Dr Nandan Murali
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems
Main Focus
My research focuses on the fabrication and nanoscale characterization of functional nanomaterials for biomedical, energy harvesting, and sensing applications. I work extensively on magnetic, piezoelectric, and magnetoelectric materials and their multifunctional properties.
Using advanced scanning probe techniques such as piezoresponse force microscopy, quantitative nanomechanical mapping, and Kelvin probe force microscopy, I investigate electromechanical, mechanical, and electrical behavior at the nanoscale.
I am also exploring micro/nano-robotic systems based on these materials for targeted actuation and biomedical applications.
Curriculum Vitae
I’m Nandan Murali, currently a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Materials Systems Engineering at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems (MPI-DCTS), Magdeburg, Germany (November 2025–present).
I completed my Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, India, at the Laboratory of Nanorobotics and Medical Devices, where my research focused on the fabrication and nanoscale characterization of magnetoelectric and magnetic nanomaterials for biomedical, sensing, and energy harvesting applications (2020–September 2025).
Prior to my doctoral studies, I worked as a Project Associate at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc Bangalore, where I was extensively involved in the fabrication and characterization of MEMS-based g-switches (2018–2019).
I obtained my M.Tech. in Nanotechnology from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, where my master’s research focused on the development of ohmic contacts on n-GaN for High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) applications. During my M.Tech., I received the Best Team Player Award in recognition of collaborative research and teamwork.
I earned my Bachelor of Engineering degree from Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (SSAHE), Tumkur, with an undergraduate project on steganography. For this work, I was awarded the prestigious Best Student Project Award, along with a Gold Medal.
My long-term goal is to develop translational nanomaterial-based technologies while contributing to interdisciplinary research and mentoring students.