Leela RakeshView profile
Professor
Leela Rakesh is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the College of Science & Engineering. Her research focuses on rheological properties of polymers and biopolymers, applying mathematical techniques, statistical mechanics, and molecular modeling to study macromolecules' properties. She leads a multidisciplinary group of physicists, chemists, and engineers investigating suspension rheology, molecular interactions with nanomaterials, and drug delivery systems. Education: Postdoc (1983-1984): Rheology of Sickle Cell Blood Flow Resistance, NIH & Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis M.S. & Ph.D. (1983): Applied and Computational Mathematics, ITT - Kanpur Technological Institute, India B.S. (1979): Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics Honors, Triv University, India Research Interests: Dr. Rakesh explores rheology of polymers/biopolymers, molecular modeling of macromolecules, and nanomaterial interactions. Her work includes developing techniques for polymer network characterization using graph theory and knot theory, pharmacophore modeling for drug discovery, and computational studies of DNA-carbon nanotube interactions. Publications: Her research spans nanomedicine, polymer rheology, and computational biophysics, with recent contributions to dendrimer-platinum conjugates, carbon nanotube interactions, and saline polysaccharide systems. Key themes include nanoscale drug delivery systems and material characterization under thermal and mechanical stresses. Labs/Teams: Her interdisciplinary team works across computational modeling, experimental rheology, and nanomaterial synthesis, collaborating with institutions like Dow Chemical and the American Chemical Society.









