Dr Ravi Prakash Jagadeeshan

Dr Ravi Prakash Jagadeeshan is a Reader in Monash’s Department of Chemical Engineering and he is the leader of the Molecular Rheology Group (MRG) at Monash.

He is engaged in research on a wide range of model polymeric systems and, also, in polymeric systems significant to industry.

In the particular area of nanotechnology, Dr Jagadeeshan is involved in several projects. He is studying the phase behaviour and flow properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWNT) dispersions; the dynamics and flow behaviour of solutions of dendrimeric polymers; and the interaction between elasticity and hydrodynamics in soft matter – which includes studying the behaviour of biological molecules like DNA and actin. He and his group are also investigating the collapse dynamics of polymers in poor solvents, significant to the problem of protein folding. Dr Jagadeeshan is exploring swimming nanoparticles, looking at the complex flow behaviour of suspensions, like microtubule–protein-motor complexes, and self-propelled Janus particles.

Dr Jagadeeshan is focused on understanding the dynamics of nanoscale objects - how their make-up evolves when subjected to forces and flow fields, and the link between nanoscopic topology and dynamics with macroscopic behaviour. “The goal is to understand what role physical phenomena on the nanoscopic scale play in influencing the flow and deformation of materials on large length scales.”

The group conducts random simulations of coarse grained models for synthetic and biological molecules, expecting to produce different interactions in other contexts. These microscopic simulations are often combined with macroscopic simulations so that the micro-macro coupling can be explored. This link between the micro and the macro is prominent in applications of nanotechnology.

Many industries today handle and process complex materials in their raw state and as an end product.  The microscopic structure of these materials has a bearing on their material properties. Rheology draws on knowledge from a combination of disciplines, like physics, chemistry, mathematics, chemical engineering, computer science, biophysics, and materials science, to obtain a quantitative understanding of the behaviour of these materials. The aim of rheology is to seek improvements in complex material handling and processing, and to assist in the development of novel products for specialised applications.

Dr Jagadeeshan hopes his research into SWNTs will have the potential to transfer properties from individual nanotubes to macroscopic fibres and, in the long term, lead to the production of the ‘ultimate material.’ The group’s work on biopolymers and synthetic polymers will increase understanding of how a living cell acts as a machine.

Dr Jagadeeshan works with collaborators here and overseas. Within Monash, there are partnerships with Drs James Friend, Leslie Yeo, Prabhakar Ranganathan and Professor Tam Sridhar; at Swinburne with Professor Billy Todd; at RMIT, Dr Peter Davies and Dr Russell Varley from CSIRO, Melbourne.  Nationally, they work with Professor David Williams of the ANU in Canberra. Internationally, Dr Jagadeeshan maintains ongoing collaborations; in the States with Professor Eric Shaqfeh from Stanford University and Professor Matteo Pasquali from Rice University, and in Germany with Professor Burkhard Duenweg of the Max Planck Institute in Mainz.

In his wider interests Dr Jagadeeshan is exploring the possibility of modelling blood flow in the microcirculation, with the aim of developing realistic simulations of hemodynamics and hemorheology.

Publications

T. T. Pham, M. Bajaj, and J. R. Prakash, "Brownian dynamics simulation of polymer collapse in a poor solvent: Influence of implicit hydrodynamic interactions", Soft Matter, 4, 1196 - 1207 (2008).

S K Pattanayek, and J. R. Prakash, "Is the electrostatic blob model relevant to dilute polyelectrolyte solutions undergoing shear flow?", Macromolecules, 41, 2260-2270 (2008).

J. T. Bosko, and J. R. Prakash, "Effect of molecular topology on the transport properties of dendrimers in dilute solution at theta temperature: A Brownian dynamics study", J. Chem. Phys., 128, 034902 (2008). Selected for the February 1, 2008 issue of Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research.

D. A. Nguyen, B. Dan, N. Parra-Vasquez, M.  Pasquali, J. R. Prakash, T. Sridhar, “Extensional Rheology of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids”, International Congress on Rheology, August 3-8, 2008, Monterey, USA.