Ayusman Sen

Ayusman Sen is the Verne M. Willaman Professor of Chemistry and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Pennsylvania State University. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on self-powered nano/micromotors, dynamic materials, and enzyme-driven systems, with applications in smart materials and active matter. Sen’s work integrates chemical synthesis, catalytic energy harvesting, and emergent phenomena to create adaptive systems capable of performing complex tasks.

Education:

• B.Sc. (Honours), University of Calcutta, India (1970)
• M.Sc., Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India (1973)
• Ph.D., University of Chicago, USA (1978)

Research Interests:

• Design of self-powered nanomotors and micropumps
• Chemically controlled assembly and motion of colloidal systems
• Enzyme cascade systems for programmable behavior
• Active matter and collective dynamics

Key Contributions:

• Pioneered enzyme-powered micromotors for biomedical and environmental applications
• Developed theoretical frameworks for chemotactic assembly and non-equilibrium systems
• Engineered autonomous fluid-pumping systems using multi-enzyme networks

Awards and Honors:

• Langmuir Lecture Award (American Chemical Society)
• Humboldt Prize (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• Paul J. Flory Award (IBM)

Labs and Teams: His research group, the Sen Research Group, focuses on interdisciplinary projects at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and engineering. Current efforts explore light-driven systems, programmable fluidics, and bioinspired materials.