ABHISHEK KUMAR SHARMA
Principal Investigator, META Lab
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering,
Albert Nerken School of Engineering
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Office: 41 Cooper Square, Room 419 New York NY 10003
Personal Website: abhishekksharma.com
Abhishek Kumar Sharma is an Assistant Professor at the Albert Nerken School of Engineering at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. He leads the interdisciplinary scholarship at the META lab. He is in the process of developing a modern take on the classic chemical engineering transport sequence. He is also developing original electives on phase transitions, molecular simulations, and various interdisciplinary themes spanning science, art, and humanities.
Abhishek received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from IIT Delhi in 2016 followed by a PhD in the same subject from Cornell University in 2021. For his graduate work, he received the 2020 Austin Hooey Award for Graduate Research Excellence. Before Cooper, he worked as a postdoctoral scholar at The University of Chicago's molecular engineering department.
Abhishek's research interests have varied over the years, having published peer-reviewed articles in the fields of biopharmaceuticals, molecular simulations, and metamaterials.
Abhishek has also devoted efforts to public and artistic expositions of science, having developed original science demonstrations, science podcasts, and theater at the intersection of science and art. In recent years he has found himself inclined to make art using technology as a medium, creating simulation renderings, photography, and video. His work won the 2022 FOMMS Movie Award,
In his free time, Abhishek enjoys hyperfixating on song lyrics, writing poetry, meditating over slow-cooking, collecting all sorts of patterns in clothing, and taking long aimless walks.
COURSES
ChE 341: Fluid Dynamics and Flow Systems
A fluid mechanics course for Chemical Engineering Juniors. Rigorous overview of key fluid mechanics concepts as they relate to modern chemical engineers. Complex mathematical objects are understood through visualization and hands-on demonstrations. A significant portion of the course focuses on communicating complex fluid mechanics phenomena (chosen by the student) to the general public in written and oral form. Involves the development of a public-facing and accessible science demonstration.
ChE/EID 432: Phase Transitions: Simulations and Applications
A course on the simulation and engineering of phase transitions as they relate to engineering. Relevant advanced topics condensed at the level accessible for Engineering Juniors at The Cooper Union. The course includes a research project tailored to student interest which requires a literature review, project proposal, and a research talk. Students get an in-depth understanding of the statistical mechanics of phase transitions while seeing it as a broader phenomenon.