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Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Home  /  People  /  Rustem F. Ismagilov

Rustem F. Ismagilov

Research Summary
Global Health; Microbial communities and biophysics of the gut microbiome; Diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing; Microfluidics and single molecule and single cell analysis;   Complex Networks of reactions, cells and organisms
Profile

Dual appointments in Biological Engineering and Medical Engineering

Assistant: Mi Kyung Kim

Research Group Manager: Natasha Shelby

Ismagilov Group is passionate about bringing creativity, science and technology to solve problems in global health. Members of our Group have backgrounds in chemistry, biology, medicine, biophysics and multiple areas of engineering—creating a rich, interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. We collaborate with other researchers, clinical teams, industry, and other stakeholders to translate our research into impact.

We are interested in interactions of microbes with the human host in a wide range of contexts, from infection to beneficial colonization to everything in between.  For example, in the context of infections, we develop rapid diagnostics of infectious diseases (including several COVID-19 related projects). In another example, in the context of colonization, we work to understand the interplay of food, gut microbes, and biophysics in human health. One of our unique strengths is that we develop novel technologies to enable high-resolution quantitative measurements and computational analyses that haven't previously been possible, but are necessary to understand complex systems like the human-microbe interface. 

We engage in both fundamental research (to understand these complex systems) and translational research to make real-world impact. Our lab culture is one of scientific rigor, creativity, collaboration, and strong mutual support.

Publications

For a complete publications list, see feeds.library.caltech.edu
2022-23
ChE/BE/MedE 112. Creativity and Technological Innovation with Microfluidic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2022-23. This course combines three parts. First, it will cover fundamental aspects of kinetics, mass-transport, and fluid physics that are relevant to microfluidic systems. Second, it will provide an understanding of how new technologies are invented and reduced to practice. Finally, students in the course will work together to design microfluidic systems that address challenges in Global Health, with an emphasis on students' inventive contributions and creativity. Students will be encouraged and helped, but not required, to develop their inventions further by working with OTT and entrepreneurial resources on campus. Participants in this course benefit from enrollment of students with diverse backgrounds and interests. For chemical engineers, suggested but not required courses are ChE 101 (Chemical Reaction Engineering) and ChE 103 abc (Transport Phenomena). Students are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss enrollment.
Instructor: Ismagilov
ChE 63 ab. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, third terms, 2022-23. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing required. A comprehensive treatment of classical thermodynamics with engineering and chemical applications. First and second laws. Applications to closed and open systems. Equations of state. Thermochemical calculations. Properties of real fluids. Power generation and refrigeration cycles. Multicomponent systems, excess properties, fugacities, activity coefficients, and models of nonideal solutions. Chemical potential. Phase and chemical reaction equilibria.
Instructors: Flagan, Ismagilov
2021-22
ChE/BE/MedE 112. Creativity and Technological Innovation with Microfluidic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2021-22. This course combines three parts. First, it will cover fundamental aspects of kinetics, mass-transport, and fluid physics that are relevant to microfluidic systems. Second, it will provide an understanding of how new technologies are invented and reduced to practice. Finally, students in the course will work together to design microfluidic systems that address challenges in Global Health, with an emphasis on students' inventive contributions and creativity. Students will be encouraged and helped, but not required, to develop their inventions further by working with OTT and entrepreneurial resources on campus. Participants in this course benefit from enrollment of students with diverse backgrounds and interests. For chemical engineers, suggested but not required courses are ChE 101 (Chemical Reaction Engineering) and ChE 103 abc (Transport Phenomena). Students are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss enrollment.
Instructor: Ismagilov
2019-20
ChE/BE/MedE 112. Design, Invention, and Fundamentals of Microfluidic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2019-20. This course combines three parts. First, it will cover fundamental aspects of kinetics, mass-transport, and fluid physics that are relevant to microfluidic systems. Second, it will provide an understanding of how new technologies are invented and reduced to practice. Finally, students in the course will work together to design microfluidic systems that address challenges in Global Health, with an emphasis on students' inventive contributions and creativity. Students will be encouraged and helped, but not required, to develop their inventions further by working with OTT and entrepreneurial resources on campus. Participants in this course benefit from enrollment of students with diverse backgrounds and interests. For chemical engineers, suggested but not required courses are ChE 101 (Chemical Reaction Engineering) and ChE 103 abc (Transport Phenomena). Students are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss enrollment.
Instructor: Ismagilov
ChE 63 ab. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third terms, 2019-20. A comprehensive treatment of classical thermodynamics with engineering and chemical applications. First and second laws. Applications to closed and open systems. Equations of state. Thermochemical calculations. Properties of real fluids. Power generation and refrigeration cycles. Multicomponent systems, excess properties, fugacities, activity coefficients, and models of nonideal solutions. Chemical potential. Phase and chemical reaction equilibria.
Instructors: Gavalas, Ismagilov