The research group of Prof. Sarit K. Das works with various aspects of Thermo fluidics like heat and mass transfer in industrial equipments such as heat exchangers and fuel cells, multiphase flow and energy conversion. Water management in PEM fuel cells and thermal management of battery stack are the two active areas in this direction. The group specifically focuses on Micro-Nano scale processes and is known to be one of the leading groups on Nanofluids in the world. Another area of focus of the group is Biomicrofluidics . It works on design, fabrication, simulation and experimentation on Biochips, which are specifically conceptualized to mimic human physiological conditions. The focus is to use this for medical diagnostics, a platform for drug delivery and understanding physiological and pathological states related to cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The group has also started working on thermal desalination techniques such as Multi-flash and HDH (Humidification and Dehumidification ) systems.

Education

• Post-Doctoral - Plate and Liquid Metal Heat Exchangers, University of BWHamburg, Germany (1993 - 1994).
• Ph.D. - Heat Transfer, NIT Rourkela (Sambalpur University), India (1994).
• M.E. - Heat Power Engineering, Jadavpur University, India (1987).
• B.E. - Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, India (1984).

Affiliations

• Institute Professor - (May 2021 - till date) at Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, India.
• V. Balakrishnan Chair - (June 2022) at Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, India.
• Institute Chair Professor - (May 2016) at Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, India.
• Professor and Director - (June 2015) at Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, India.
• Professor - (Jan 2004 - till date) at Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, India.
• Associate Professor - (Sep 2000) at Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, India.
• Assistant Professor - (Dec 1995) at Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, India.
• Lecturer / Senior Lecturer - (Feb 1988) Regional Engineering College, Rourkela, India.
• Lecturer - (Dec 1986) Regional Engineering College, Silchar, India.

Awards and Honours

• IIT Madras Lifetime Achievement Research Award - in June 2021.
• Institute Professor - June 2021.
• V. Balakrishnan Chair - June 2022.
• Distinguished Alumnus Award - National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 2020.
• India Citation Awards 2012 - conferred by Thomson Reuters.
• Fellow - of National Academy of Sciences (NASI), Allahabad, 2011.
• Peabody visiting Professor - MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2011.
• Fellow - of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), 2006.
• Prof. K. N. Seetharamu Award - and Medal for Excellence in Research, awarded by Indian Society for Heat and Mass Transfer, 2006.
• Alexander von Humboldt - Research Fellowship, Germany 2000-2001.
• Bhagaya Lakshmi Krishna Ayengar Award - of IIT Madras (jointly) for guiding the best B.Tech project on Alternative Energy in 2003.
• DAAD - (German academic exchange) Fellowship 1993-94.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Institute Professor - Indian Institute of Technology Madras (May 2021 - Till date).
• V. Balakrishnan Chair - Indian Institute of Technology Madras (30 June 2022 - 31 March 2026).
• Institute Chair Professor - Indian Institute of Technology Madras (May 2016 - Till date).
• Syndicate Member - University of Madras (2022 - Till date).
• Member - Punjab State Higher Education Council (2022 - 2027).
• Member - Planning Committee, Tamil Nadu Open University (2022 - Till date).
• Member - Research Committee, Anna University (2022 - Till date).
• Director - Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (June 2015 - Jan 2021).
• Dean Academic Research - IIT Madras (2012 - 2015).
• Chairman - Research Task Force, IIT Madras (Jul 2012 – Jan 2013).
• Head - Heat Transfer Lab, IIT Madras (1997-2000).
• President - Faculty Association, IIT Madras, (2012-2013).
• Member - Board of Governors, NIT Kurukshetra (2015 - 2021).
• Member - Board of Governors, NIT Jalandhar (2015 - 2021).
• Member - Board of Governors, I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University (2015 - 2021).
• Member - Board of Governors, IISER, Mohali (2015 - 2021).
• Member - Board of Governors, NIT Pondicherry (2012 – 2015).

Editorship of Journal

• Member of the Editorial Board of Heat Transfer Engineering, Taylor & Francis Publishers, USA.
• Former Editor in Chief of International Journal of Micro-Nano Scale Transport, Multi-Science Publishing Co. Ltd, UK.
• Former Member of the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Heat Exchangers, Edward Publishers, USA.

Citations (Scopus)

• Total Publications – 348
• Journals – 250
• Conference Papers- 98
• Total Citations – 23847 (Google scholar)
• h-index – 47 (SCOPUS)

International Assignments

• Peabody Visiting Professor - MIT, Cambridge (USA) (Jul 2011 to Dec 2011).
• Visiting Professor - MIT, Cambridge (USA) (Fall of 2007 to 2008).
• Visiting Professor - Lund University, Sweden (Summer of 2003, 2004 & 2005).
• Guest Professor & Humboldt Fellow - Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg (2000 - 2001).
• Guest Professor - University BW, Hamburg (Summer of 1997, 98 & 99).
• Scientist - University BW, Hamburg (1993 - 1994)

National policy making role

• Selection Committee Member - for the Vice Chansellor selection of several Punjab/National universities.
• Member - of the Task force for unlocking the COVID lockdown of Punjab.
• Member - AICTE Regional Council.
• Member - Standing committee of IIT Council.