people: R. Desikan

R. Desikan

Ramya Desikan is a researcher working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the BioMEMS/Biomechanics Lab. She is also a former recipient of the Science Alliance Fellowship from University of Tennessee in partnership with ORNL.

Ramya received her B. S. in Physics (2000) from the University of Madras (Chennai, India).

She also has two M.S. degrees. The first is in Biophysics from the University of Madras (2002) with a Thesis entitled,"Sequence analysis of T-cell Leukemia virus-type 1."

Her second M.S. degree is in Physics (2005) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a thesis entitled, "Effect of surface morphology on adsorption induced bending of microcantilevers."

While a student at UT, she worked as a Research Assistant, both in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and in the Physics Department.

Projects

• Design, development and experimental verification of micro-cantilever-based biosensors
• Design & Instrumentation of Bio-MEMS / NEMs (Nano-electro Mechanical systems)sensors for sensing glucose levels in artificial urine
• Nanosensors for Analysis & Imaging of Lignocellulosic Degradation –BioEnergy Center, Dept. of Energy
• Glucose- Responsive Polymer Brushes for Microcantilever Sensing – In collaboration with Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University
• Design & development of MEMS sensors for detection of Tobacco Specific compounds – Philip Morris, USA
• Monitoring the effect of concentration, nano-bubble formation, molecular size & surface roughness of MEMS/ NEMs sensors for optimal design & operation of sensors in liquid phase
• Designed MEMs sensors for detection of carcinogens interacting with DNA
• Studied protein interaction using MEMS technology which involved the extensive use of microfluidic devices
• Design, development & experimental verification of Microcantilever biosensors-Detecting interaction between, DNA - Protein, Protein - Protein, DNA - Small molecules, Biofunctionalization of surfaces using thiol-gold Chemistry, Aminosilation, Hydrosilylation & N- hydroxysuccinimide Chemistry
• Atomic Force Microscopy for imaging surface characteristics of nano-sized particles
• Metal deposition & Co-evaporation of metals using a dual gun e-beam evaporator
• Magnetic enhancement of adsorption forces on MEMS sensors - Use of magnetic beads to pre-concentrate aerosolized biohazards & detects them at low concentrations using a micro-sensor.
• Collaborated with North Western University for Patterning Single Strands of DNA on the Micro-Cantilever using Dip-Pen Nanolithography

Selected Publications (Journals, Conferences & Book Chapter)

• Ramya Desikan, Laurene Tetrad, Ali Passian, Ram Datar, & Thomas Thundat, “Nanomechanical Methods to Study Single Cells” international book on “Accessing Uncultivated Microorganisms”, ASM Press, Marbis Corporation, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007 (Invited Book Chapter).

• Ramya Desikan, Sarah Armel, Harry M. Meyer III, Thomas Thundat, “Effect of chain length on nanomechanics of alkanethiol self-assembly” Nanotechnology, 2007, Vol. 18, No. 424028 (Invited Paper).

• Ramya Desikan, Ida Lee, & Thomas Thundat, “Effect of nanometer surface morphology on surface stress & adsorption kinetics of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers“, Ultramicroscopy, 2006; 106, 795-799.

• R. Desikan, H.M. Meyer III & T.G. Thundat, “Microfabricated Cantilever Arrays for Drug Screening Based on DNA-Drug Intercalation”, AVS 54th International Symposium, Seattle, Washington, October 2007

• Ramya Desikan, Ida Lee, & Thomas Thundat, “Effect of surface morphology on adsorption induced bending of Microcantilevers”, SESAPS, University of Florida-Gainesville, November 2005.).

•R. Datar, R. Desikan & T. Thundat, “Microcantilever Biosensors”, IEEE Sensors 2007, the Sixth IEEE Conference on Sensors, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, October 28th - 31st 2007 (Invited Talk).

• Sangmin Jeon, Ramya Desikan, Fang Tian, & Thomas Thundat, “The influence of nanobubbles on the bending of microcantilevers”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 103118. 

• Gary A Baker, Ramya Desikan, Thomas Thundat, “In situ monitoring of sugars binding to boronic acid receptors uses multi-array piezoresistive microcantilevers sensors”, accepted for publication in Analytical Chemistry. 

• H.M. Meyer, III, T.G. Thundat, R. Desikan & R.G White, “Correlation between XPS Data & Liquid Phase Self Assembly of Alkanethiols”, AVS 54th International Symposium, Seattle, Washington, October 2007.

• Sangmin Jeon, Ramya Desikan, Fang Tian, & Thomas Thundat,”The Effect of Nanobubbles on Microcantilever Bending”, 2006 APS March Meeting, Baltimore Convention Center, MD.

• Tao Chen, Ramya Desikan , Ram Datar, Prasad Desikan, Thomas Thundat and Stefan Zauscher “ Glucose- Responsive Polymer Brushes for Microcantilever Sensing”, International Workshop on Nanomechanical Cantilever Sensors, Mainz, May 19-21.

• R. Desikan , Rangaprasad D. , A. Passian , R.H. Datar and T. Thundat , “ Effect of Fluid Flow on the Sensitivity of Microcantilever Sensors” AVS 55th International Symposium, Boston, Massachusetts, October 2008.

• Tao Chen, Ramya Desikan , Ram Datar, Rangaprasad D, Thomas Thundat and Stefan Zauscher “ Microcantilever Grafted with Responsive Polymer Brushes for Glucose Sensing “AVS 55th International Symposium, Boston, Massachusetts, October 2008.

• Ramya Desikan and Thomas Thundat “ Microcantilever Biosensors” Submitted for publication in Journal of Materials Chemistry (Invited Research Article).