Moumita Das

Associate Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy

College of Science

Program Faculty, School of Mathematical Sciences

modsps@rit.edu

585-475-5135

Office Location

GOS-3338

Office Mailing Address

School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623

Moumita Das

Associate Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy

College of Science

Program Faculty, School of Mathematical Sciences

Education

BS, MS, Jadavpur University (India); Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science (India); Postdoc, Harvard University, UCLA, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

Bio

I am interested in collective behavior in soft materials, particularly biological systems that involve an interplay between mechanics, (equilibrium or non-equilibrium) statistical mechanics, geometry, and structural properties.

modsps@rit.edu

585-475-5135

Personal Links

Curriculum Vitae

Google Scholar

Areas of Expertise

Physics

Mathematical Modeling

Currently Teaching

PHYS-298

Physics Independent Study

1 - 3 Credits

This course is a faculty-directed tutorial of appropriate topics that are not part of the formal curriculum. The level of study is appropriate for student in their first three years of study.

PHYS-640

Statistical Physics

3 Credits

This course is a graduate-level study of the concepts and mathematical structure of statistical physics. Topics include the microcanonical, canonical, and grand-canonical ensembles and their relationships to thermodynamics, including classical, Fermi, and Bose-Einstein statistics. The course includes illustrations and applications from the theories of phase transitions, solids, liquids, gases, radiation, soft condensed matter, and chemical and electrochemical equilibria. The course also treats non-equilibrium topics including the kinetic theory of transport processes, the theory of Brownian motion, and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem.

MTSE-790

Research & Thesis

1 - 9 Credits

Dissertation research by the candidate for an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.

MATH-790

Research & Thesis

0 - 9 Credits

Masters-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.

PHYS-214

Modern Physics II

3 Credits

This course is a continuation of a survey of modern physics beyond the topics introduced in Modern Physics I. Central topics include the physics of multi-electron atoms, molecular structure, fundamentals of statistical physics applied to systems of particles, elementary solid-state physics, applications to semiconductor materials and simple devices, and basic elements of nuclear physics.

PHYS-495

Advanced Physics Research

1 - 3 Credits

This course is a faculty-directed student project or research involving laboratory work, computer modeling, or theoretical calculations that could be considered of an original nature. The level of study is appropriate for students in their final two years of study.

In the News

November 5, 2019

RIT researchers working to build the basis of life

WROC-TV talks to Moumita Das, associate professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy, about her work with neurons and an NSF-funded project to build synthetic neurons.
October 31, 2019

Research at RIT aims to build neurons from scratch

WXXI talks to Moumita Das, associate professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy, about her work with neurons and an NSF-funded project to build synthetic neurons.
October 21, 2019

RIT researcher receives NSF grant to help build a synthetic neuron and neural network

Researchers from RIT and six other universities are teaming up to build synthetic neurons and a programmable network of such neurons in an effort to better understand the rules of life. The project is part of the National Science Foundation’s “Big Ideas” initiative— 10 bold, long-term research and process ideas that identify areas for future investment at the frontiers of science and engineering.

More News

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Journal Paper

Francis, Madison, et al. "Non-monotonic dependence of stiffness on actin crosslinking in cytoskeleton composites." Soft Matter 15. (2019): 9056. Print.

Farhadi, Leila, et al. "Actin and microtubule crosslinkers tune mobility and control co-localization in a composite cytoskeletal network." Soft Matter. (2020): Advance article. Web.

Kornick, K., et al. "Population Dynamics of Mitochondria in Mammalian Cells: A Minimal Mathematical Model." Frontiers in Physics 7. (2019): 146. Web.

Gurmessa, B., et al. "Triggered Disassembly and Reassembly of Actin Networks Induce Rigidity Phase Transitions." Soft Matter 15. (2019): 1335. Print.

Gurmessa, B., et al. "Counterion crossbridges enable robust multiscale elasticity in actin networks." Physical Review Research 1. (2019): 13016. Web.

Ricketts, Shea, et al. "Varying crosslinking motifs drive the mesoscale mechanics of actin-microtubule composites." Scientific Reports 246. (2019): 12831. Web.

Song, W, et al. "Dynamic Self-Organization of Microwell-Aggregated Cellular Mixtures." Soft Matter 12. (2016): 5739--5746. Print.

Silverberg, J.L., et al. "Structure-function relations and rigidity percolation in the shear properties of neonatal bovine articular cartilage." Biophysical Journal 107. (2014): 1721. Print.

Invited Keynote/Presentation

Das, Moumita. "Phase Separation Dynamics of Cell Co-cultures with Different Mechano-adhesive Properties." Bridging Cellular and Tissue Dynamics from Normal Development to Cancer: Mathematical, Computational, and Experimental Approaches. BIRS. Banff, Alberta, CA. 17 Jun. 2019. Conference Presentation.

Das, Moumita. "Mechanical Structure Function Properties of Subcellular and Extracellular Networks." Stochastic Physics in Biology. Gordon Research Conference. Ventura, CA. 8 Jan. 2019. Conference Presentation.

Das, Moumita. "Structure function properties of extracellular networks: Mechanics and crack propagation." Generation and Control of Forces in Cells. NORDITA. Stockholm, Sweden. 14 Jun. 2018. Conference Presentation.

Das, Moumita. "Collective behavior underlying biological response: Role of criticality and hetero-geneity." Non-Classical behaviors in Biological Matter. Johns Hopkins University and AFOSR. Arlngton, VA. 24 Sep. 2019. Conference Presentation.