studies are intended to form the basis for a generic understanding of the molecular interactions at the biomaterial interface, allowing for the manipulations and control of the biomolecule-material surface intermolecular interactions needed to enhance detection or recognition.
While the applicability of bio-recognition at interfaces can be broad, attention is being concentrated on the development of strategies to detect chemical/biological warfare agents and nano-scale separations.
Research horizons have recently been expanded in the field of functional tissue engineering of articular cartilage. In this interdisciplinary research project, the purpose is to develop nanoengineered, novel cartilage scaffold materials with superior anisotropic (orientation-dependent) mechanical properties and study the cell growth response to intrinsic and extrinsic mechanical stimuli.
Tissue engineered neo-cartilage with appropriate biomechanical properties hold promise not only for graft applications, but also a model system for controlled studies of chondrogenesis as the resulting engineered tissues represent unique models to investigate how chondrocyte redifferentiation and associated cartilage development regulated by mechanical, biochemical and environmental stimuli.
Accurate characterization of these properties and relating them to changes in tissue microstructure is an appealing means to understand the importance of microstructure on disease process and in turn may guide diagnosis and treatment.
Tenure-track position with the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota for four years with teaching and research responsibilities at the graduate and the undergraduate levels.
Prior to appointment at the University of Minnesota, was employed as a research associate with the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
