Ankur Gupta, Redefining Chemical Engineering Through Energy, Flow and Innovation.
Ankur Gupta: From IIT Delhi to Global Scientific Leadership
His story begins near Delhi, India, where curiosity and determination quietly took root. At the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, he earned his B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering in 2012. At the time, the idea of pursuing a Ph.D. abroad was unfamiliar territory — until a perceptive undergraduate mentor recognized his potential and encouraged him to aim higher.
That encouragement changed everything.
Gupta moved to the United States to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), earning an M.S. in Chemical Engineering Practice in 2014 and a Ph.D. in 2017. At MIT, he explored nanoemulsions and microdroplet formation under world-renowned mentors, developing a foundation that blended rigorous theory with real-world relevance.
His academic evolution continued at Princeton University, where his postdoctoral research in mechanical and aerospace engineering deepened his expertise in electrolyte transport and phoretic phenomena — fields that would later define his independent scientific identity.
LIFE Lab: Engineering at the Interfaces
At CU Boulder, Ankur Gupta Chemical Engineer leads the LIFE group, a research collective built around a bold idea: complex real-world systems deserve models that are both efficient and physically realistic.
Traditional continuum models are powerful but often oversimplified. Gupta’s work challenges those limitations. By developing innovative mathematical and computational strategies, his group bridges microscopic physics with macroscopic behavior — enabling better predictions in soft matter systems.
The LIFE lab operates at the intersection of:
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Transport phenomena
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Interfacial electrochemistry
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Colloidal and soft matter physics
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Biophysics and electrokinetics
This interdisciplinary approach allows Gupta and his students to tackle problems that span energy storage, environmental remediation, and advanced material design.
Ankur Gupta: Breakthrough Research with Real-World Promise
Among the most widely discussed contributions from Ankur Gupta Chemical Engineer is his work on ion transport in porous networks. In 2024, his team published research that redefined how ions move through complex materials — insights that could unlock supercapacitors capable of charging a laptop in one minute or an electric vehicle in just ten minutes.
Equally fascinating is his work on biological pattern formation. By using computer simulations to study how particles move through fluids, Gupta’s group has offered elegant explanations for natural patterns like tiger stripes and fish spots — showing how physics quietly shapes life itself.
Beyond theory, the applications of his research extend to:
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Next-generation energy storage
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Desalination and water treatment
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Soil remediation
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Enhanced oil recovery
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Food and pharmaceutical formulation
Each project reflects a consistent philosophy: science should be beautiful, useful, and impactful.
Recognition That Reflects Excellence
The scientific community has taken notice. By 2025, Ankur Gupta Chemical Engineer had accumulated an extraordinary list of honors, including:
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Royal Society of Chemistry Soft Matter Lectureship (2025)
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C&EN Talented 12 (2025)
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NSF CAREER Award (2023)
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Air Force Young Investigator Program Award (2025)
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AIChE 35 Under 35
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Johannes Lyklema Early Career Award in Electrokinetics
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Soft Matter Emerging Investigator Award