Venkat Bhethanabotla

Dr. Venkat Bhethanabotla is a Professor and Director of the Materials Science and Engineering Program at the University of South Florida's College of Engineering. He holds a B.S. from Osmania University and a Ph.D. from Penn State University, both in Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on chemical/biological sensors, plasmonics, and catalysis, with emphasis on point-of-care biosensors, photocatalytic CO₂ conversion, and acoustic wave applications.

Research highlights include development of SAW-based biosensors for protein biomarkers, plasmonic-enhanced fluorescence systems, and silica-supported perovskite catalysts for CO₂ conversion. He has pioneered techniques combining acoustic streaming with plasmonic effects for improved sensor performance. His work spans materials synthesis, computational modeling (DFT), and biomedical applications.

• Awards: Fellowships from AAAS, AIMBE, and AIChE
• Labs/Teams: Bhethanabotla Group (focusing on sensors, catalysis, and plasmonics)

Over 150 publications span journals like IEEE Sensors, ChemSusChem, and ACS Applied Materials. Active in editorial roles (Associate Editor, IEEE Sensors Journal). Current projects include acoustic manipulation of lipid vesicles, electro-plasmonic neural stimulation, and additive manufacturing of optical interconnects.