CV

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering — Sep. 2020 – Apr. 2025 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD Dissertation: Computational fluid dynamics based models of gastric digestion in health and disease Advisor: Rajat Mittal

B.E. + M.E. in Mechanical Engineering — 2014 – 2019 Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (5-year program), UP, India GPA: 9.9/10.0 in B.E. & 10.0/10.0 in M.E. Dissertation: DNS and Stability Analysis of Flow Past a Square Cylinder Placed in a Channel Advisor: Arun K. Saha

Honors and Awards

• Creel Family Teaching Assistant Award (2025) — Recognizes the best teaching assistants in the mechanical engineering department. [link]
• Quad Fellowship (2023) — Cohort of 100 graduate students in STEM from Australia, India, Japan, and the USA who demonstrate academic excellence and passion for problems at the intersection of science, society, and policy-making. [link]
• General Proficiency Medal (2019) — Graduated at the top of the department. [link]
• O.P. Bajaj Memorial Award (2017) — Best final year undergraduate in the department. [link]
• Academic Excellence Awards (2018, 2016, 2015). [link]
• Summer Undergraduate Research Grant for Excellence (SURGE) (2016). [link]

Research Interests

Fluid dynamics, applied mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, multiphase flows, biological flows, immersed boundary methods, multi-physics modeling

Research Experience

Purdue University — May 2025 – Present Postdoctoral Research (Advisor: Arezoo Ardekani), Department of Mechanical Engineering

• Developed a finite-element based poroelasticity solver using the open-source software package FEniCS
• Research into the physiology of drug delivery with the purpose of developing technologies to improve delivery of pharmaceuticals for better patient outcomes
• Developing improved delivery of injectable medicines with the goal of enabling better patient compliance and overall health

Johns Hopkins University — Sep. 2020 – Apr. 2025 Ph.D. Thesis (Advisor: Rajat Mittal), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baltimore, MD

Development:

• Developed an imaging data based computational model of the stomach using an immersed boundary solver
• Incorporated chemical reactions of food hydrolysis into the model to run chemo-fluid dynamic simulations
• Employed particle resolved simulations with 6-degrees-of-freedom to model tablets and large food particles
• Implemented Lagrangian Point Particle Model (LPPM) to simulate small sized food particles
• Built a pipeline for patient-specific stomach models using cine-MRI data
• Used Volume of Fluids (VOF) approach to account for different density fluids

Application:

• Studied the effect of posture and motility disorders on the dissolution of an oral tablet
• Quantified the effects of motility disorders on the mixing and hydrolysis function of the stomach
• First of its kind modeling of the consequences of pyloric surgery in different emptying rate disorder patients
• Simulated the mechanism of gastritis due to bile reflux in patients
• Captured the forces responsible for the breakdown of large solid food particles inside the stomach

Sterlite Technologies — Jun. 2019 – Sep. 2020 Modeling and Simulations Division, Research & Development, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, India

• Developed theoretical and semi-empirical models to predict the onset of signal attenuation in fiber optic cable designs under crush force and winding tension
• Simulated structural deformation in finite-element software to analyze cable designs
• Developed Excel-based tools for predicting fiber-optic cable behaviors in extreme temperatures
• Patented grooved cable designs with higher drag to enable air blowing cables to longer distances
• Patented flexible ribbon design to enable more efficient packing of fibers inside the cable

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur — May 2018 – Jun. 2019 Masters Thesis (Advisor: Arun K. Saha), Department of Mechanical Engineering, UP, India

• Using a Marker-and-Cell (MAC) based solver, studied the flow past a square cylinder at different blockages
• Developed a code to perform the linear stability analysis of the steady symmetric flow
• Studied the effect of wall proximity on transition from steady to unsteady (Hopf bifurcation) and from symmetric to asymmetric flow (Pitchfork bifurcation)

