Prof. Mudrika
Khandelwal

The Journey

Dr. Mudrika Khandelwal is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering at IIT Hyderabad, working at the intersection of sustainable materials, nanotechnology, and real-world applications. Her research is centered on advancing bacterial cellulose from a laboratory material to scalable technologies with impact across healthcare, energy, and the environment.

Over the past decade, her group has explored bacterial cellulose across multiple scales—from fundamental questions on energetics and microstructure to applied systems such as drug delivery platforms, wettability-driven transport, antifouling materials, proof-of-concept devices, and energy storage and conversion technologies. A consistent focus of her work is translating material innovation into deployable solutions.

Her research aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals and national priorities, including antimicrobial materials for food packaging and infectious disease control, sustainable materials for energy storage, and environmental remediation using nanofibrous cellulosic systems.

Mudrika completed her B.Tech and M.Tech from IIT Bombay and earned her PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK. Her contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award (2016), the Young Engineer Award from the Indian National Academy of Engineers, and the Platinum Jubilee Young Scientist Award from the National Academy of Sciences, India. She is an elected Fellow of the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, India.

Beyond research, she has contributed significantly to academic leadership and pedagogy. She established the Teaching and Learning Centre at IIT Hyderabad to address the evolving needs of 21st-century learners and has led multiple faculty development programs on innovative teaching practices. She has also served as Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Hyderabad.

Outreach and collaboration are integral to her work, with ongoing efforts to build partnerships and broaden the adoption of bacterial cellulose technologies.