Funded Researchers
Leadership
Rohit Karnik is the Tata Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT where he leads the Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Research Group. His research focuses on the physics of micro- and nanofluidic flows and the design of micro- and nanofluidic systems for applications in water, healthcare, energy, and the environment.
As of 2025, Karnik also serves as the director of J-WAFS, where he leads J-WAFS’ research agenda and priorities, and supports proposal review processes, project oversight, and interactions with corporate partners.
J-WAFS-funded projects
- Multiplexed motion-amplified microbead sensors for rapid measurement and monitoring of trace contaminants in water
- On-site analysis of foodborne pathogens using density-shift immunomagnetic separation and culture
- Development of communication materials for the dissemination and commercialization of an open-sourced xylem water filter
- Development of low-cost water filter using sapwood xylem
- Enabling distributed water quality management by dry sample preservation and centralized analysis
Publications
- More than magnetic isolation: Dynabeads as strong Raman reporters toward simultaneous capture and identification of targets
- Iron oxide xerogels for improved water quality monitoring of arsenic(iii) in resource-limited environments via solid-phase extraction, preservation, storage, transportation, and analysis of trace contaminants (SEPSTAT)
- Engineering and characterization of gymnosperm sapwood toward enabling the design of water filtration devices
News
- Rohit Karnik is named the new director of J-WAFS
- J-WAFS celebrates 10th anniversary of supporting water and food research across MIT
- J-WAFS associate director honored with "Committed to Caring" award
- J-WAFS associate director and colleagues discover new method to detect contaminants in food, water, and clinical samples
- J-WAFS welcomes Rohit Karnik as new associate director
- J-WAFS announces 2023 seed grant recipients
- J-WAFS PI Rohit Karnik appointed to the Tata Professorship
- J-WAFS researchers make filters from tree branches to purify drinking water