Good day, Balamuralitharan Balakrishnan. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Please start by introducing your professional journey in academia.

I am Bala Malhidra and Bala Krishnan working as a associate professor in the department of ECE at Beltech University, Chennai.

Completed my PhD from Busan nation university, South Korea as my research career and my research career based on energy material synthesis, fabrication and.

Device implementation. So that is my research career and my academic career.

I had my B.Tech from Anna University affiliated college from AC department and from my PG BLSI design. So my research is.

Energy storage and conversion in the disciplinary.

Research experience and academic experience over then my teaching experience is.

And my uh.

I had a 1010 year 10 plus years experience in teachings.

Understood, Professor. Let us now evaluate your experience and expertise systematically to assess suitability for the role. To start, I’d like to test your depth in some areas of renewable and energy engineering. Could you, briefly in your own terms, explain the principle behind electrochemical energy storage, particularly focusing on how the materials chosen influence performance?

OK.

So currently the trending is the renewable energy are sustainable energy the main aim of any worldwide systems. Even though in Tamil Nadu government initiate you many renewable energy sources even.

Direct to our home also renewable energy sources. So my research area based on the background of my research career is renewable energy, even solar cell and supercapacitor in that one. So what actually?

We have synthesized the material with respect to what of the sustainable materials available in the earth based on that.

Read it over. Uh, we, uh, I did our uh, I did my research.

And So what is the main interdisciplinary research? I'm what I'm doing currently here. So the material synthesis is one part, after that fabrication is the next one, even though.

Even this altogether.

Step into the next level. That is the TRL. That is a.

Technology readiness level. Currently I am doing.

I

I see. It seems like your focus has been on bridging material synthesis and device fabrication, along with considering the technology readiness level for practical application. Let’s clarify further—when selecting or synthesizing materials for electrochemical energy storage systems, how do you determine which material fits best for specific applications? For instance, how do you evaluate materials for use in supercapacitors versus their use in batteries?

Yeah, there's a good question. So that is a main difference between the Super capacitor and battery is super capacitor have high power and battery have high energy. These both are in different.

Criteria. So what In my research career I did so initially I will synthesize the material. After that I will do analysis.

With respect to.

That respect you that material performance through cyclic altimeter instrument to analyze the CV analysis that is CV and the CD charge discharge this is the basic.

Analysis to.

Define this material is preferable for supercapacitor application or battery application. It will give high power.

High potential then we can go for superguppers application if you less power, high energy that is based on long-term stability test, we can prefer for battery applications. That's all.

Understood, Professor. So, you analyze material performance through cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge tests to determine their suitability for high power (supercapacitors) versus high energy (batteries), depending on their output and stability characteristics. Thank you for explaining that clearly. Now, I would like to focus on your teaching experience. Could you share an example of how you have approached teaching a complex engineering concept to undergraduate students? Specifically, how do you ensure that students not only understand but can also apply these concepts in a practical or laboratory setting?

Yeah. So currently, uh, the you.

Change it from teaching method into.

OBF OK outcome based education.

So, uh, the question is related to.

How the complex engineering and the lab experiments? So what what usually I will do in the teaching in my class Initially I teach the basic steps in the class itself after that.

I will take the problematic.

For one or two problems, so they will understand the K1 level, K2 level.

Next.

And K3 so K3 level. So what I will do?

In next level. So next next approach I will analyze some gate questions.

And along with the problem statements altogether I will make one problem and I will give to the students. Is the K3 apply OK? So the students should understand their theoretically as well as practically. This is my approach in the teaching methodology and also.

So usually I will do each, uh, each unit, I will discuss 1 research paper. It is with respect to the ES, uh, within the three years or within, uh, two years. So I will take the reputed papers along with that first unit. Uh, what are the, uh, syllabus they are giving? So I'll discuss with them. So these are the concept. We already discussed this concept. They applied in that paper, then they got the result. We have lab facilities in our university. If we.

In end of.

One theory paper, at least in the 5th unit I will discuss.

If you are planning to do research, please do. Please my uh academ UMM is teaching ex.

Thank you, Professor. I see that your teaching strategy involves transitioning students through multiple cognitive levels (such as K1, K2, K3) using foundational concepts, problem-solving exercises, and applied questions from competitive exams or research contexts. Additionally, integrating recent research papers into your syllabus appears to enrich students' understanding and connect theory with real-world applications. Let’s discuss your ability to guide research projects. Could you describe an example where you supervised a student research project? How did you ensure the student not only met academic expectations but also developed independent research capabilities?

Yes, so.

So mostly I prefer uh, the second year and the third year students mostly my because uh, after second year, they at least the minimum practical knowledge.

And theoretical knowledge, practical knowledge as well as research area. So what I have to do with their research expertise or project expertise? So initially I will call them.

The problem statement title to them.

So first I will ask.

Did you understand that title?

If you are OK with this title or what you are interested, this is my first question then after that so I will talk to them at least 1510 to 15 minutes so I will understand.

But basic understanding.

They help based on that.

So they can do, they can able to do.

The basic things in this project then next to.

So based on the title I will give suggestion few papers. So first they have to study that papers.

So the introduction part, abstract part, introduction part.

