KurtRech189 at 20:30, 2 May 2026

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{{short description|Indian engineer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Madhu Bhaskaran
| image =
| caption =
| image_size = 180px
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Chennai, India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| field = Electronic materials engineering
| work_institutions = RMIT University
| alma_mater = [[PSG College of Technology]]<br>[[RMIT University]] (M.E., Ph.D.)
| known_for = "electronic skin"
| spouse = [[Sharath Sriram]]
}}
'''Madhu Bhaskaran''' is an Indian engineer and Professor at [[RMIT University]]. She co-leads the Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT University<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rmit.edu.au/research/research-institutes-centres-and-groups/research-groups/functional-materials-and-microsystems|title=Functional Materials and Microsystems - RMIT University|website=Rmit.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref> She won the [[APEC]] Aspire prize in 2018 for her development of "electronic skin".<ref name=skin>{{cite web|url=https://www.science.org.au/opportunities/travel/grants-and-exchange/apec-science-prize-innovation-research-and-education-aspire|title=APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) - Australian Academy of Science|website=Science.org.au|accessdate=6 January 2019}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Madhu Bhaskaran was born and grew up in [[Chennai]] in India.<ref name="edexlive.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.edexlive.com/live-story/2017/sep/18/couple-goals-chennai-couple-win-australias-top-science-award-a-year-apart-from-each-other-1148.html|title=Couple goals: Chennai couple win Australia's top Science Award a year apart from each other|website=Edexlive.com|date=18 September 2017 }}</ref> After high school she went on to study Electronics and Communications Engineering at [[PSG College of Technology]] in [[Coimbatore]] from 2000 to 2004, where she met her partner [[Sharath Sriram]].<ref name="edexlive.com"/> After moving to Australia, Bhaskaran completed a Masters in [[Microelectronics]] Engineering at [[RMIT University]] in 2005, and graduated with a Ph.D. in Electronic Materials Engineering four years later.

==Career==
After completing her PhD in 2009, Madhu Bhaskaran won a competitive Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship to investigate piezoelectric thin films. She also co-established and currently co-leads the [https://www.facebook.com/functional.materials/ Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group] in 2010. Bhaskaran's group measured the potential of piezoelectric nano-films to provide energy for small electronic devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/06/21/3248735.htm|title=Nano-films charge our future|date=21 June 2011|website=Abc.net.au}}</ref> Bhaskaran's research interests include functional oxide thin films, wearable technologies and stretchable electronics which can be applied in monitoring health and in communications.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Smart Sensor Systems for Wearable Electronic Devices|first1=Byeong Wan|last1=An|first2=Jung Hwal|last2=Shin|first3=So-Yun|last3=Kim|first4=Joohee|last4=Kim|first5=Sangyoon|last5=Ji|first6=Jihun|last6=Park|first7=Youngjin|last7=Lee|first8=Jiuk|last8=Jang|first9=Young-Geun|last9=Park|first10=Eunjin|last10=Cho|first11=Subin|last11=Jo|first12=Jang-Ung|last12=Park|first13=Byeong Wan|last13=An|first14=Jung Hwal|last14=Shin|first15=So-Yun|last15=Kim|first16=Joohee|last16=Kim|first17=Sangyoon|last17=Ji|first18=Jihun|last18=Park|first19=Youngjin|last19=Lee|first20=Jiuk|last20=Jang|first21=Young-Geun|last21=Park|first22=Eunjin|last22=Cho|first23=Subin|last23=Jo|first24=Jang-Ung|last24=Park|date=25 July 2017|journal=Polymers|volume=9|issue=8|pages=303|doi=10.3390/polym9080303|pmid=30970981|pmc=6418677|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Bhaskaran's work on combining functional oxide materials processed at high temperatures with elastic and plastic materials has led to stretchable electronics and sensors, that can be worn as electronic skin. Bhaskaran is a member of the [[Australian Nanotechnology Network]] and her team focuses on the characterisation of semiconductor interfaces (metal-silicide and silicide-silicon), characterisation of piezoelectric thin films, and micro-scale semiconductor and microsystem fabrication.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ausnano.net/index.php?page=profiles&profile=671|title=The Australian Nanotechnology Network|website=Ausnano.net|access-date=15 September 2018|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201649/http://www.ausnano.net/index.php?page=profiles&profile=671|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bhaskaran's research use a material called [[polydimethylsiloxane]] (PDMS) in the design of their devices. PDMS is stretchable, transparent and non-toxic, and it has been used in contact lenses, and skin and hair products.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scientia.global/dr-madhu-bhaskaran-stretchable-sensors-electronics-on-the-move/|title=Dr Madhu Bhaskaran - Stretchable Sensors: Electronics on the Move|date=9 January 2018|website=Scienta.global}}</ref> Her publications (December 2005 – August 2018) include one edited book,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crcpress.com/Energy-Harvesting-with-Functional-Materials-and-Microsystems/Bhaskaran-Sriram-Iniewski/p/book/9781138074101|title=Energy Harvesting with Functional Materials and Microsystems|website=CRC Press|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref> six book chapters, 106 journal articles, 36 conference proceedings – totalling 152 publications and five patents.

