Good day, Dr. Prashik Sunil Gaikwad. 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?

I would like to start with my educational background, so I completed my.

Bachelors from savitribai phule Pune university in mechanical engineering post my bachelors I moved to us for pursuing my masters in mechanical engineering after my masters I joined Michigan tech for pursuing my PhD in mechanical engineering and.

Uh, during my last year of my PhD, I also worked at Idaho national lab and post my graduation, I worked, uh, in a industry based research work that is micro W company. And currently I'm based in University of Warwick in UK. Now from this experience, like academia, national lab industry, uh, I, I.

I come up with a unique skill sets into uh, having experience in collaboration with different universities, different collaborators and bring that collaboration, international collaboration to Vit Veldor. So this is how I see bringing collaboration to the institute and the research work which I have currently been focused on is the lithium ion batteries that is modeling site, which will be a good addition, uh, where I will collaborate with the other.

Experimental people within the Institute.

Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing that, Professor.

Sure. Thank you.

You're welcome, Professor Gaikwad. Let's begin. Could you explain some foundational concepts of automotive systems? Specifically, discuss how advancements in computational modeling have impacted the development of these systems.

So first foundational models are the components I can say is like the chassis design, the brake pads, the knuckle joints. So during my bachelors I was working, I was a team member of the Baja where I was working on the braking system and justice system there during my bachelors we used like. Hyper mesh and also CAD models to study to develop the.

Uh, to study, uh, different material system to design the chassis, etcetera. And, uh, well, I can also say that different competition model and ranging from atomistic like DfT molecular dynamics, where we can study these polymer based composite structure, then move towards the continuum scale where we can use these models towards the.

Continuum scale level, uh, and then study different criterias, the like different failure modes, the bending, the stress tensile compression, how the particular uh, for example, the chassis of the system, how it interacts or how the failure mode is there depending on the structure, the size design, et cetera. So this is my input on multi-scale modeling approach from DfT molecular dynamics, where we can study at a molecular length scale, then we can.

The values of that particular system into continuum level and test it on a much larger system.

Thank you.

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad. To deepen this discussion, could you elaborate on specific challenges you’ve faced or observed when integrating results from molecular-level simulations, like DFT or MD, into continuum-level models for automotive systems? How do you ensure consistency and reliability in this bridging?

The major the major challenge was like on DfT level or on molecular dynamics level. The system is, I can say a periodic boundary condition. We use it and based on that boundary condition we get the data. But however, when we move towards a macro scale level.

There we have another sets of boundary conditions.

2nd in uh, DfT molecular dynamics, we usually have the most uh, without any defect model, the most pure form, but at micro scale as we as we know that there are.

Lot of defects are voids into like Weld welded joins, voids into the polymer metric composites which might affect the the results. So in bridging the major, major, major thing would be let's say for a particular polymer composite models, we don't have this basic tensile properties of the material system. So we can test or we can get that property from.

And molecular dynamics we can include in the continuum level like ANSYS or Hypermesh and then use that material system data into that structure and then test the overall, uh, component or the structure of the automotive, uh.

Of the automotive uh.

Designed.

Yeah. Thank you.

So the first would be, uh, first would be uh, like if, if I were to teach a single course in a semester.

Understood. Thank you for that explanation, Professor Gaikwad. Let’s shift slightly—how would you approach teaching both the theoretical and laboratory aspects of these multi-scale modeling techniques to undergraduate engineering students? What strategies would you use to ensure they grasp the concepts effectively?

The the half of the semester, I would focus more on the, uh, lower length skill that is DFTMD. Uh, give them the idea of the basics, what, what formulation goes into it and how we can uh, connect the 2 worlds of continuum and the atomistic scale in the next part.

Of the course, I would focus on the continuum scale and how we can test our models. Now this is this would be both lab work where I can demonstrate how we can simulate in DfT molecular dynamics different systems, how we can calculate let's say the elastic modulus of the particular material system. And the next half would be towards how we can use this.

Of the uh.

This property which is derived from atomistic scale towards. Sorry.

Continuum level and including this property and then test the the the macroscopic structure of this automotive body or any part of it. So on the teaching side, the basics, on the lab side, the practical work which will include running the simulations and giving the students the idea how we can bridge the the gap of atomistic and the continuum level.

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad, for your thoughtful approach. One final follow-up here. How would you evaluate students to ensure that they not only understand the theoretical aspects but also demonstrate hands-on competence in connecting these multi-scale methodologies?

Uh, so one thing would be, uh, like a midterm, I can say exam or quiz where, uh, where each of the students will be given a set of questions and they need to.

Run those simulations on their own and then submit the report and how what were the procedure they followed and what were the outcomes? And based on their efforts and their methodology, then I I will evaluate them as how good were their understanding about the the simulations or the models or the the mathematics behind that model.

Behind the length scale which they adopted for their projects.

Appreciated, Professor Gaikwad. Now, touching on your ability to guide student projects and research. Can you share an example from your experience that demonstrates your approach in mentoring a student research project in mechanical engineering, particularly focusing on computational modeling?

So I would like to start with my experience from my masters where I was a teaching assistant for the Cat Cam lab. There my main role was to guide students towards helping them in.

