Scholar in residence 2 June – 5 July 2026
Abhinav Bhushan is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago. Trained as a mechanical engineer, with a PhD research in high-aspect-ratio microfabrication, he has spent the past decade leading a research lab that builds micro-engineered systems for biological applications, including microfluidic organ-on-chip platforms, real-time biosensing, and machine-learning analysis of host–microbiome and metabolic disease. His work has been recognized with a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), and selection as a Young Innovator in Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering. A recurring theme across his research is device integration and robust fabrication: taking sensing principles that are often confined to the materials-chemistry stage and engineering them into reliable, deployable form factors.
At Digital Futures, Bhushan is hosted by Prof. Erica Zeglio in the Department of Chemistry at Stockholm University and works within the BioAct collaboration alongside Prof. Seraina Dual at KTH. His residency centers on engineering the interface between novel chemical sensors and the human body. With Dr. Zeglio’s group, he is investigating device architectures that give organic, ionic-to-electronic transducers and biodegradable pressure sensors the mechanical stability to function reliably outside the lab, including cleanroom-free, motion-powered fabrication approaches.
With Dr. Dual, whose expertise lies in cardiovascular sensing and physiological modeling, he is exploring closed-loop biofeedback, testing whether such devices can deliver real-time feedback to monitor or modulate physiological signals. A goal of the visit is to lay groundwork for projects that combine the materials expertise at Stockholm University, the physiological hardware and data expertise at KTH, and his own device-engineering background.
During his stay he will deliver a keynote at the workshop “Fabrication and Integration of Bioelectronic Sensors” and engage broadly with the Digital Futures community. He is grateful to his host, Prof. Erica Zeglio, and looks forward to working with colleagues across Stockholm University and KTH.
Contact: abhushan@illinoistech.edu