Bhaskaran has obtained over $5 million in competitive research funding for projects and equipment, and in an industry partnership, Bhaskaran's research team and Sleeptite were awarded $1.7 million in a Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P) grant from the Federal Government in July, 2018. These funds will be used to develop a silicon fabric with sensors to monitor sleep.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.createdigital.org.au/sensor-help-aged-care-improve-health-safety/|title=Innovative sensor technology will help aged care workers improve health and safety - Create News|website=Createdigital.org.au|date=2018-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/world/2018/07/30/15/44/sleeptite-fabric-monitors-elderly-nursing-home-patients|title=Exclusive: World-first fabric could stop elderly falling from beds|website=9news.com.au|date=30 July 2018 }}</ref> As part of the 23rd [[Australian Institute of Physics]] Congress, Professor Bhaskaran is serving on the COMMAD Scientific Advisory Committee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aip2018.org.au/committees/|title=Committees – AIP 2018 – Australian Institute of Physics Congress|website=Aip2018.org.au}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Board service ===
An advocate for young researchers and women in science, Bhaskaran is a co-founder of the Women Researchers’ Network at RMIT University and Board member of Women in STEMM Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://womeninscienceaust.org/board/|title=Board of Directors|date=2015-04-25|website=Women in STEMM Australia|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201430/https://womeninscienceaust.org/board/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bhaskaran was one of six women in science recently featured in "Just some of the Australian women killing it in science leadership right now" published by Women's Agenda in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/just-some-of-the-australian-women-killing-it-in-science-leadership-right-now/|title=Just some of the Australian women killing it in science leadership right now|date=2018-08-14|website=Women's Agenda|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref> Professor Bhaskaran says, "What gives me happiness is that I have managed to do many things beyond research in my career so far – this includes mentoring PhD students and postdocs, holding leadership positions in the Higher Degrees by Research space (and that has helped enhance the research environment at my workplace) as well as contributing to the gender diversity space."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://womeninscienceaust.org/portfolio/stemm-profile-associate-professor-madhu-bhaskaran-co-group-leader-functional-materials-and-microsystems-research-rmit-university-melbourne-vic/|title=STEMM Profile: Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran {{!}} Co-Group Leader {{!}} Functional Materials and Microsystems Research {{!}} RMIT University {{!}} Melbourne {{!}} VIC|last=Australia|first=Women in STEMM|date=2018-05-29|website=Women in STEMM Australia|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010415/https://womeninscienceaust.org/portfolio/stemm-profile-associate-professor-madhu-bhaskaran-co-group-leader-functional-materials-and-microsystems-research-rmit-university-melbourne-vic/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bhaskaran currently serves with the Expert Advisory Group to the Australian Government's Decadal Plan for Women in STEM<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aas.eventsair.com/expert-working-group-members|title=Expert Working Group members - Women in STEM|last=STEM|first=Women in|website=Expert Working Group members|access-date=2019-01-05}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and recently attended an APEC Women in STEM workshop 'Making the Case for APEC Women in STEM‑Partnership and Impact’.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/karenandrews/media-releases/indo-pacific-experts-make-case-women-stem|title=Indo-Pacific experts make the case for women in STEM|last=Porteous|first=Clinton|date=2018-10-25|website=Minister.industry.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
Professor Madhu Bhaskaran has received the following honours and awards for her research:
*International Postgraduate Scholarship 2006-2009
*[[Australian Research Council]] Postdoctoral Fellowship 2010-2014
*Research Media Star Award 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/b/bhaskaran-associate-professor-madhu|title=Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran - RMIT University|website=Rmit.edu.au|accessdate=6 January 2019|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107015728/https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/b/bhaskaran-associate-professor-madhu|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Victoria Fellowship Physical Sciences 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/awards/victoria-fellowships/2015-victoria-fellows|title=2015 Victoria Fellows|website=Business.vic.gov.au|accessdate=6 January 2019|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106204919/http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/awards/victoria-fellowships/2015-victoria-fellows|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship 2016–present
*Named one of Top 10 Innovators under 35 for Asia, [[MIT Technology Review]], 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/embed/shK5KaVGNGQ|title=Meet The Innovators Under 35 (2016) - Madhu Bhaskaran - YouTube|website=Youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asianscientist.com/2015/11/topnews/emtech-asia-names-2016-top-ten-innovators-35/|title=EmTech Asia Names 2016 Top Ten Innovators Under 35|date=16 November 2015|website=Asian Scientist Magazine - Science, technology and medical news updates from Asia|accessdate=6 January 2019}}</ref>
*Australian inventors on MIT's top 10 'Innovators Under 35' list<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electronicsonline.net.au/content/business/news/australian-inventors-on-mit-39-s-top-1-39-innovators-under-35-39-list-189860945|title=Australian inventors on MIT's top 10 'Innovators Under 35' list|website=electronicsonline.net.au|accessdate=6 January 2019}}</ref>
*Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/node/1136848?language=ar|title=Eureka! Madhu Bhaskaran wins the 'Oscars of Australian Science'|website=Sbs.com.au|access-date=15 September 2018|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413155728/https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/node/1136848?language=ar|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/embed/-42IORCCQZs|title=Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, WINNER 2017 Eureka Prize for Outstanding ECR - YouTube|website=Youtube.com|accessdate=6 January 2019}}</ref>
*Named one of Australia's Most Innovative Engineers by [[Engineers Australia]] 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/News/engineers-australia-reveals-most-innovative-engineers-2017|title=Engineers Australia reveals the most innovative engineers for 2017 - Engineers Australia|website=Engineersaustralia.org.au|accessdate=6 January 2019|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106204809/https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/News/engineers-australia-reveals-most-innovative-engineers-2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Batterham Medallist, [[Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering|Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]], 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fellows.applied.org.au/content/about/batterham-medal.aspx|title=The Batterham Medal for Engineering Excellence - Winner 2018|website=applied.org.au|accessdate=6 January 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426082640/https://fellows.applied.org.au/content/about/batterham-medal.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Madhu Bhaskaran FTSE |url=https://www.atse.org.au/our-fellows/2022-new-fellows/madhu-bhaskaran-ftse/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering |language=en}}</ref>