Then after that experimental part, finally conclusion. So we'll ask them, please read everything clearly. So after that.

Come with the problem.

What problem present in this paper? So can we do we can have the facilities or not? So please analyze this and all analyze first yourself. After that I will give solution for you. So once they're done then they have the ability to find the problem statements and the solution then they can able to implement this.

Thank you, Professor. Your method of guiding student research—starting with understanding their interests, discussing topics, guiding their reading of research papers, and encouraging them to identify problems and solutions independently—demonstrates a structured approach to developing their research capabilities. It appears you emphasize both critical thinking and self-reliance in project mentorship. One final area I’d like to discuss is your research dissemination. Could you briefly highlight the focus of your most recent research publication and its contribution to the field of renewable engineering or energy storage?

Yeah, uh, in mostly the coin cell, OK, the coin cell it represent.

2032.

Then manganese Jai oxide. This is the high.

Stability Material.

So if you check my research paper.

Through my psych CB so MSC two that is the first paper bablish in energy storage or means storage supercapass application. You can Google it also. So I'm the first.

Person to publish in that, uh, particular field. I mean, particular applications use that material from that expertise.

I can choose different different materials.

So base.

Based on your explanation, it appears you've made significant contributions to the field of energy storage, particularly through your pioneering research in using manganese dioxide materials for supercapacitor applications. This highlights your ability to lead innovations and push the boundaries in renewable energy engineering. Let's proceed to the next step. Could you briefly outline how your teaching approach aligns with contemporary engineering education trends, such as incorporating interdisciplinary perspectives or leveraging emerging technologies?

So my approach for interdisciplinary.

So initially I have focused on only materials synthesis, only synthesis.

But currently.

In icy fabrications.

And, uh, the dry.

Batteries, there's a new trends.

There's a new trends in the renewable energy or substantial energy part.

And hydrogen fuel cell?

So currently I am focused on based on the material synthesis. My current research is focused on dry battery analysis.

In that one.

So there's a initiate you.

Instead of uh, the uh.

Old factory, old uh battery technology has the disadvantage to rectify, so currently my focus on uh dry battery analysis along with that.

DRTRL level.

Reach.

To my research, that's uh.

Thank you, Professor. It seems that you are actively aligning your research and teaching with emerging trends like dry battery technologies, hydrogen fuel cells, and addressing limitations of older battery systems, all while maintaining a focus on innovation and interdisciplinary approaches. This approach is forward-thinking and highly relevant to contemporary engineering education. Now, transitioning to your practical engagement with the industry, could you provide an example of any consultancy or industry project you have worked on? Specifically, what was the project's focus, and how did your expertise contribute to its success?

MMM, so last, uh, six months before.

I hope *****.

Uh, for.

DST project.

Regarding.

Supercapacitor applications with the readiness level, TRL level along with the high potential 3.2 Volt and high power. So initially I have approached with that material synthesize I reached up.

Which the half of that.

After that.

So the project not step into the next one. So currently I'm keep on focusing on that part to reach.

This is my current SO I.

Thank you, Professor. It appears you have recently engaged with a DST project focusing on supercapacitor applications, emphasizing high voltage and power specifications, while progressing through its technology readiness levels. Your expertise in material synthesis and your efforts toward further advancement demonstrate valuable industry engagement. We've now covered a broad spectrum of your expertise, teaching methods, and research focus. Would you like to discuss any additional achievements or contributions relevant to the role of Professor in Renewable Engineering before we conclude?

Yeah, so relevant to that.

I have the reviewers in the repeater institution in Reviewers in repeated journals.

Are related to my research area.

And currently I'm guiding UH PST students.

And undergraduate students.

Towards interdisciplinary like.

I.

Please continue, Professor. I'm listening.

I like.

IoT based.

IoT integrator applications.

And materials synthesize part then after that.

How?

Power reduction techniques. We can adapt.

In IC technology.

So what are the different techniques available in that field?

So my my main name is along with the low power BLSI is my.

PG specialization and currently I'm teaching too, so currently that part interdisciplinary with the current research area too.

Low power design.

And fabrication of material and application of that material and designing low power circuits and how we can adopt with the current trend.

That's all.

Thank you, Professor. Your expertise in low-power VLSI design, IoT-integrated applications, material synthesis, and interdisciplinary approaches speaks strongly to your candidacy. Would you like me to conclude the interview, or is there anything else you would like to discuss?

MMM, that's also so I have concluded myself, uh, I am ready to work.

In the reputed institution like.

Paks and Nats Iats because these are the standard means you know that the QS ranking is the main to decide the institution. So I already had the experience with the Korea University. There's a Val level is 86 rank in the QS ranking and Pusha National University where I did my PhD is a 400. So currently VA is less.

Within that level, so I would like to expertise my research, my academic, my research and industrial experience towards the growth of myself as well as the institute level. This is my conclusion, Sir.

Thank you, Professor Balamuralitharan Balakrishnan. Your dedication to advancing both your academic and research contributions is evident, and your focus on aligning with globally recognized institutions like QS-ranked universities underscores your commitment to excellence. This concludes our evaluation. Should you wish, I can formally finalize and close the interview now. Please confirm whether you would like me to proceed with that.

So.

Yes.