Mohan Srinivasarao

Mohan Srinivasarao is a full Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (College of Engineering). He is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Physical Society (APS) and the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Education

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 1990
• M.S. in Polymer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, 1985
• M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry, PSG College of Technology (University of Madras, India), 1981
• B.Sc. in Applied Science, Madurai University, India, 1979

Research Interests

Srinivasarao’s research integrates polymer and liquid-crystal physics with nano-optics and advanced characterization. His group explores the physical chemistry of polymers, rheology and rheo-optics of liquid-crystalline fluids, and optical properties of nematic and chromonic liquid crystals. A major thrust is bio-inspired nano-optics, elucidating how butterfly wings, beetle cuticles and bird feathers produce structural color. The laboratory employs confocal microscopy, photon-tunneling microscopy, polarized Raman spectroscopy and other light-scattering techniques to quantify order, defects and dynamics across length scales from molecular to macroscopic.

Recent Publication Trends

Between 2010 and 2024, Srinivasarao has published extensively on lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals, organic semiconducting polymers, flexible organic electronics, and biomimetic photonic structures. Recurring themes include spontaneous emergence of chirality, defect topology under confinement, orientation control in conjugated polymers, and hierarchical optical materials inspired by beetles and butterflies.

Scientific Honors

• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Fellow, American Physical Society (APS)
• Member/Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (NAI)

Research Group & Collaborations

Srinivasarao leads the Mohan Srinivasarao Group, whose members investigate multi-scale structure–property relationships in soft and biological materials. Collaborative projects span Georgia Tech’s interdisciplinary centers and leverage facilities for advanced microscopy, scattering and device fabrication.

Contact: mohan@mse.gatech.edu