Good day, K. Praveenkumar. 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?

Yes, I'm ready to start.

Please start by introducing your professional journey in academia.

OK. OK. I'm basically an materials focused mechanical engineer with PhD and postdoctoral experience from Indian Institute of Science and VSB Technical University of Astrova. My research work focuses on tribal corrosion, corrosion, wear and fatigue behavior of metallic biomaterials, especially titanium-based alloys and stainless steel alloys and I have published. Around 30 three articles and 9:00 as an first author and.

Also like a few corresponding authors and I have published more than 30 papers and my research mainly focuses on to develop bioimplants with very good mechanical fiber corrosion and corrosion properties. So this is my research journey till this.

Thanks for sharing that, Professor! Let's proceed.

Yes.

Could you explain how your research in metallic biomaterials contributes to the development of orthopedic, dental, or cardiovascular implants?

Yes. So like I'm focusing on metallic biomaterials, especially on the Tribo corrosion part as well as the implant materials. So usually in a in a body in a femur, so where this wear appears. So most of the researcher focusing on wear alone were mechanical part taking care of, whereas some researchers only focusing on the corrosion, whereas in body both the sliding movement as well as the corroding environment. Physical.

Environment. So due to this it accelerates the Tribo corrosion. So we are accelerated corrosion which degradates the sample and also it reaches something ions and it will create the inflammation on the body that leads to implant failure. So I am focusing on improving the life of the implant material by the way, increasing the Tribo corrosion and fatigue and corrosion properties of the implant material.

Understood, Professor. Given your focus on Tribocorrosion, could you describe any specific methods you've utilized or developed to enhance the durability and fatigue resistance of these metallic biomaterials in implant applications?

Yes. So earlier I published an article. So I'm I wanted to just explain that one. So like I have made a titanium 6, aluminium 4 vanadium alloy and also used laser shock painting as a post treatment technique to increase the fatigue resistance of the material. So I have used the same real-time application stress wise and also like strain amplitudes to simulate that fatigue behavior of the implant material.

It is well succeeded, and it improves the life of the samples by two folds.

Your application of laser shock peening on titanium alloys to enhance fatigue resistance is noteworthy. To delve deeper, have you explored its implications specifically within the context of wear resistance, or how this treatment might influence Tribocorrosion behavior in varying physiological environments?

Yes, I have used laser sharpening as an post processing technique because laser shock peening induces the near surface compressor resources and also the hardness and it refines the microstructural behavior so which enhances the surface property thereby enhancing the hardness. So which is very much beneficial for the tribal corrosion things where tribo corrosion. Influenced by the surface property as hardness.

Compressive ratio stress combined with the dislocation density induced by the laser sharpening process, which enhances the tribo corrosion resistance. Enough physiological conditions.

Thank you, Professor. Your approach and insights into enhancing tribocorrosion resistance through laser shock peening are quite impressive.

Thank you.

Yes.

Could you elaborate on your experience or approach in developing indigenous orthopedic, dental, or cardiovascular implants tailored for specific needs?

Yes. So I have used titanium 6, aluminium 4, vanadium alloy for the dental as well as the cardiovascular applications where I have taken the titanium alloy and I have polished it. And I have used laser shock painting as a surface modification technique and thereby improve the surface characteristics and projected it for this tribal corrosion and corrosion and wear properties and where I can see.

Right after laser shock cleaning process, it enhances the surface property and also like it enhances the Tribo corrosion resistance and corrosion resistance and wear resistance and which combinedly useful for our cardiovascular as well as the biomaterial implants where the sliding as well as the corrosion takes place in the body.

Yep.

Could you describe how you have specifically integrated antibacterial or intelligent features into your implant designs?

Yes, so I have after doing this surface modification and improving the wear, fibre corrosion and. This corrosion properties. The next step is I have moved to the antibacterial studies with collaboration with my collaborators in Indian Institute of Science and Vellore Institute of Technology, where they are taking care of this metallic biomaterial testing, whereas we have done some biomaterial antibacterial studies.

To improve the cell culture also like to understand the cell viability and how the cell is growing on the surface and we have succeeded because of this. Lesser shock painting creates some nanopores and nano micro ports on the surface which eventually advantages in silicon and sitting on the surface and improves the cell viability and like that way like a cell response is very good after laser shock painting process.

On this alloys.

Yes. So I have taken a in vitro where we have used in physiological condition and tested in the laboratory basis. So our next step is to move to the animal studies, but we haven't conducted as of now because of some restrictions. So we are just looking forward to do some collaboration after coming back to vit if I get a chance.

That collaboration sounds fruitful, Professor. It seems the nanopore formation from laser shock peening offers significant advantages for cell adhesion. Have you tested this implant design in vitro models or taken steps to align it with replacing animal testing for implant evaluations?

Understood, Professor. In vitro models in physiological conditions demonstrate promising groundwork. Could you expand on the specific benefits you foresee from transitioning in vitro testing to animal-free approaches in your research?

