About me

 

I joined IIT Madras as Assistant Professor in December 2010 in Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. Prior to this, I was a post-doctoral researcher in Dept. of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Florida International University (FIU). I completed PhD from FIU in August, 2009. My Ph.D Advisor was Prof. Arvind Agarwal. I obtained B. E. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India in 2001 and completed Masters (M.E.) in Metallurgy from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India in 2003. I worked as Scientific Officer ‘C’ in Bhabha Atomic Research Center (2003-2005), where my main work was on thermo-physical properties of nuclear reactor materials.

 

I have worked on synthesis and characterization of CNT reinforced aluminum composites prepared by thermal spraying, viz. plasma and cold spraying. My research focused on efficient dispersion of CNTs using spray drying, the quantification of CNT dispersion, thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of the interfacial reaction between CNT and matrix, both macro- and nano-mechanical, nano-tribological and thermo-physical property measurement of the composites. My current research focus is on Spark Plasma Sintering of Metal- and Ceramic-CNT (TaC-CNT and B4C-CNT) composite, Object Oriented Finite Element method for obtaining properties from microstructure and nano-mechanical characterization of CNT composites.

 

At IIT Madras, I am involved in the activities related to surface Engineering and coatings, welding and weld surfacing, ultra-high temperature ceramics, metal matrix composites, carbon nanotube composites and development of novel materials. At IIT Madras, I have actively contributed towards the M.Tech Nuclear Engineering programme as a co-coordinator for 2011-2013. I also have interest in irradiation effects on nuclear materials. I have published 45 papers in peer reviewed journals and co-authored a book entitled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites published by CRC press in October 2010.

 

 

I am a member of several professional societies including ASM, TMS, IIM and IWS and have actively contributed to local chapters. I am the Vice Chair of the Surface Engineering Committee under the MPMD division of TMS, Treasurer of IIM Chennai Chapter, and Faculty Advisor for Material Advantage Chapter of IIT Madras, and Chair of Newsletter for ASM International Chennai Chapter.

 

 

Education

    Professional Experience

Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering     

Sept. 2005 – Aug. 2009

Florida International University, Miami, USA

 

Jul. 2012 – Cont.

Assistant Professor, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

M.E. in Metallurgy

Aug. 2001 – Jan. 2003                   

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

 

Dec. 2010 – Jul. 2012

Assistant Professor on Contract, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

B.E. in Metallurgical Engineering

Aug. 1997 – Apr. 2001                 

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India

Aug. 2009 –

Nov. 2010

Post Doctoral Researcher, Plasma Forming Laboratory & Nanomechanical and Nanotribological Laboratory, Florida International University, Miami

 

 

Sept 2003 –

Sept 2005

Scientific Officer ‘C’, Post-Irradiation Examination Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. India

 

 

Jul. 2012 – Cont.

Assistant Professor, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

 

Awards and Honors

 

1.       2014 Outstanding Contribution Award by ASM International Chennai Chapter

2.       2014 MPMD Young Leader Professional Development Award of TMS, USA

3.       Travel Award from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) to attend 2014 TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition held in San Diego, USA on 16-20 Feb. 2014

4.       2013 Young Professional Award by ASM International Chennai Chapter

5.       Certificate of Merit for International Activities by Division of Materials and Processing of Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, August 2012.

6.       Session Chair for Advances in Surface Engineering: Alloyed and Composite Coatings organized in 2012 TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Orlando, USA, 11-15 March, 2012.

7.       Session Chair/Judge for the Processing of Metals (PMX) organized in ISRS-2010, IIT Madras, Chennai, December 20-22, 2010.

8.       Session Chair for Nanotube Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites II: Processing of Nanotube Reinforced MMCs II organized in MS&T 2010 conference, Oct. 17-21, Houston, USA.

9.       Outstanding Student Award (Ph.D) from Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University for 2009

10.    Dissertation Year Fellowship: University Graduate School, Florida International University for 2008-2009

11.    Presidential Enhanced Assistantship: University Graduate School, Florida International University, Fall 2005-Summer 2008

12.    Part of the Winning FIU team: First National Materials Bowl Competition organized at TMS annual meeting 2007 in Orlando on Feb. 25, 2007

www.eng.fiu.edu/mme/pdf/jom-0706-64.pdf  (An article on this entitled “Converting Trivia to Cash: Alchemists Win the First TMS Materials Bowl” was published in June 2007 issue of JOM)

13.    Nominated for membership of Sigma Xi Honors Society 2007-2008 by Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, FIU

14.    Awarded Diploma in Nuclear Engineering for successfully completing the 5 months training course offered by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India with 83% marks in 2003

15.    GE-Fund Scholarship for academic excellence for the year 2001-2002 at IISc Bangalore

16.    All India Rank 1 (first rank) in GATE-2001 in Metallurgical Engineering

17.    Won several awards at student poster competition and paper presentation competitions organized by Material Advantage chapter of FIU.

