Work · Nirav Patel

My Story (according to claude)

From a small town in Gujarat, India, to the research halls of IIT Madras — my life has been a long conversation with curiosity.

I grew up fascinated by machines and how things work. That fascination led me to study Computer Engineering, then take a leap into graduate school in the United States — to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where I earned my PhD in Robotics Engineering. It was there that I truly fell in love with the idea that robots could work alongside surgeons to heal people.

After my PhD, I spent time as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins University — one of the world's great medical research institutions. Working in the LCSR, I was surrounded by brilliant minds pushing the frontiers of what was possible. We worked on robotic systems for MRI-guided surgery, retinal procedures, and beyond.

In 2020, I returned to India — to IIT Madras — as an Associate Professor, and started the INSPIRELab. The journey brought me home in more ways than one.

"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."
— Robert H. Goddard

🏫

IIT Madras

Associate Professor in Engineering Design, directing the INSPIRELab — working on the next generation of medical robotics.

🔬

Johns Hopkins University

Postdoctoral research in the LCSR, working on MRI-guided robotic surgery and robot-assisted retinal procedures.

🎓

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

PhD in Robotics Engineering. WPI's motto — "Theory and Practice" — became the philosophy I carry into every project.

🌏

Roots in Gujarat

Born and raised in Gujarat, where my love of learning was kindled. The curiosity that drives my research starts here.

The Journey

A life shaped by curiosity — across continents, disciplines, and decades.

2001 – 2005

Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Engineering

U.V. Patel College of Engineering · North Gujarat University, India

My first steps into the world of engineering. I built my first robot prototype here and won first prizes at two national technical fests. The spark was lit.

🏆 First Prize, Convergence-2003 & Technigma-2003

2005 – 2007

M.Tech., Computer Science & Engineering

Nirma University of Science and Technology, India

I deepened my understanding of systems, algorithms, and robotics. My thesis explored two-legged robot design, simulation, and realization — my first serious dive into humanoid locomotion.

🥇 Gold Medal — Best Student of M.Tech 2007 Batch

2007 – 2009

Software Engineer

Hewlett Packard & ABB Corporate Research Center · Bangalore, India

I got my hands dirty in industry — working on Java/J2EE at HP and fieldbus testing and robotics software at ABB. I learned how ideas translate into real, deployed systems.

2010 – 2012

Lecturer, Computer Engineering

Nirma University of Science and Technology, India

I stepped into teaching and discovered how much I loved it. Watching students have their own "aha" moments was deeply fulfilling.

2012 – 2017

PhD, Robotics Engineering

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA · USA

The chapter that changed everything. Under Dr. Gregory Fischer, I dove deep into MRI-guided robotic systems for needle steering, prostate biopsy, and neurosurgery. The prostate biopsy system was used in 30 patient trials at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

2017 – 2020

Postdoctoral Fellow

Laboratory for Computational Sensing & Robotics · Johns Hopkins University · USA

Working with Dr. Iulian Iordachita on MRI-guided robotic systems and safe manipulation for robot-assisted retinal surgeries. The work led to publications in top journals and, in 2019, the IEEE ICRA Best Paper Award in Medical Robotics.

🏆 IEEE ICRA 2019 Best Paper Award — Medical Robotics

2020 – Present

Associate Professor & Director, INSPIRELab

Department of Engineering Design · IIT Madras, Chennai, India

I came home — to build something of my own. Leading a research group on medical robotics, image-guided interventions, and path planning for surgical robots. Guiding students and watching them grow is the most rewarding part.

🏠 Home

What I Believe

A few principles that have shaped my path — and that I try to live by.

Curiosity is a Compass

Every major turn in my life has been guided by genuine curiosity — not strategic planning. Follow what genuinely fascinates you, and the path reveals itself.

Nothing is Truly Impossible

Robots performing surgery inside an MRI machine were considered impossible not long ago. Skepticism is healthy; dismissal is limiting.

People Over Papers

The most important output of any lab isn't publications — it's people. Training curious, rigorous, kind researchers is the contribution that compounds over decades.

Roots and Wings

Growing up in Gujarat, studying in the US, returning to India — I carry all of these identities. They make me see problems from angles others might miss.

Science Should Heal

I chose medical robotics not because it was glamorous, but because the stakes are real. Every algorithm improvement is measured in patient outcomes.

Theory and Practice

WPI's motto became my philosophy. The best research lives at the intersection of rigorous theory and real-world deployment. Pure ideas without implementation remain dreams.