Now during my PhD, I also had opportunity to design a course that is manufacturing engineering practices where, uh, it included modeling from 1D2D till 3D models. Uh, and then my role was to again mentor the students. If they have any questions or issues they had come to me, then we would discuss, I would give them the, uh, different options which they can take in modeling, let's say. Uh, there was this, uh.

Their helping or mentoring, guiding them towards their projects which were including like using ANSYS or hyper mesh. There were undergrad students.

Knuckle joint which one of the one of the group had been given by the professor then.

Uh, they had the issue of optimizing that, uh, then I had given them the options of different, uh, different ways we can optimize or mesh the model so as to get a very reliable results instead of just some non reliable results, which is which we get if we don't have like a, a mesh convergence study or different factors, which.

Which comes into play. So that's how that was my experience in guiding and mentoring students from my experience as a teaching assistant during my masters as well as my PhD.

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad. With that understanding, let us now focus on another aspect—your ability to design effective student evaluations and exams. How do you ensure that these assessments are fair, rigorous, and aligned with the learning objectives of a mechanical engineering course?

I I'm more inclined towards rubric based systems so as to avoid the biased bias during the evaluation of the students. The next would be.

So first and foremost, the evaluation type.

Yeah. So can you, can you please repeat the question again?

Of course, Professor Gaikwad. I asked how you ensure that your evaluations and exams are fair, rigorous, and aligned with the learning objectives of a mechanical engineering course.

Yeah. So as I as I have mentioned, the first would be a rubric based system for the projects. The next would be both theoretical and practical.

Examinations like theory based is the concepts which I had I have taught during the course how good is the understanding of the particular or the students the conceptual study and then the later or the next part would be evaluation of the practical like giving them some task as to simulate this and how like. The thinking pattern of how they follow in getting the results.

Rather than just the.

Correct results. So this is how I would.

I would evaluate their basic understanding of the theory and also how they use in order to get the results and and how good is their understanding about that particular computational tool.

Can you can you please repeat the question?

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad. Let’s now move on to your communication and teaching approach. How do you structure your lectures or discussions to ensure clarity, engagement, and effective knowledge transfer to students in mechanical engineering courses?

Certainly, Professor Gaikwad. How do you structure your lectures or discussions to ensure clarity, engagement, and effective knowledge transfer to students in mechanical engineering courses?

So first would be, uh, start with the basic, very basic, uh, introduction about a particular, uh, topic.

The next would be I Highly highly.

During my, uh, teaching assistant, I, I have used this technique of, uh, having a two way interaction between a student and a teacher. Instead of just the teacher being, uh, just towards the blackboard and the back towards the students, uh, writing some stuff. Uh, so instead of that, I highly recommend, uh, having a two way interactions, Let's say. Uh, I have taught them a basic concept and the next part would be. Asking some deep questions about that concept. So in that way.

I can I ensure that the students or the class get the very good understanding of the particular concept of that particular topic.

Uh, way of teaching as to having a two way interactions and also having, uh, the official hours where the student can come to my office and then they ask, uh.

So this is my. This would be my.

Questions about the courses or of the assignments etcetera. Or even if they have any doubt about whatever concept which I have taught and it it wasn't clear to them. So this would be my approach towards them.

Uh, sure. So one of the, uh, paper which I would, I would like to discuss is, uh, about my P1 of the paper was based on my PhD research work. Now to give you a very big idea, uh, the thing was the major objective of this, uh, study was this was funded by NASA's STR at the Escom Institute. And so the major objective of the institute was to develop a now an ultra high strength, lightweight composite materials.

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad. Let's delve into your research expertise now. With your background in computational modeling and materials science, could you summarize one of your recent research publications and its significance in advancing mechanical engineering knowledge?

For deep space exploration mission.

Now the experimental team within the institute, they observe this, uh, traces of amorphous carbon during the material synthesis process. Now, as.

Computational modeler My part was to investigate this interaction of this amorphous carbon with the carbon nanotube sheets and to get an idea whether.

Whether it is?

Whether it is an advantage to remove the amorphous carbon from the CNDR structure or to keep it. Now, for this, I use molecular dynamics as a tool to study the interaction, the interfacial interaction between the CNTS and the carbon nanotube sheets. Now, what we found from my study is that not only the presence of amorphous carbon is important, but the density of amorphous carbon also affect the the overall properties and enhancing.

And the interfacial interactions and the strength of the composite structure. So this was again tested experimentally where they observed that when we remove the amorphous carbon.

Structural dis. Alignment. I can say where the carbon nanotubes, they broke, they are fractured and due to this the overall strength of the composite structure, it decreases significantly.

Then there is this structural uh.

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad. Based on that, how do you see this research shaping future innovations not only in deep space exploration but in broader mechanical engineering applications, such as automotive or aerospace industries?

Uh, yeah, sorry. Can can you please repeat, uh, the question?

Of course, Professor Gaikwad. Considering your research on ultra-high-strength, lightweight composite materials, how do you see its applications shaping innovations not only for deep space exploration but also in broader mechanical engineering fields like automotive or aerospace industries?

