Rohit Karnik, the Tata Professor within the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been appointed as the new director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS), with his term commencing on March 1. Karnik, who has acted as associate director of J-WAFS since 2023, takes over from founding director John H. Lienhard V, who holds the title of Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Mechanical Engineering.
Karnik steps into the director role at a crucial moment for J-WAFS, as it marks its 10th anniversary. In a letter to the J-WAFS research community announcing the appointment today, Ian A. Waitz, Vice President for Research, highlighted Karnik’s significant engagement with the lab’s research activities and programs, as well as his achievements as a researcher, educator, leader, and mentor. “I am thrilled that Rohit will apply his skills and vision to the J-WAFS mission, ensuring that the program continues its direct support of research on campus and its vital influence globally,” Waitz stated.
J-WAFS is the sole initiative at MIT dedicated exclusively to water and food research. Since 2015, the laboratory has allocated grants totaling around $25M to researchers throughout the Institute, spanning all five schools and 40 departments, laboratories, and centers. It has aided a total of 300 faculty, staff researchers, and students combined. Moreover, the J-WAFS Solutions Program, which backs endeavors to commercialize pioneering water and food technologies, has resulted in the establishment of 12 companies and two open-sourced products.
“We initiated J-WAFS with the goal of creating a community of researchers focused on water and food at MIT, leveraging MIT’s strengths across numerous fields that contribute to these critical human necessities,” Lienhard, who will retire this June, explained. “After a decade of effort, that community is robust and evident. I am pleased that Rohit has agreed to take on this role. He will elevate the program to new heights.”
Lienhard has been at the helm since J-WAFS was established in 2014, collaborating with executive director Renee J. Robins ’83, who disclosed her plans to retire last fall as well.
“It’s a substantial transition for a program to have both the director and executive director roles shift simultaneously,” explained Robins. “Having collaborated closely with Rohit as our associate director for the past few years, I am confident that J-WAFS will be well looked after with a fresh and consistent leadership team.”
Karnik took the position of associate director at J-WAFS in July 2023, coinciding with Lienhard’s sabbatical commencement. Prior to this appointment, Karnik was already actively involved in J-WAFS as a grant recipient, reviewer, and community participant. As associate director, Rohit has been crucial to J-WAFS administration, planning, and grant oversight, including the proposal review process. He played a vital role in organizing the second J-WAFS Grand Challenge grant and conducted workshops where researchers could brainstorm proposal ideas and form teams. Karnik also liaised with J-WAFS’ corporate partners, assisted in organizing lectures and events, and provided project supervision.
“The experience afforded me wide exposure to the incredible ideas and research at MIT in the water and food domains, along with the collaborations and synergies among departments and schools that enable outstanding research,” remarked Karnik. “The strengths of J-WAFS reside in its ability to support principal investigators in conducting research addressing humanity’s pressing water and food issues; in fostering a community of students through the fellowship program and supporting student organizations; and in uniting people at seminars, workshops, and various events. All of this is made feasible by the endowment and a devoted team closely involved in the projects post-grant allocation.”
J-WAFS was created through the generous contributions of Community Jameel, a global, independent organization that promotes science to assist communities in thriving amidst rapid changes. The laboratory was named to honor the late Abdul Latif Jameel, the originator of the Abdul Latif Jameel company and the father of MIT alumnus Mohammed Jameel ’78, who founded and leads Community Jameel.
The operations of J-WAFS are managed by a small yet dedicated team at MIT committed to the mission of ensuring secure water and food systems. This mission is increasingly critical as climate change, urban growth, and a rising global population apply enormous pressure on the planet’s water and food resources. These challenges motivate J-WAFS to mobilize research, innovation, and technology capable of sustainably securing the essential resources for humanity.
As director, Karnik will aid in shaping the research agenda and primary objectives for J-WAFS while guiding the program into its second decade.
Karnik initially joined MIT as a postdoc within the Mechanical and Chemical Engineering departments in October 2006. In September 2007, he was appointed an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, subsequently advancing to associate professor in 2012. His research group concentrates on the physics of micro- and nanofluidic flows and applies this knowledge to designing micro- and nanofluidic systems for applications in water, healthcare, energy, and the environment. Previous projects have included those focused on membranes for water filtration and chemical separations, sensors for water, and water filters made from waste wood. Karnik has also acted as associate department head and interim co-department head within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he serves as faculty director of the New Engineering Education Transformation (NEET) program in the School of Engineering.
Prior to his tenure at MIT, Karnik completed his undergraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, followed by a master’s degree and PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, all in mechanical engineering. He has produced numerous publications, co-invented several patents, and received various accolades including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award, the MIT Office of Graduate Education’s Committed to Caring award, and election to the National Academy of Inventors as a senior member.
Lienhard, the outgoing director of J-WAFS, has been part of the MIT faculty since 1988. His research and educational focus has centered around heat and mass transfer, water purification and desalination, thermodynamics, and separation processes. Lienhard has personally supervised more than 90 doctoral and master’s theses, and is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed publications and three textbooks. He holds over 40 U.S. patents, many of which have been commercialized through startup ventures initiated by his students. One such company, the water treatment firm Gradiant Corporation, is currently valued at over $1 billion and employs more than 1,200 individuals. Lienhard has received numerous awards, including the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Desalination and Reuse Association.
Since 1998, Renee Robins has contributed to the inception, launch, and evolution ofSeveral major interdisciplinary, international, and partnership-based research and educational collaborations at MIT and beyond. She has held positions related to the Cambridge MIT Institute, the MIT Portugal Program, the Mexico City Program, the Program on Emerging Technologies, and the Technology and Policy Program. She possesses two undergraduate degrees from MIT, in biology and humanities/anthropology, as well as a master’s degree in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Over the last decade, she has overseen significant growth in J-WAFS’ activities, funding, personnel, and collaborations. In 2021, she was honored with an Infinite Mile Award from the Offices of the Provost and Vice President for Research for her contributions in her role at J-WAFS to support the Institute in fulfilling its mission.
“John and Renee have accomplished an extraordinary job in establishing J-WAFS and advancing it to its current form,” states Karnik. “I’m dedicated to ensuring that the core elements of J-WAFS, which provide substantial benefits to the MIT community, the nation, and the globe, continue to function effectively. MIT researchers and alumni within the J-WAFS community are already making strides in addressing humanity’s water and food challenges, and I believe there is even greater potential for MIT to exert a positive influence on securing the essential resources for humanity moving forward.”