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Degree: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science ’26
Project Team: Reimagining Surgery for Rural Needs: Robotics Teleoperations (2025-2026)
Ravi Prakash, a recent Ph.D. graduate of Duke University and current postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, led a Bass Connections team that explored how to make robotic surgical systems more intuitive, accessible and usable for providers across North Carolina.
Also a recipient of a 2024 Bass Connections Student Research Award and the Rhodes Graduate Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Research, Ravi recently shared his Bass Connections experience with Natasza Gardner (Assistant Director, Bass Connections). The interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
How did you discover Bass Connections?
I came to Duke in 2020 for my master’s program during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was in India for the first semester, attending classes at 3 or 4 a.m. because of the time difference. Fortunately, I was able to transition to in-person classes after the fall 2020 semester and continued on to complete my Ph.D. at Duke after finishing my master’s.
During my time at Duke, I frequently heard about Bass Connections, but I didn’t initially understand what it entailed. I learned more about the program and applied to create a Bass Connections team project early on in my Ph.D. program. That proposal was unfortunately rejected, which then led me to discover the Bass Connections Student Research Award. I tailored our project team proposal for that opportunity instead and feel very fortunate that our team was one of the recipients in 2024.
Our project, focused on developing a skin-compatible, non-invasive sensor for laser surgery, became a turning point in my graduate experience. It gave me the time and resources to pursue an idea I was genuinely passionate about and significantly influenced my doctoral research. Our work culminated in an article and a presentation at the IEEE Body Sensor Network Conference, where we also expanded our research networks.
In the fall of 2024, I submitted a proposal for a project team co-led by me and collaborators across the Pratt School of Engineering and the School of Medicine. The project focused on bringing specialized medical care to rural areas through safe, cost-effective robotic laser surgery. This work became particularly meaningful in light of Hurricane Helene and the growing need for surgical intervention in rural parts of North Carolina.
How was your team structured, and what was your role?
We had a sizeable team of faculty, undergraduate students and graduate students. I was in a unique position as a team leader because I led many of the class sessions and had the opportunity to help design the course structure. My role was multifaceted: I served as an instructor, lead researcher and mentor.
One of the biggest challenges was making the project engaging and accessible for an interdisciplinary team. Students came from fields including computer science, neuroscience, biomedical engineering and business, and I wanted to understand what each person could contribute while connecting the project to their individual interests and goals.
How did leading your team help you grow as a mentor and researcher?
Working across disciplines and educational levels really helped me grow as a mentor. I became more comfortable teaching diverse audiences, setting realistic goals, responding to students’ ideas and supporting their growth as researchers and teammates. I also learned how to create relevant assignments and teaching demonstrations, troubleshoot challenges, keep students motivated and help them develop time management skills and a healthy work-life balance.
On the research side, the project introduced me to clinicians, clinics and medical institutions beyond Duke — experiences I would not otherwise have had. I gained a better understanding of the challenges and barriers practitioners face when using laser surgery, as well as how to design tools that better respond to clinicians’ and patients’ needs.
The 2024 Rhodes Graduate Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Research allowed me to travel to Johns Hopkins when interviewing and presenting for my current postdoc. Visiting the campus and meeting the people there ultimately convinced me to accept the position.
What were some highlights of this year?
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One of the major highlights was developing an open-source, robot-assisted tissue surgery platform (RATS) that integrates robotic motion, laser control, imaging, live camera feedback, sense-of-touch input and a surgeon-facing user console. We also produced a survey and live dashboard summarizing clinician preferences for robot-guided surgery, which the team hopes will continue to gain responses.
Another highlight was participating in and presenting at several robotics and medical robotics conferences. These opportunities allowed us to connect with engineers and researchers working on similar topics and expand our network within the field and related fields.
Finally, we produced a video explaining robot-assisted laser surgery, which we distributed to providers and clinics to demonstrate our goals and show how the tool we developed could be used.
What advice would you give future students?
I strongly encourage undergraduate students to explore how Bass Connections projects will be credited. Being intentional about your course load and how you receive credit can help you plan your semesters effectively.
As a team leader, I’ve found that smaller teams can be more manageable. You get to know your teammates and their skills more closely, and it’s easier to delegate tasks and make sure everyone is on track.
It can be useful to enter into a project with a sense of what you want to learn, but I would also recommend keeping an open mind and leaving room to discover new skills and research questions.
Finally, maintaining open communication with team leaders is important. Whether you want to take a deeper dive into a topic or need support, staying connected with team leaders helps ensure that you have a positive experience and contribute meaningfully to the project.
August 2026