Bacterial biofilms are communities of bacteria living in a self-secreted matrix of polymers. In natural environments, these biofilms play essential roles in nutrient cycling, surface colonization, and ecological stability. However, certain bacteria-such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa-also form biofilms that contribute to chronic and hard-to-treat infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals like patients with cystic fibrosis. The protective matrix surrounding these communities makes the bacteria highly tolerant to antibiotics and host immune responses. Our research focuses on uncovering the fundamental principles that govern biofilm formation, including how bacteria use mechanosensing, chemical signaling, and other decision-making cues to transition from free-swimming cells to structured multicellular communities. 

Bacterial motility patterns arise from a complex interplay of genetic regulation, and the physical properties of the surrounding medium. Many bacteria, such as E. coli and P. aeruginosa, swim using flagella and continuously adjust their motion through sensing mechanisms that detect chemicals, fluid properties, and surface proximity. These signals influence behaviors like run-and-tumble, reversals, and surface-associated swarming or twitching. The resulting motility patterns determine how bacteria explore their environment, locate nutrients, avoid harmful conditions, and initiate biofilm formation. We aim to uncover how mechanical forces, chemical gradients, and cellular decision-making collectively shape bacterial movement patterns, ultimately influencing biofilm formation and interspecies competition. 

Bacterial resilience stems from their remarkable ability to withstand and adapt to a wide range of environmental stresses. When exposed to antibiotics, bacteria can activate several defense mechanisms. These chemical and physical cues rarely occur in isolation; instead, bacteria integrate them to adjust their physiology, reorganize colonies, and adjust strategies for growth and competition. Our goal is to uncover how bacteria sense and respond to various stresses, with the broader aim of identifying the fundamental principles that drive microbial resilience, competition, and survival in complex environments. 

Micron scale particles capable of self-propulsion, can serve as a powerful model systems for understanding the physics of active matter. The motion of these particles arises from self-diffusiophoresis by undergoing a reaction at a part of its surface.  These active particles are a model system for studying non-equilibrium behaviors that are difficult to access in biological systems.  We are interested in exploring how their dynamics are shaped by the interplay between particle activity and the viscoelastic properties of the surrounding medium.  This can be used to better understand complex physical phenomena observed in natural and synthetic environments. 

The deformation behavior of complex fluids is governed by their underlying microstructure-arising from colloidal assemblies, macromolecular networks, or crosslinked polymer architectures. We aim to understand how these microstructural features shape the rheological response of complex fluids, particularly those relevant to biological environments. Leveraging this fundamental insight, we also address challenges in broader soft matter applications and industry-relevant systems. Our toolkit includes microrheology to probe local mechanical properties at microscopic length scales, complemented by bulk shear rheology for macroscopic characterization. In addition, we employ interfacial rheology to quantify the mechanical properties of viscoelastic interfaces, such as those found in emulsions, gels, and other multiphase soft materials.