Lydia Bourouiba

Lydia Bourouiba is a professor at MIT who studies the fluid dynamics of disease transmission. She uses a combination of engineering, physics, and biology to understand how pathogens—like viruses and bacteria—travel through the air in sneezes and coughs. Her work is crucial for improving our readiness for pandemics and other infectious disease threats. In her Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory, using tools like high-speed cameras, the behavior of bodily fluids when we sneeze or cough is analyzed. This research helps to show that these fluids can travel much farther than previously thought. Her findings have been important in shaping public health guidelines during disease outbreaks. Beyond her research, Lydia is the founder of the Fluids and Health Conference, an international event that brings together experts to discuss how fluid dynamics plays a key role in health, from infectious diseases to drug delivery. Her work has earned her many awards, including the Tse Cheuk Ng Tai’s Prize for Innovative Research in Health Sciences, for its high-risk, high-reward approach to solving major health challenges.