McGill University — May 2017 – Jul. 2017 MITACS Globalink Summer Internship, Department of Mining Engineering, Quebec, Canada Advisor: Agus P. Sasmito

• Studied the flow of mine backfill slurry (40–70% solid fraction) through the hydraulic network in mines
• Modeled the slurry as a two-phase mixture using Dense Discrete Phase Model (DDPM) and as a Bingham fluid to predict pumping requirements
• Compared simulations against different friction factor model predictions and against in-situ data

Journal Publications

1. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, and R. Mittal, “In-silico study of the forces causing solid food breakdown inside the stomach,” Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 22.229 (2025): 20250291. [doi]

2. W. Li, S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, and R. Mittal, “Computational Study of Gastric Emptying in Microgravity: The Role of Density and Viscosity Variations,” Physics of Fluids, 37.7 (2025). [doi]

3. W. Li, S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, and R. Mittal, “Modeling the Effect of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Gastric Digestion in Stomach: Insights from Multiphase Flow Modeling,” Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 147.6 (2025). [doi]

4. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, M. Camilleri, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “Duodenogastric Reflux in Health and Disease: Insights from a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model of the Stomach,” American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 328.4 (2025): G411–G425. [doi]

5. S. Kuhar and R. Mittal, “Computational Models of the Fluid Mechanics of the Stomach,” Journal of the Indian Institute of Science, 104.1 (2024): 65–76. [doi]

6. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “In silico modelling of the effect of pyloric intervention procedures on gastric flow and emptying in a stomach with gastroparesis,” Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 21(210) (2024). [doi]

7. S. Kuhar, J. H. Lee, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “Effect of stomach motility on food hydrolysis and gastric emptying: Insight from computational models,” Physics of Fluids, 34(11), 111909 (2022). [doi]

8. J. H. Lee, S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “Computational modeling of drug dissolution in the human stomach: Effects of posture and gastroparesis on drug bioavailability,” Physics of Fluids, 34(8), 081904 (2022). [doi]

9. B. Bharathan, M. McGuinness, S. Kuhar, M. Kermani, F. P. Hassani, and A. P. Sasmito, “Pressure loss and friction factor in non-Newtonian mine paste backfill: Modelling, loop test and mine field data,” Powder Technology, 344, 443–453 (2019). [doi]

Conference Papers

1. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “Computational Fluid Dynamics of Digestion Inside the Stomach,” Proceedings of the 10th International and 50th National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power (FMFP), BFM-057 (2023). [pdf]

Patents

1. S. Kuhar, V. Shukla, S. Sharma, and K. Sahoo, Sterlite Technologies Ltd, 2021. “Ribbed and grooved cable having embedded strength member with water blocking coating.” U.S. Patent Application 17/347,080 (Granted: 2023). [link]

2. H. Kondapalli, S. Sharma, S. Kuhar, A. Nath, V. Shukla, and B. Sarkaar, Sterlite Technologies Ltd, 2021. “Intermittently bonded optical fibre ribbon with unequal bond and gap lengths.” U.S. Patent Application 17/139,508 (Granted: 2023). [link]

Conference Presentations

1. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, P. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “Digital Twin of the Stomach: Applications to Digestive Disorders and Surgery Planning,” American Physiology Summit (2025). [link]

2. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, and R. Mittal, “Towards a Digital Twin of the Stomach with application to Digestion and Gastric Reflux,” APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, L04.00005 (2024). [link]

3. W. Li, S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, and R. Mittal, “Food Digestion in the Stomach after Bariatric Surgery: Insights from Multiphase Flow Modeling,” APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, L04.00007 (2024). [link]

4. S. Kuhar, A. Menys, J. H. Seo, and R. Mittal, “Computational modeling of solid food digestion inside the stomach,” APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, L10.00008 (2023). [link]

5. S. Kuhar and R. Mittal, “Computational modeling of digestion and drug-dissolution inside the stomach,” ReCoVor, 64A (2023). [link]

