Kripa Varanasi, educator in mechanical engineering, has been appointed as the faculty director of the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, beginning on March 1.
“Kripa is highly esteemed for his substantial contributions to the realm of interfacial science, thermal fluids, electrochemical systems, and advanced materials. It’s striking to observe the tangible impact his endeavors have produced across such a diverse array of disciplines,” remarks Anantha P. Chandrakasan, dean of the School of Engineering, chief innovation and strategy officer, and Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “From energy and water sustainability to consumer goods and agriculture, his solutions are truly making a difference. The Deshpande Center will profit immensely from his entrepreneurial knowledge and profound technical clarity.”
The MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation is a trans-departmental center that empowers MIT students and faculty to influence the world by assisting them in transforming their innovative technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace as groundbreaking products and new enterprises. This center was founded through a contribution from philanthropist Guruaj “Desh” Deshpande and his spouse, Jaishree.
“Kripa embodies an entrepreneurial mindset, creative thinking, and dedication to mentorship—traits that have always been integral to the Deshpande Center’s mission,” states Deshpande. “He is exceptionally well-suited to assist the upcoming generation of MIT innovators in transforming daring concepts into practical solutions that have an effect.”
Since the establishment of the Deshpande Center in 2002, when he was a graduate scholar, Varanasi has witnessed its influence on the MIT community.
“The Deshpande Center was established while I was a graduate student and truly motivated many of us to contemplate entrepreneurship and commercialization, with Desh being an incredible role model,” Varanasi shares. “Throughout the years, the center has cultivated a remarkable legacy as a unique institution for propelling university-developed technologies towards commercialization. Numerous outstanding companies have emerged from this initiative, shaping industries and creating significant impacts.”
Having been part of the MIT faculty since 2009, Varanasi directs the interdisciplinary Varanasi Research Group, which seeks to comprehend physical-chemical and biological phenomena at material interfaces. His group innovates novel surfaces, materials, and technologies that enhance efficiency and performance across various sectors, including energy, decarbonization, life sciences, water, agriculture, transportation, and consumer goods.
In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Varanasi is a dynamic entrepreneur who has co-established six companies, including AgZen, Alsym Energy, CoFlo Medical, Dropwise, Infinite Cooling, and LiquiGlide, the latter of which was a grantee of the Deshpande Center in 2009. These enterprises aim to convert research breakthroughs into products with global significance.
His enterprises have received wide recognition for promoting innovation across diverse industries. LiquiGlide, which manufactures frictionless liquid coatings, was acknowledged in Time and Forbes’ “Best Inventions of the Year” for 2012. Infinite Cooling, which provides a technology to capture and recycle water vapor from power plants, has been awarded the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Cleantech University Prize and top accolades at MassChallenge and the MIT $100K competition. It is also a participant in this year’s IdeaStream: Next Gen event, organized by the Deshpande Center.
Another venture co-founded by Varanasi, AgZen, is advancing feedback optimization for agrochemical applications that enables farmers to use 30-90 percent fewer pesticides and fertilizers while ensuring 1-10 percent greater yield. At the same time, Alsym Energy is developing nonflammable, high-efficiency batteries for energy storage solutions that do not rely on lithium and are capable of supporting a broad spectrum of storage durations.
Throughout his professional journey, Varanasi has received accolades for both research excellence and mentorship. His achievements include the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, ASME’s Bergles-Rohsenow Heat Transfer Award, and Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award, as well as being recognized in the Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and receiving MIT’s Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising.
Varanasi completed his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and received his master’s degree and PhD from MIT. Before joining the Institute’s faculty, he was a lead researcher and project leader at the GE Global Research Center, where he obtained several internal awards for innovation and technical distinction.
“I’m honored to lead the Deshpande Center, and I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the MIT community to build upon its strong foundation—nurturing daring ideas, driving real-world impacts from revolutionary innovations, and establishing it as a powerhouse for commercialization,” Varanasi adds.
As faculty director, Varanasi will collaborate closely with Deshpande Center executive director Rana Gupta to shape the center’s assistance to MIT faculty and students engaged in technology-oriented ventures.
“With Kripa’s extensive background and expertise, we will build on the initiatives launched by Angela Koehler. Kripa shares our vision to develop and enhance the center’s abilities to serve a broader segment of MIT,” Gupta states.
Varanasi takes over the role from Angela Koehler, associate professor of biological engineering, who was faculty director from July 2023 through March 2025.
“Angela injected fresh perspectives and vitality into the center,” he remarks. “She widened its scope, introduced new funding objectives in climate and life sciences, and re-envisioned the annual IdeaStream event as a more robust platform for innovation. We are immensely thankful for her leadership.”
Koehler, recently appointed faculty lead of the MIT Health and Life Sciences Collaborative, will continue to play a significant role in the Institute’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.