Yes. So we can't fully avoid the animal studies. However, we can increase the dependency on the animal studies when we are doing the in vitro model. So our aim is to do some of the protocols and to maintain the in vitro models which exactly simulates that of Indigo models. But we can't replace the in vivo models. We must do the in vivo models. However, the screening process which we are doing as of now is giving very good results and I am also.

Focusing on getting some new protocols and new techniques to just simulate the in vivo models and to understand the in vitro studies more precisely and like more to the real time applications.

Yes.

Can you share how you have worked on transferring technologies, such as 3D-printed bone-like implants, to medical device companies?

Yes, actually like we are in collaboration with when I'm an Indian Institute of Science, we are in collaboration with the company called AMC Limited. So we are collaborating with that industry and we have made some scuffles made-up of this titanium based alloys and we have made some gyroid structures and we have tested it for this.

Bio implant studies and cell response and they are also very interested and we filed a patent on that this thing. So this is called a pattern is called like alternative manufacturing without inducing the laser. So it is like additive manufacturing without laser, sorry lasers and using the sintering method.

Micro Diffusion-based Item Manufacturing process. It has been patterned, has been filed and it has been under consideration in Indian Patent Office.

I see, Professor. Your work with AMC Limited and the patent filing involving additive manufacturing methods is notable. Could you please elaborate on the timeline or strategic steps planned for advancing this technology to a higher TRL, aiming for commercialization within two to five years?

Yes, so I wanted to make this.

Approach to the TRL of 3/5 and six in the upcoming years, maybe within the next two years I can make sure that I can able to do this to the next level of this TRL 3:00 and 4:00. So whereas in in upcoming years I am just transferring this to the industrial based things because it is gives the promising results and after like testing in the in vitro models, we can transfer this technology to the industry as well as the customers in the timeline.

In two to five years is per.

Very good timeline in this uh.

Yes.

Yes. So I have a wide variety of this experience in India and as well as in the Euro. So I can get into the students onto the conceptual based learning plus laboratory exposure that may give the students for this theoretical plus as well as the real time application. So they can easily learn and get aspects from the concepts. So that is my.

Can you share your approach to effectively teaching theory-based courses, ensuring clarity and engagement for your students?

Based approach.

So I have, I, I, I will focus the I have my way of teaching is not publicly these things. I will also interact with the students personally and also I can able to make them whether they are understanding or not. I can assess them periodically and I can give you them the advice and also I can give them personal advice and also like I will make them understanding or not. I will frequently maintain and I can, if needed, I can explain more.

Thank you, Professor. How do you ensure your students grasp the fundamental concepts in critical subjects, especially those related to your expertise in mechanical and material engineering?

They can conduct more and also like I can give them more inputs so they can easily grasp and they can easily adapt to this classes.

And subjects.

Your emphasis on interaction, periodic assessment, and personalized support indeed demonstrates a student-centered teaching approach. Moving forward, how do you integrate laboratory courses effectively to complement theoretical learning?

Yes, so laboratory process to the theoretical learning because whatever the in the curriculum, in the curriculum where we have the laboratories for example in material testing, example tensile testing, compression testing, fatigue testing, which are all involves in the theoretical as well as in the. Classroom-based techniques so we can explain them all those in the laboratories as well as we can give them a real time application and then we can get our input from the students in the class.

So they can easily adapt to the situation and they can learn accordingly. So that is my way of approach.

Yes, I can involve for new students, for new upcomers, for the bachelors as well as the masters students. I can guide them, I can mentor them, I can put it them onto the ongoing work as in internships as well as the mini projects. So they can get interest and they can involved in it and they can explore more on it. So in that way I can able to get them interested and also like I can make them enthusiastic in this process.

Your integration of real-time applications alongside laboratory practices aligns well with a hands-on curriculum. Shall we explore your methods for guiding student projects and research next?

I see, Professor. How do you ensure that the projects and research you guide not only align with academic goals but also prepare students for real-world challenges, particularly in fields like biomaterials or advanced mechanical engineering topics?

Yes, exactly because this type of implants we can able to daily see in a in a day-to-day life where we can able to integrate our bones using the biomaterial implants and also we can see most of the accidents happening on the roads. So these are all the real-time applications which we can able to see with our students. So they can get inputs from that and they can get all those datas and they can integrate themselves and they can move forward to the research background and.

Can do research on that and they can able to improve that skills as well as the techniques so they can implement in the research thing. So this is my way of approach.

Your emphasis on integrating real-world challenges into academic projects is indeed valuable for fostering practical skills and deeper understanding. Let's now discuss your approach to student evaluation and exam duties, focusing on ensuring fairness and academic rigor. Could you elaborate on that?

Yes, I am like willing to take all the lab responsibilities as well as the department based works, whichever given to me. Also like I'll be like fully involved in this teaching as well as the laboratory courses. And I can give my full on this. And I also make the students to be interested in the laboratory things which I can teach them with some real time things, applications and also make them involved in the laboratory projects.

