Pankaj Karande

Prof. Pankaj Karande is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), a top-tier engineering school. He joined RPI in 2008 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT's Chemical Engineering Department and Center for Cancer Research. His research focuses on innovative biotechnologies, including 3D bioprinting of skin tissue, development of antimicrobial peptides, circadian rhythm mechanisms, and high-throughput screening for protein purification.

Education: Postdoctoral scholar at MIT (Chemical Engineering), prior academic background not explicitly listed but inferred from MIT postdoc role.

Research Interests: Karande's work bridges engineering and biology, emphasizing practical applications. His lab pioneers 3D-printed skin models incorporating hair follicles and vascular systems, advancing wound healing and drug delivery. He designs antimicrobial peptides to combat infections and explores circadian biology to understand protein interactions regulating biological clocks. His high-throughput platforms accelerate discovery in crystallization inhibitors and affinity ligands for biologics purification.

Awards: He has received the Edison Award (2009), Anna Fuller Fellowship (2006–2007), and recognition for mentoring undergraduates (2004). His patents include transdermal formulation and screening platform innovations.

Advising & Grants: Leads RPI's bioprinting and bioengineering initiatives, collaborating on grants like the GOALI project for biologics purification. His labs (e.g., Tissue Engineering Lab, Circadian Biology Group) drive interdisciplinary research with industry partnerships.

Labs/Teams: Active in RPI's Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, leading teams in biomaterials, drug delivery, and protein engineering. Current projects aim to commercialize skin grafts and antimicrobial therapies.