Prof. Suman Chakraborty Patron (NDLI Project), Director, IIT Kharagpur
Major Research Areas
- Technologies for Affordable Healthcare; Microfluidics and Nanofluidics
- Slippery Flow over Rough Surfaces: The Rough Makes it Smooth !!
- Reversing the Temperature-Guided Motion of Nanoscale Droplets
Selected Publications
- Cellular-Aggregation Dictates Universal Spreading Behaviour of a Whole-Blood Drop on a Paper Strip by Laha S., Kar S. , Chakraborty S. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 640 309-319 (2023)
- A portable spinning disc for complete blood count by Agarwal R., Sarkar A. , Bhowmik A. , Mukherjee D. , Chakraborty S. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 150 111935- (2020)
Director and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at IIT KGP, renowned for pioneering research in microfluidics and transformative contributions to affordable healthcare technologies
Director, IIT KGP & Patron, NDLI
Prof. Suman Chakraborty is a highly distinguished Indian academic, researcher, and innovation leader, currently serving as Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) since June 2025. He is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a Sir J. C. Bose National Fellow, known for his deep expertise in micro- and nanoscale fluid dynamics, affordable healthcare technologies, and translational research that directly impacts society.
Prof. Chakraborty completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University and both his M.E. and Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, where his doctoral work on phase transitions in thermal processing received top academic honors. He joined IIT Kharagpur in 2002, rising through the ranks to become a Senior Professor and later taking on several administrative leadership roles before becoming Director.
Under his stewardship, IIT Kharagpur has expanded its research horizon, strengthened interdisciplinary programs, and increased its global engagement in scientific and technological innovation. He has been widely recognized with prestigious awards including the 2026 TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences by UNESCO, the Infosys Prize, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, and the National Award for Teachers.
Prof. Chakraborty also serves as Patron of the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) Project, reflecting his broader commitment to advancing education, digital access to knowledge, and inclusive technology solutions.
His work exemplifies a blend of rigorous fundamental research and impactful societal applications, particularly in affordable healthcare diagnostics and sustainable technologies that benefit underserved communities.