Sunandita Sarker is an assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering and a member of the Center for Personalized Health Montioring.
IALS: Hi Sunandita, thank you for speaking with us today. We have a few questions for you so everyone on campus can get to know you better. How long have you been at UMass Amherst?
SS: I joined UMass Amherst in Fall 2024 as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. It’s still early in my journey here, but I’ve really enjoyed settling into this vibrant research and teaching community.
IALS: Where did you grow up?
SS: I grew up in Bangladesh. I did my undergraduate studies at BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology), which is where I first became deeply interested in how engineering principles can be applied to solve real-world challenges, especially in healthcare.
IALS: Does the love of science run in your family?
SS: In some ways, yes. While no one in my immediate family was a scientist, there was always a strong emphasis on education and curiosity. That environment definitely shaped my drive to pursue engineering and eventually a research career.
IALS: How long have you been teaching?
SS: My first teaching experience in the U.S. was back in 2016 as a TA for an undergraduate dynamics course. Since then, I’ve taught several lecture and lab courses. Currently, at UMass I teach design courses. I’ve also mentored more than 40 students through hands-on design and research projects. Right now, I work with two PhD students and a large group of undergraduates from both the ME and BME departments. Teaching and mentoring have always been the most rewarding parts of my work.
IALS: What is more stressful, grant proposals, research, or teaching?
SS: They’re stressful in different ways. Grant writing carries a pressure that’s hard to ignore since it directly affects the future of my lab and my students. Research can be challenging when experiments don’t go as planned, but the process of troubleshooting and discovery keeps it engaging. Teaching is less about stress and more about being present and responsible. I take seriously the task of creating a learning environment where students feel supported and inspired.
IALS: Assuming your research is widely successful, how will it impact society?
SS: I hope it opens up new ways to diagnose, treat, and manage disease by making medical tools more precise, personalized, and accessible. Whether it’s microsurgical tools designed for pediatric patients or smart delivery platforms that adapt to a patient’s physiology, my goal is to create technologies that truly serve individual needs.
IALS: Who do you admire and why?
SS: I admire people who lead with clarity, humility, and care—especially those who make space for others to grow. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who embodied that, and I carry those lessons into how I teach, mentor, and build community in my lab.
IALS: What are your interests when you are not a scientist?
SS: These days, most of my time outside work is spent with my family, which I really cherish. I enjoy cooking, especially when I can be a little experimental with it.
IALS: Thank you so much Sunandita, and congratulations!
Learn more about Prof. Sarker's research.