Yeah, in the sense like if I if I were to simulate or test this polymer based composite models in automotive for the automotive industry, there, there has been significant research going on using this composite for automotive also for the body parts or particular component of the system. Now there using this molecular dynamics we can test.

Different reinforcement materials and the molecular dynamic scale and different polymer materials. How?

They interact. What are their strength properties, uh, in that scale And similar it goes back to.

The aerospace industry where we can also test it like how the curing of the particular polymer, it affects its mechanical or thermal or the physical properties during the curing process and how addition of the reinforcement, the interaction at the interface which is crucial, how it affects the overall composite structure.

Understood, Professor Gaikwad. Let’s pivot to your industry collaboration experience now. Could you discuss your time as a Research Intern at Idaho National Laboratory and the insights you gained from working on computational modeling for electrolysis cells in green hydrogen technology? How did that experience enhance your ability to collaborate on industry projects?

So in first and foremost I would like to add is that my research work at Idaho National Lab was related to green hydrogen technology or fuel. I can say using atomistic competition modeling. The next if I were to tilt towards the industry based.

A collaboration there. I had opportunity to work as a material simulation scientist at Micro W Company after my PhD, where I worked for a year.

There in that case, I had opportunity to work with the experimental team within the institute within the the company itself, now collaboratively, the to talk about collaboration. This would be a good starting point for me to contact the to initiate the collaboration between the industry and the institute that is VIT.

To help gain a product based research work which will help the company and also.

Are VIT well worth the institute in gaining it in? In addition to this like during currently I'm working as a research fellow at University of Warwick. Now in Warwick there is this youth consortium of WMG where the industry based research or projects they are.

More valuable and less of academic research. So in that case.

Uh, I would, I would, uh, initiate the contact point with my advisor, uh, my post doc advisor who is also associated with WMG and his manager that is Doctor Louis Piper in order to get.

To initiate or to collaborate with development using our computational using my computational technique towards experimentalists from PIT Vellore and then testing the batteries or the modules at WMG in waterway and also at Micro W company.

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad. With your extensive background in both industry and research, let's address another aspect. Mentoring graduate students is often central to an academic role. Could you describe your approach to supervising PhD researchers, specifically focusing on maintaining their academic rigor while fostering innovation?

Uh, so my, my approach would be, uh, let's say, if I have a project, uh, that I assigned to a particular student, then initially during his initial PhD research, uh, first I would take a very, very active role in guiding him and settling him into the research world. Then as time passes, let's say, uh, into his second, third year of the PhD, then I would expect.

Or I would, uh, communicate with him is this is the part where it would be a 5050 where you need to also come up with, uh, your ideas. Then we will discuss it, how it fits into the big picture. And then later, uh, during the P later during the PhD years of that particular student, then, uh, I would expect him to like a more 8020 role.

Then uh.

I would expect and communicate him that the student should come up with good ideas, uh, lead a small group of small projects on by himself. I will definitely guide him. So in that way I will ensure that the learning curve is from.

That uh, towards the end of his, uh, towards the end of the PhD, he will become an independent thinker which will help him in his future prospects.

An amateur 2.

Thank you, Professor Gaikwad. To summarize what you've shared so far: we've discussed your expertise in automotive systems, teaching methods, evaluation strategies, research contributions, industry collaboration, and mentoring graduate students. Is there anything specific you'd like to highlight or revisit before we conclude?

Uh, at this point, uh, it's the my main, main, uh, question would be, uh.

Within the Institute, are there any continuum level?

Materials for the automotive, like for the ARC within the institute. If yes, then it would be a very, very uh, good, good, uh flow. I can say like from my expertise, uh, which is atomistic towards, I also have a competition continuum level competition modeling experience and then towards the, the experimental and then the product based. So just wanted to just I'm curious to ask whether there is.

Professors who are researching.

Uh, currently anyone who is working on the continuum scale in the institute itself.

The job description indicates a strong emphasis on mechanical engineering specializations, including automotive systems, materials science, and emerging technologies. While specific details about active research on continuum-scale materials within the institute aren't mentioned, the institution prioritizes R&D and industry collaboration, offering a solid foundation for such work. Your proposed expertise bridging multi-scale modeling—from atomistic to continuum—and driving experimental and product-oriented research aligns well with their focus. This presents a promising opportunity for collaboration within the institution's existing framework as well as a chance to pioneer projects tailored to your specialties. Would you like me to inquire further or highlight any particular aspect for clarity?

Our scheduled time for the interview is now up. Before we conclude, do you have any questions related to the role or the company?

Uh, just one question is what, uh, what is the ideal start date, uh, for this position?

Based on the job description provided, the precise start date isn't explicitly mentioned. However, since the role includes active involvement in teaching and research responsibilities, it would likely align with the upcoming academic semester or research calendar. If selected, the institute will likely coordinate with you to finalize an appropriate start timeline. Professor Gaikwad, do you have any further questions?

And this time, no.

Understood, Professor Gaikwad. If that's all, this concludes our interview. Thank you for sharing your expertise and insights—it was truly valuable. Good luck with the next steps ahead.

Thank you.