 

Invited Lectures

 

1.       Presented a talk on "Introduction to light alloys" in Workshop on Materials for Automotive Applications organized by ASM International Chennai Chapter in Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, Puducherry on Sept. 12, 2015

2.       Presented a talk on "Principles Thermal Characterization of Materials" in Certificate Course on Materials Characterization organized by IIM HRDC at IIT Madras on July 15-18, 2015

3.       Presented a talk on "Processing, Properties and Applications of Aluminum Matrix Composites" in NRB Knowledge Dissemination Workshop on Friction Stir Processing of Aluminium alloys and Composites held on 5th March 2015 at IIT Madras

4.       Presented a talk on "Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites" in AICTE-CEP sponsored Short Term Training Programme "Recent Advances in Composite Materials and Machining" which was conducted during 2- 6 February 2015 at IIT Madras

5.       Presented a talk on "Cold Metal Transfer MIG Welding" in NRB Knowledge Dissemination Workshop on Joining and Surfacing using Friction Stir and Cold Metal Transfer (CMT)-MIG Processes held on 30-31 January 2015 at IIT Madras

6.       Presented a talk on “Surface Modifications and Coatings” in Sundaram Clayton Ltd. in Padi on 15th May 2014

7.       Presented a talk on “High temperature ceramics” in Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College in Pondichery on 5th April 2014

8.       Invited Talk "Cold Metal Transfer Technique and its application for overlay coatings" presented in TEQIP sponsored Two-day National Seminar on Recent Trends in Welding Technology and Non-Destructive Testing Methods, 20-21 Sept. 2013, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, India

9.       Lecture on "Surface Engineering" in Two-Day Workshop on Metallurgy and Materials for Practicing Engineers & Researchers organized by Indian Institute of Metals Chennai Chapter, September 21-22, 2013, IIT Madras, Chennai, India

10.    Invited Talk "Multi-scale tribological properties and plasma sprayed Al-Si-CNT coatings", in Asia-Pacific International Conference on Surface Engineering for Research and Industrial Applications (Interfinish-SERIA 2013), 7-9 Aug., 2013, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, India

11.    Lecture on “Casting Defects and Failures” delivered in Two-day workshop on Damage Mechanisms and Analysis of Failures at IIT Madras, 2nd March, 2013.

12.    Invited Talk “Object Oriented Finite Element Method and its Applications for Composite Materials”, in SA Engineering College, Avadi, Chennai, 29 Jan. 2013

13.    Invited Talk “Development of Al/CNT composites by powder metallurgy techniques-A Review”, in Processing and Fabrication of Advanced Materials XXI (PFAM-21), 10-13 Dec., 2012, IIT Guwahati, India

14.    Invited Talk “Processing and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites”, in 4th International Conference on Advanced Nano Materials (ANM-2012), IIT Madras, Oct. 17-19, 2012

15.    Invited Talk “Introduction to Nano-tribology”, in one day workshop on Recent trends in Engineering Tribology and Surface Characterization, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Sriperumbudur, 29th September, 2012

16.    Invited talk “Carbon Nanotubes as Reinforcement in Composites”, in Two day workshop on Mechanical Behavior of Composite Materials, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Sriperumbudur, 31st March, 2012

17.    Invited talk “Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites”, Anna University, Chennai, 28th March, 2012.

18.    Invited talk “Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminium Composites at Multiple Length Scales” in 99th Indian Science Congress Association Meeting, Jan. 4-7, 2012 in KIIT University, Bhubaneswar.

19.    Invited talk “Processing and Applications of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites” in Processing and Applications of Advanced Composite Materials, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai, Nov. 7-19, 2011.

20.    Lectures on “Carbon Nanotubes Synthesis, Properties and Applications” and “Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites” in Recent Advances in Nano Technology and its Applications,  Pondicherry Engineering College, 19th Oct. - 2nd Nov. 2011.

21.    Lectures on “Processing and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites” and “Tribological Behavior of CNT Reinforced Aluminium Matrix Composites” in Recent Trends in Composite Materials and Its Processing, KPRIET, Coimbatore, Oct. 7-8, 2011.

22.    Lecture on “Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminum Composites: Current Status and Challenges” in Vellore Institute of Technology, Katpadi, Sept. 7, 2011.

23.    Lecture on “Processing and Applications of Metal Matrix Composites” in Two day course on Processing and Application of Composite Materials, IIT Madras, August 26-27, 2011.

24.    Invited talk “Carbon nanotube reinforced metal matrix composites” in One day workshop on Carbon Nanotubes and its Applications, SSN College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, August 12, 2011

25.    Lecture on “Fundamental concepts in steel heat treatment, hardenability, martensitic and bainitic transformations in steels” in Two day course on Heat Treatment of Industrial Components, IIT Madras, July 29-30, 2011.

26.    Invited talk “Carbon nanotube reinforced Aluminium composites” in Staff Development Programme on Recent Advances in Engineering Materials, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai July 19, 2011

27.    Invited talk “Carbon Nanotube reinforced Aluminum composites – factors affecting strengthening and properties at different length scales” in LACOM-2011 organized by IIM Trivandrum Chapter, April 28-29, 2011.

28.    Invited talk “Towards High Strength Light Weight Materials: Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites” Organized by Material Advantage Chapter of FIU, Nov. 16 2010.