And then get good uh.

Knowledge on that?

Thank you, Professor. How do you specifically ensure fairness and objectivity when evaluating students in both theoretical and laboratory courses?

It will be a transparent 1. So like it will not be other things. So it will be fully transparent one as per the VAT norms wherever they are conducting the exams, other assassin sorry assessments I can able to fully support the students and then I can evaluate them fairly and I will not give anything to the. Other things so I will.

Do the fairness in the evaluations, I will treat them all equally and also like I will make them analyze what are all their mistakes and I will personally talk to them and what is their mistakes and how can they improve that I can able to guide them and mentor them in that way.

That's a clear and commendable approach to ensuring fairness and offering constructive feedback, Professor. Let's now discuss your communication and structured teaching methods. How do you ensure clarity and effective delivery in your lectures or presentations?

I'll have the full clarity because I am already working in, uh, in, in, I already worked in Indian environment as well as in the European environment. So I can able to address the students, uh, things. And I also like given give, I can give more type of example in different fields and different areas how it is working. So that real world application and real world experience with my research experience, I can tell them I can, I can also teach them that real time application with my research.

Thing and to the teaching so that will be able to make the students little different from other professors so I can able to make them to realize what it is and how it is working and what is the real time application of it and how we can go beyond this So that may improve the students skills. And with my experience I can make it little easier for the students to understand.

Your integration of real-world examples with academic concepts indeed ensures clarity and impactful delivery in your teaching. Moving on, how do you communicate effectively with varied student groups, particularly those struggling with advanced topics?

Yes. So like the advanced topic is, is, is from my experience, like I can teach them personally and also I can sit with them and I can able to give them extra classes and extra inputs and my experience on that and make them very understand, very simple to the advanced topics. Because all the advanced topics, the core idea is simple and I can able to make that idea to them to understand with my experience and then they can understand.

All those things and they can able to perform very well in their curriculum.

Sorry

Your personal approach to guiding students on challenging subjects, simplifying core ideas, is indeed effective. Professor, let us discuss your research publication experience. Could you share your experience in contributing to reputed journals within your field?

Materials characterization and in the field of Tribo corrosion, in the field of corrosion, in the field of fatigue. So I have published in very good journal with the core concepts in International Journal of Fatih, Applied Surface Science, Surface and Coating technology and many more Q-one as well as the reputed journals which recognizes work and published in the recent years. So all those publications which we are made in last four. To five years is very commendable and also likely to give.

Yes, so thank you. I I have published around 33 to 34 articles till now with 9 to 10 articles and 1st author and also I have contributed in journals called additive. Sorry advanced.

Very good, very good insights to the tribal corrosion, metallic implants and fatigue related failures in the scientific field, which is also used for the scientific community. And also I have around 480 citations and exchange rates of 13 and I-10 index of 17.

Thank you.

Professor, let us now assess your experience in industry projects or consultancy. Could you elaborate on any such work relevant to coating technology or tribocorrosion?

Yes. So I have wrote a project so and I got selected in this DST NPDF scheme so which is called a national postdoctoral fellowship program where I have wrote the funded project and I got the sanctioned amount of around 30,00,000 Indian rupees sanctioned and I successfully completed that in that project two years. In focus on this implant materials.

Yes.

Professor, shall we move forward to discuss your ability to guide student projects and research?

Yes, when I am in Indian industry of science, I have guided the candidate called Sourav Gupta. So where it is focusing on additive manufacturing of titanium alloys which is focusing on improving the Tribo corrosion, corrosion and wear related problems. Where we have successfully ended up with creating additive manufacturer titanium 6 aluminum for bananas alloy and also like submitted in the journal called. Surface and interface which is now under considered for under review.

Could you share a specific project or research you've guided that successfully aligned with your field of expertise, such as biomaterials or tribocorrosion?

And also this candidate successfully completed his PhD and now he's placed in Apple research team.

Yes, I'm focusing on developing a new PLA new products which is will be useful for the industry as well as to the customers. So I am developing on this titanium based composites as well as the titanium based materials for the implant applications focusing on very like economic as well as the technology ready so that it may useful to the industry at in next two to three years. So I am focusing on that and I am working on it so that I have better and I have made some patent one patent.

Guiding a PhD candidate to such significant outcomes and placements in a renowned institution like Apple is impressive. Professor, shall we move forward to evaluate your ability to develop new products, particularly in advanced implant solutions?

That one and I'm looking forward to the other patents in the upcoming years.

Your focus on economically viable and industry-ready titanium-based implants is commendable. Professor, I believe we have now evaluated all necessary areas. Do you feel there is anything specific we may have missed or that you would like to add?

No. All good. Thank you.

Thank you, Professor. Would you like to confirm wrapping up the interview at this stage?

Yes.