6. S. Kuhar, A. Menys, J. H. Seo, and R. Mittal, “StomachSim: An in-silico model of stomach biomechanics based on patient-specific imaging data,” NeuroGASTRO-2023 (2023). [link]

7. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “StomachSim: An in-silico simulator of gastric biomechanics with application to pyloroplasty,” American Physiology Summit, 38, 5729950 (2023). [link]

8. S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “StomachSim: An in-silico simulator of gastric biomechanics with application to pyloroplasty,” Digestive Disease Week, 164.6 (2023). [link]

9. S. Kuhar, J. H. Lee, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “StomachSim: an in-silico simulator of gastric biomechanics,” The Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine & Whiting School of Engineering Research Retreat (2023).

10. S. Kuhar, J. H. Lee, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “Biofluid dynamics of digestion in the stomach: Insights from computational modeling,” APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Z07.00004 (2022). [link]

11. S. Kuhar, J. H. Lee, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “Biofluid dynamics of digestion in the stomach: Insights from computational modeling,” The Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine & Whiting School of Engineering Research Retreat (2022).

12. S. Kuhar, J. H. Lee, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “The Chemo-Fluid Dynamics of Digestion in the Stomach: Insights from Computational Modeling,” CEAFM Burgers Symposium (2022). [link]

13. S. Kuhar, J. H. Lee, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “The Chemo-Fluid Dynamics of Digestion in the Stomach: Insights from Computational Modeling,” APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, T15.00006 (2021). [link]

14. J. H. Lee, S. Kuhar, J. H. Seo, P. J. Pasricha, and R. Mittal, “The Fluid Dynamics of the Dissolution of an Oral Drug in the Human Stomach,” APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, T15.00007 (2021). [link]

15. S. Kuhar, Arun K. Saha, “Linear Stability Analysis Of Two-Dimensional Flow Past A Square Cylinder At Different Blockage Ratios,” Research Scholar Day, Association of Mechanical Engineers, IITK, FTS-18 (2019). [link]

Professional Service

Engineer, Modeling & Simulations Division — Jul. 2019 – Sep. 2020 Research & Development, Sterlite Technologies Limited

• Worked with multiple teams to oversee the development of new fiber optic cable designs

• Created and validated models to predict whether cable designs would pass standard mechanical and optical test requirements (tension, crush, thermal cycling, etc.)

• Developed reduced-order models to perform those calculations for use by other teams

• Organized “Failure Festival” and regularly released “Modeling & Simulations Newsletter”

• Investigated unexpected cable failures at customer end (e.g., kinking during installation)

• Helped organize the 2023 JHU Summer Internship Program in Mechanical Engineering

Volunteering

Core Team Member — Mar. 2016 – Apr. 2017 Institute Counseling Service, IIT Kanpur

• Part of 10-member team responsible for campus-wide counseling service activities

• Negotiated with banks to raise 150k INR in scholarship for needy students

• Led a team of 137 student-guides during a 6-day orientation program for freshers with a budget of 450k INR

• Worked with professional counselors to aid in providing emotional, mental, and financial support to students

• Hosted sessions aimed at providing academic or career help to students

• Assisting my PhD advisor with writing funding grants, submitting annual project reports, and peer-reviewing manuscripts in the field of modeling flow inside the stomach and the intestines

Mentoring

• PhD Students: Daira Sofia Velasco Vega, Purdue University — Aug. 2025 – Present
• Masters Students: Weixuan Li, Johns Hopkins University — Aug. 2023 – Apr. 2025
• Undergraduate Students: Aditi Gupta, Johns Hopkins University — May 2023 – Jul. 2023

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant, IIT Kanpur:

• Numerical Methods, Fall 2018
• Turbulent Flow, Spring 2019

Teaching Assistant, Johns Hopkins University:

• Numerical Methods, Fall 2021 and Fall 2023
• Computational Fluid Dynamics, Spring 2022 and Spring 2024