Mayuresh V. Kothare

R. L. McCann Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Associate Dean for Research, P. C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015

Contact Information

• Office: Whitaker Laboratory, Room 546, 5 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18015
• Telephone: (610) 758-6654
• Cell: (610) 751-5478
• Email: mvk2@lehigh.edu
• Faculty Profile: engineering.lehigh.edu/faculty/mayuresh-v-kothare
• Google Scholar: scholar.google.com (h-index 39; i10-index 101; 11,344+ citations)

Biography

Mayuresh Kothare is the R. L. McCann Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Lehigh University, and serves as visiting professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. His interdisciplinary areas of interest span the problems of constrained and optimal predictive control theory, robustness analysis, MEMS and microchemical systems, control of microsystems, embedded control of biomedical systems, neuroengineering and closed-loop neuroprosthetic systems.

In 2012, Kothare became one of just two chemical engineers named as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellows. He was cited by IEEE for “contributions to multivariable constrained control systems and model predictive control.” He is also recipient of an NSF CAREER award, and was an invited attendee at the 2008 Frontiers of Engineering symposium of the National Academy of Engineering.

Kothare has served as associate editor of Automatica and the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, as well as guest editor for Journal of Process Control and the IFAC-sponsored conference DYCOPS in 2010. In 2011, he was appointed deputy editor-in-chief of IFAC PapersOnLine, an online archive of all peer-reviewed conference proceedings sponsored by the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC). Kothare is a member of the IEEE, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Sigma Xi, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He served as Chair of the Computing and Systems Technology (CAST) division of AIChE in 2013.

Current Appointments

• R. L. McCann Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University (2004–present)
• Associate Dean for Research, P. C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science, Lehigh University (2024–present)
• Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University (2008–present)
• Visiting Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2008–2012)
• Affiliated Faculty, Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University (2017–present)
• Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (by courtesy), Lehigh University (2018–present)
• Affiliated Faculty, College of Health, Lehigh University (2022–present)
• Affiliated Faculty, Institute for Data, Intelligent Systems and Computation (I-DISC), Lehigh University (2018–present)
• Affiliated Faculty, Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE), Lehigh University (2018–present)

Areas of Research

• Neuroengineering
• Modeling of Biological Systems
• Dynamic Systems and Control
• Embedded Systems
• Model-based Optimal Control
• Nonlinear Systems
• Constrained and Robust Model Predictive Control (MPC)
• Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) methods in control
• MEMS and Microchemical Systems
• Pressure Swing Adsorption; Medical Oxygen Concentrators
• Brain–Machine Interfaces; Closed-Loop Neuroprosthetics
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Cardiovascular and Gastrointestinal Regulation
• Data-Driven and Machine Learning Approaches for Dynamical Systems

Education

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering (minor: Control and Dynamical Systems), California Institute of Technology, 1997.
  Advisor: Professor Manfred Morari
• M.S., Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1995.
  Advisor: Professor Manfred Morari
• B.Tech., Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, 1991 — Institute Silver Medalist (first in graduating class).
  Advisor: Professor K. P. Madhavan

Professional Experience

Academic Positions

• Associate Dean for Research, Rossin College, Lehigh University (2024–present)
• Chair, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University (2012–2021)
• Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University (2008–present)
• Visiting Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2008–2012)
• Distinguished Guest Professor, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai (2012–2015)
• Associate Professor, Lehigh University (2003–2008)
• Assistant Professor, Lehigh University (1998–2003)
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mobil Technology Company, NJ (1997–1998)
• Research Assistant, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich (1994–1996)
• Visiting Scholar, Department of Electrical Engineering, Purdue University (1996)
• Visiting Scholar, Department of Chemical Engineering, City College of New York (1997)

Selected Industrial Collaborations and Entrepreneurship

• Co-founder, Omnilife Systems Private Ltd, Pune, India — medical-grade oxygen concentrator for distributed and remote oxygen therapy (2021)
• Pharmateck LLC — spin-off company to commercialize medical oxygen concentrator technology (2015)
• Collaborative research with Owens-Corning, Invacare, Air Products & Chemicals, Consolidated Edison of New York, Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse, and General Dynamics Land Systems

Selected Honors and Awards

• Senior Member, National Academy of Inventors (2026)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2024)
• High Impact Paper Award, International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) (2023)
• Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Bombay (2020)
• Fellow, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) (2018)
• Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (2012) — cited for “contributions to multivariable constrained control systems and model predictive control”
• National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Workshop (2008)
• Outstanding Young Researcher Award (under 40), CAST Division, AIChE (2007)
• NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2002–2007)
• Alfred Noble Robinson Award, Lehigh University (2002)
• R. L. McCann Professorship, Lehigh University (2004–present)
• Frank Hook Assistant Professorship, Lehigh University (2002–2004)
• P. C. Rossin Assistant Professorship, Lehigh University (2001–2003)
• Ted Peterson Student Paper Award, CAST Division, AIChE (2000)
• Silver Medal, first in graduating class, IIT Bombay (1991)

Publications

Books

• Wan, Z. and M. V. Kothare. Efficient Robust Model Predictive Control via Convex Optimization. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, Germany, 2008. ISBN 978-3639086584.

