Varun Goyal
Postdoctoral Scholar, Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Bio
Dr. Varun Goyal is a Postdoctoral Scholar in Otolaryngology at Stanford University, applying his expertise in nonlinear systems, biomechanics, acoustics, and vibrations to advance the understanding of hearing. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, where he worked at the intersection of mechanics and biological systems to develop computational frameworks for mechanosensory transduction in mammalian ears, with a particular focus on inner ear hair bundles.
His background spans structural and fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, and control systems, with a strong emphasis on applying these techniques to problems in ear physiology. Dr. Goyal also conducted research at the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE) during his bachelor's and master’s studies at IIT Madras, where he designed multifunctional acoustic waveguides for ultrasonic energy transmission and temperature sensing.
He has led and contributed to high-impact R&D projects across leading academic institutions, including RWTH Aachen University in Germany, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and industry partners such as Mondelez International and Plasma Giken Co., Ltd. in Japan. Driven by curiosity and a commitment to understanding how complex systems operate, Dr. Goyal’s work integrates theory, computation, and experiment to address fundamental questions in auditory biomechanics.
Honors & Awards
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Psychological and Physiological Acoustics Best Student Poster Award, Acoustical Society of America (2024)
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Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking (LEaRN) Scholarship, Temasek Foundation, Singapore (2018)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
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Graduate Vice President, Tau Beta Pi, Michigan Gamma (2022 - 2022)
Professional Education
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Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mechanical Engineering (2025)
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Graduate Certificate, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Computational Discovery and Engineering (2024)
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M-Tech., Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Mechanical Engineering (2020)
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B-Tech., Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Mechanical Engineering (2020)
Community and International Work
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International Volunteer, Singapore
Partnering Organization(s)
Institute for Mental Health
Location
International
Ongoing Project
No
Opportunities for Student Involvement
No
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Outreach for NGO, Chennai, TN, India
Partnering Organization(s)
IIT Madras Chapter, Engineers Without Borders
Location
International
Ongoing Project
No
Opportunities for Student Involvement
No
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Web Development for NGO, India
Topic
Education in rural regions of India
Partnering Organization(s)
Mantra4Change
Location
International
Ongoing Project
No
Opportunities for Student Involvement
No
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Event Management for NGO, Patiala, PB, India
Partnering Organization(s)
Alexis, Patiala Chapter
Location
International
Ongoing Project
No
Opportunities for Student Involvement
No
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6208-9835All Publications
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Three-row stereocilia model predicts mammalian hair bundle behavior
BioRxiv.
2025
2025.04. 17.649156
Abstract
Mammalian outer hair cells (OHCs) enhance sound amplification and frequency tuning through stereociliary hair bundles (HBs), which convert mechanical motion into electrical signals via mechano-electric transducer (MET) channels. Experiments show that the HB displacement creeps, and the MET current evinces dual timescales of adaptation in response to mechanical stimulus. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for elucidating normal auditory function and disorders, yet their origins remain unclear. To address this, we developed a mathematical model of the OHC HB that incorporates three rows of stereocilia with distinct nonlinear adaptive gating mechanisms, nonlinear kinematics, and viscoelastic mechanics. Our model accurately replicates experimental responses to fluid-jet stimulation, predicting simultaneous mechanical creep and slow adaptation of the MET current. Using stiff probe stimulation, the same model reveals even faster adaptation, aligning with experimental observations and emphasizing the stimulus-dependence of the response. The model provides new insights into the functional importance of the three-row stereocilia configuration, offering a mechanistic explanation for its ubiquity in mammalian HBs and its role in facilitating the complex timescales of adaptation.
BioRxiv -
Geometric gain approximation dictates the accuracy of hair bundle models
Acoustical Society of America
2025: A279-A279
View details for DOI 10.1121/10.0038062
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Predicting Intracellular Calcium Effects through Hair Bundle Dynamic Modeling
Mechanics of Hearing Workshop
2025
View details for DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14217893
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Linking fast adaptation, slow adaptation, and mechanical creep in mammalian hair cell mechano-electric transducer channels.
Acoustical Society of America
2025: A276-A276
View details for DOI 10.1121/10.0038050
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Hair Bundle Micromechanics Including Stereocilia Kinematics and the Interaction of Stimulus and Bundle Rate Constants
edited by Dong, W., Epp, B.
AMER INST PHYSICS. 2024
View details for DOI 10.1063/5.0189756
View details for Web of Science ID 001226934800043
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Cochlear hair bundle dynamics: modeling calcium effects and row-wise interactions
Acoustical Society of America
2024: A309-A309
View details for DOI 10.1121/10.0027617
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Modeling the nonlinear mechanics and dynamics of Cochlear Outer Hair Cell Stereocilia
ACOUSTICAL SOC AMER AMER INST PHYSICS. 2023
View details for DOI 10.1121/10.0018516
View details for Web of Science ID 001000287901068
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CFD and Experimental Analysis of Swirl Type Single-fluid Atomizer for Optimization of Recrystallization Process to make Ultrafine RDX Explosive
PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS
2020; 45 (1): 9-19
View details for DOI 10.1002/prep.201900081
View details for Web of Science ID 000489640700001