In 2018 she won the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering's Batterham Medal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.applied.org.au/programs-and-awards/batterham-medal/|title=Batterham Medal|website=Applied|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201415/https://www.applied.org.au/programs-and-awards/batterham-medal/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Victorian QuickFire Challenge: Driving Device Innovation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://philipdalidakis.com.au/pdw/winners-of-the-victorian-quickfire-challenge/|title=Leading #MedTech talent win Vic QuickFire Challenge 2018|date=2018-08-27|website=Philip Dalidakis MP|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201517/https://philipdalidakis.com.au/pdw/winners-of-the-victorian-quickfire-challenge/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2018/may/rmit-bhaskaran-nominated-award-aspire|title=Dual accolades for Madhu Bhaskaran - RMIT University|website=Rmit.edu.au|accessdate=6 January 2019|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201604/https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2018/may/rmit-bhaskaran-nominated-award-aspire|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nominated by [[Australian Academy of Science]], Bhaskaran also won the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE).<ref name=skin/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miragenews.com/rmit-researcher-wins-prestigious-apec-science-prize-2/|title=RMIT researcher wins prestigious APEC Science Prize|date=23 August 2018|website=Miragenews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org.au/opportunities/travel/grants-and-exchange/apec-science-prize-innovation-research-and-education-aspire|title=APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) {{!}} Australian Academy of Science|website=Science.org.au|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref> ASPIRE recognises young scientists from Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation ([[APEC]]) member economies who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in innovation, research and education.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:Academic staff of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology]]
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[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian engineers]]
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[[Category:Indian emigrants to Australia]]
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[[Category:Scientists from Chennai]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]]

Madhu Bhaskaran - Revision history

KurtRech189 at 20:30, 2 May 2026