Developing tools for drug delivery/diagnostics & deciphering the physics of living systems.

Pankaj develops low-cost tools for drug delivery and diagnostics (w/ Mark Prausnitz) and studies the physics of living systems (previously w/ Saad Bhamla) at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University under the guidance of Jeremy Marston. From hair-thin microjets and fluidic tattooing to a barbecue-lighter–inspired electroporator, his work combines creativity with function to enable innovative ways of delivering drugs across the skin. Charged by curiosity, he has investigated how organisms interact with fluids, both on the surface and beneath the water. His research contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Eckert Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Horn Distinguished Professors Graduate Achievement Award.

He has published 19 peer-reviewed research articles spanning drug delivery, fluid dynamics, and biophysics. His work has appeared in leading journals such as PNAS, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Langmuir, and Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. His research has also been featured in prominent media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, New Scientist, The Conversation, and Science News.

Born and raised in Yamunanagar, he currently resides in Atlanta.