VAK is short for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, an ancient Sanskrit phrase that means ‘one world, one family, one future.’ In a world driven by performance and functionality-first technology, inspired by her values of responsible indigenous living, VAK lab re-envisions the computing stack from a sustainability-first approach for its entire life-cycle: 
(1) Production: eco-friendly biodegradable materials and manufacturing,
(2) Use: battery-free system design and operation,
(3) Disposal: responsible end-of-the-lifecycle or reuse. 

To create such disruptive technology, the core value of the lab is set in transdisciplinary innovation. VAK Lab is a group of fearless and purpose-driven scientists, engineers, and designers cutting across disciplines. Nivedita herself is trained in electrical engineering, computer sc, and design and traversed into materials and biology. The lab often also engages with community partners to deploy and test prototypes in real-world scenarios. 

Ongoing Projects 
🌱🌵 Sustainable precision agriculture and aquaculture
♻️ Biodegradable sensor platform for remote sustainable sensing
🧶 Low/No power smart robotic textiles for rehabilitation and space junk removal 
🗒️ Carbon-aware interactive smart home sticky notes
⚛️ Sustainable carbon-aware quantum computing

We are always looking for motivated students and skilled postdoctoral scholars to join the VAK lab. Please email Professor Nivedita Arora (nivedita@northwestern.edu) directly with your resume and a paragraph explaining why you would like to join the lab.