I hail from a family of farmers’ and business in the Malnad region of Karnataka state near Shivamogga. I did my schooling in Anavatti (the place of Sri Kaitabeswara Temple) and Shivamogga.

Presently, I am a faculty at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras. I teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Mechanical Engineering. I guide research students (Ph.D and MS) towards their research dissertation.​

I am married to Kavitha. We have two sons – Anmol and Aryan. We live in the green IIT Madras Campus at Chennai.

I did my under-graduation from Hassan, the place which is famous as poor man’s Ooty and for cucumber throughout the year. Then, I did post-graduation (M.Tech.,) and Ph.D., from Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

I joined as a teacher in an engineering college in Karnataka in the year 1987 and continuing in this profession till today. Right from my early age, I liked the mechanical field because of my younger age exposure and environment.

I like watching sports like cricket and tennis. I like doing yoga, pranayama, meditation and swimming. My daily routine includes walking in the evening.

• Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• M. Tech., (Thermal Engineering), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• B.E., (Mechanical), Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, Karnataka, (Mysore University).

• March 2018 - Till Date : Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India.
• July 2012 – March 2018 : Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India.
• March 2003 - July 2012 : Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India.
• Jan 2000 - March 2003 : Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
• Oct 1988 - Jan 2000: Lecturer and Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, Karnataka, India.
• Feb 1987 - Oct 1988: Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, J. M. Institute of Technology, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India.

• Fellow of Institution of Engineers (FIE)
• Life Member of Combustion Institute – Indian Section (CI-IS)
• Life Member of Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power Society (FMFP)
• Life Member of Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE)
• Life Member of SAE INDIA
• 6) Life Member of Faculty Association, IIT Madras

• Best Paper Award was presented to O. P. Saw and J. M. Mallikarjuna for an outstanding paper entitled “Effect of Spark Plug and Fuel Injector Location on Mixture Stratification in a GDI Engine - A CFD Analysis” at CFDRI 2017 jointly organised by Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia & Prince of Songkla University on 3 - 6 Aug, 2017 at BP Samila Beach Hotel & Resort, Songkhla, Thailand.
• Best Paper Award for the paper titled “Thermo-Kinetic Model to Predict Start of Combustion in Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Engine” authored by Harshit Gupta and Mallikarjuna, J M at International Conference on Mechanical, Production and Automobile Engineering (ICMPAE-2011), held at Pattaya, Thailand, on Dec 17-18, 2011.
• Best Paper Award for the paper titled “Performance, Emission and Combustion Characteristics of a Hydrogen Fuelled SI engine – An Experimental Study” authored by Subramanian, V., J. M. Mallikarjuna and A. Ramesh, at the International Mobility Engineering Congress and Expo-2005, SAEINDIA, Chennai, SAEINDIA Paper No. 2005-26-349, Oct 23-25, 2005.
• Best Paper Award for the paper titled "Effect of Intake Charge and Coolant Temperature on Combustion and Emissions of a HCCI Engine – An Experimental Study", authored by Swami Nathan, S., J. M. Mallikarjuna and A. Ramesh, at the 1st International conference and 20th National Conference on IC Engines and Combustion (ICONICE 2007), JNTU, Hyderabad, India, Dec 6-9, 2007.
• Best Paper Award for the paper titled "CFD analysis of in-cylinder flow and air-fuel interaction on different combustion chamber geometry in DISI engine", authored by Harshavardhan, B and J. M. Mallikarjuna, at the International Conference on MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (ICMIE 2013), Chandigarh, 24-03-2013.

• Served as the Founder Warden, Bhadra Hostel, from July 2015 to Aug 2018.
• Serving as the Vice President, Mechanical Engineering Association (MEA), Dept. of Mech., Engg., IIT Madras, since July 2016.
• Served as the Chairman, GTC, Dept., of Mech., Engg., IIT Madras, July 2015 to July 2018.
• Serving as the Coordinator for Web Enabled M.Tech., in Automotive Technology (WEMAT) since July 2016.
• Served as a DCC Member, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Served as a Coordinator, UG/PG Lab (Thermal), since July 2014 to July 2017.
• Worked as Head of the Laboratory of IC Engines Lab, Dept., of Mech., Engg., IIT Madras from Jan 2009 to July 2012.
• Served as the Treasurer, Mechanical Engineering Association (MEA), Dept. of Mech., Engg., IIT Madras, from Aug 2009 - Aug 2010.
• Involved in the Establishment of centralized UG/PG Laboratory for Mechanical Engineering Students, Dept., of Mech., Engg.,
• Served as the Member of Departmental Time-Table and Slot Allocation committee, Aug 2005 – Aug 2006.
• Involved in all the Administrative and Developmental activities of the IC Engines Laboratory and Dept. of Mech., Engg., IIT Madras.
• Involved in all the Administrative and Developmental activities of user-oriented programme – Automotive Engine Technology (AET) run by IC Engines Laboratory, IIT Madras, during 2003-2006.
• Involved in the development of Library of IC Engines Laboratory, during 2003-2007.
• Working as an Institute Representative for conducting GATE, JEE, JAM, JMET, SET and other exams since 2003.

• Undergone ISO 9001:2000 training for implementation of ISO certification for Technical Institution at TTTI, Bhopal.
• Undergone Training on the operation of the PIV System at Company Head Quarters of M/s LaVision Gmbh, Gottengen, Germany for 1 week.

• Visited many countries for academic and research purposes viz., USA, Germany, China, Italy, Malaysia, Japan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Portugal. Visited Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pardue University of USA for research collaboration.