Student spotlight: Vishwa Maharajan

Vishwa Maharajan came to Carnegie Mellon University when he realized that pursuing his fascination with synthetic biology would require adopting an engineering mindset. As science moves beyond decoding the genome and toward designing cells for specific functions, he wanted to understand the systems and technology more deeply.

Previous lab experiences left him wondering, "How do I know exactly what equipment settings to work at, instead of just following a provided protocol?" To visualize and interpret the physical mechanisms governing every experimental stage, Vishwa needed an engineering perspective. Chemical engineering training offered him the essential toolkit for building and optimizing a faster, more efficient process. "Basic engineering principles offer a fundamentally different perspective—they enable the integration and acceleration of protocols that are conventionally time-intensive," he explains.

Vishwa was drawn to CMU by the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the Master of Science in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering program. "The degree caught my eye because it intersects chemical engineering with more in-depth, applicative aspects of biotechnology, such as drug delivery systems and manufacturing scale-up," he says.

The degree caught my eye because it intersects chemical engineering with more in-depth, applicative aspects of biotechnology.

Vishwa Maharajan, Master’s student, Chemical Engineering, Biological Sciences

During the course Analytical Techniques in Bioprocessing, Vishwa began discussing efficient delivery systems with Professor Derin Sevenler. He soon joined Sevenler's Biomolecular Transport Engineering Lab, which develops microfluidic platforms that use viscoelastic mechanoporation (the forces of fast-moving viscoelastic fluids) to safely create temporary pores in cell membranes and deliver therapeutic cargo. A major focus is using this gentle, high-throughput method to load red blood cells with drug molecules. Because red blood cells act as long-circulating carriers, the technology has the potential to deliver medication at safe, effective, and consistent concentrations for extended periods.

Vishwa is investigating the fundamental biomechanics of red blood cells as they pass through the constriction channel in the microfluidic device. Using high-speed imaging, he analyzes the red blood cell deformation across various flow kinetics and parameters. "I'm characterizing exactly how much a red blood cell deforms under specific flow conditions and observing how that deformation changes when we test samples from different donors," says Vishwa. His data-driven analysis will establish correlations between flow factors and cell properties, which is crucial for maximizing the efficiency of the device and preventing the premature destruction of the red blood cells.

Driven by curiosity, Vishwa chose his final semester courses to support his lab work with new skills and to explore interesting domains within chemical engineering. He discovered that previous courses, such as mathematical modeling, allow him to apply computational approaches for solving chemical engineering problems.

This fall, in addition to his academic work, Vishwa continues his role as one of the pantry coordinators for the CMU Pantry, a supplemental food resource that is free to all CMU students. After using the Pantry occasionally during his first semester, he was motivated to contribute to a system dedicated to student well-being.

Beyond core operations like stocking items and ensuring proper food storage, Vishwa and his fellow coordinators are establishing maintainable systems for inventory management, email, and ensuring the Pantry remains an accessible resource.

He is also involved in connecting with student shoppers and raising awareness. "If you are struggling with food insecurity, or if you are feeling tense about upcoming exams and don't have time to go to the grocery store, you can drop by the Pantry," he says. "The Pantry even provides frozen ready-to-eat meals if you don't have time to cook."

Throughout his work, Vishwa is dedicated to designing functional systems. As he transitions into his professional career, he is confident about leveraging the strong analytical and laboratory skills he has gained in his master's program at CMU.