Book Chapters

• Kothare, M. V. and Z. Wan. A Computationally Efficient Scheduled Model Predictive Control Algorithm. In Assessment and Future Directions of Nonlinear Model Predictive Control, Springer LNCIS, 2007.
• Kothare, M. V. Dynamics and Control Issues in Micro-Power Generation Systems. In Microfabricated Power Generation Devices, VCH-Wiley, 2009.
• Yao, Y., M. V. Kothare, N. V. Thakor. Models for Closed-Loop Cardiac Control Using Vagal Nerve Stimulation. In Handbook of Neuroengineering, Springer Nature Singapore, 2023.

Selected Refereed Journal Articles

• Kothare, M. V., V. Balakrishnan and M. Morari. Robust Constrained Model Predictive Control using Linear Matrix Inequalities. Automatica, 32(10):1361–1379, 1996.
• Kothare, M. V. and M. Morari. Multiplier Theory for Stability Analysis of Anti-Windup Control Systems. Automatica, 35(5):917–928, 1999.
• Wan, Z. and M. V. Kothare. An Efficient Off-Line Formulation of Robust Model Predictive Control using Linear Matrix Inequalities. Automatica, 39(5):837–846, 2003.
• Urich, M. D., V. Rama Rao and M. V. Kothare. Implementation of an Embedded Model Predictive Controller for a Novel Medical Oxygen Concentrator. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 160:107706, 2022.
• Kathiravelu, P., M. Arnold et al. CONTROL-CORE: A Framework for Simulation and Design of Closed-Loop Peripheral Neuromodulation Control Systems. IEEE Access, 10:36268–36285, 2022.
• Yao, Y. and M. V. Kothare. Nonlinear Closed-Loop Predictive Control of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Using Vagus Nerve Stimulation. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 70(10):2764–2775, 2023.
• Yao, Y. and M. V. Kothare. Multiple Model Predictive Control of the Cardiovascular System using Vagal Nerve Stimulation. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, 33(1):400–407, 2025.
• Prabhu, S., N. Kosir, M. V. Kothare, S. Rangarajan. Derivative-free domain-informed data-driven discovery of sparse kinetic models. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 64(5):2601–2615, 2025.

Selected Patents

• Pattekar, A. V. and M. V. Kothare. Microreactor and method of use to produce hydrogen by methanol reforming. U.S. Patent 7,541,007 B2 (2009).
• Vouzis, P. D., L. Bleris, M. G. Arnold and M. V. Kothare. Iterative Matrix Processor-based Implementation of Real-Time Model Predictive Control. U.S. Patent 7,844,352 (2010).
• Siew-Wah, C., S. Sircar and M. V. Kothare. Miniature Oxygen Concentrators and Methods. U.S. Patent 8,226,745 B2 (2012).
• V. Rama Rao, S. Sircar and M. V. Kothare. Oxygen concentrator system and methods. U.S. Patent 9,649,589 (2017).
• Urich, M., V. Rama Rao and M. V. Kothare. Multivariable Model Predictive Controller. U.S. Patent 11,442,437 (2022).
• Yao, Y. and M. V. Kothare. System, software and methods of using software for treating and modeling heart disease. U.S. Patent Application No. 18/880,107, filed 2024.

Research Funding

Professor Kothare has been principal or co-principal investigator on more than 40 competitively awarded grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and numerous industrial partners. Current active funding includes:

• Machine Learning Enhanced LIBS for Automatic Control of Hydrogen Producing Gasifiers — U.S. DOE ($3.7M), 2024–2026 (Co-PI)
• Capacitive Capture of CO₂ Directly from Ambient Air — Lehigh Accelerator Program ($250K), 2023–2025 (Co-PI)
• Learning Computationally Efficient Dynamical Models of Stomach Motility and Gastric Emptying — Lehigh Faculty Innovation Grants ($35K), 2024–2026 (PI)
• Owens-Corning Partnership: Data-Driven Model Development and Control of Sustainable Manufacturing — Owens-Corning ($180.6K), 2022–2025 (Co-PI)

Editorial Activities

• Chair, AIChE Publications Committee (2023–present)
• Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control (2003–2009)
• Associate Editor, Automatica (2006–2012)
• Guest Editor, Special Issue of Journal of Process Control (2011)
• Deputy Editor-in-Chief, IFAC PapersOnLine (2011–2014)
• Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man & Cybernetics: Systems (2018–2019)

Teaching

• CHE 242: Introduction to Process Control and Simulation
• CHE/BIOE 339/439: Neuronal Modeling and Computation
• CHE 395/495: Applied Data Science
• CHE 434: Multivariable Process Control
• CHE 202/203: Unit Operations Laboratory (two-semester sequence)
• CHE 233/234: Process/Plant Design (two-semester sequence)

Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

Professor Kothare has graduated 18 doctoral students and 5 master’s-level students. Alumni hold positions at ExxonMobil, Apple, Amazon, Air Products & Chemicals, DuPont, Siemens, and in tenure-track faculty roles at the University of Texas–Dallas, Kuwait University, and San Jose State University. He currently advises three doctoral students and one postdoctoral scholar.

Professional Society Memberships

• Fellow, IEEE (elected 2012)
• Fellow, AIChE (elected 2018)
• Fellow, AAAS (elected 2024)
• Member, Sigma Xi
• Member, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)