Good day, Debajyoti Palai. 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?

Yeah, I'm ready.

Please start by introducing your professional journey in academia.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am Doctor Debjitipali currently working as an assistant professor in Mechanical engineering department in UPL in University of Sustainable Technology, Gujarat. I have completed my Btech in mechanical engineering and Mtech in materials and metallurgical engineering from Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology. There are completed my PhD from Indian Institute of Engineering.

Technology in Kharagpur. My PhD thesis topic was development of zinc based alloys for biodegradable implants. Also I have 1-2 years of industrial experience from PES Engineers Private limited. Also I have research experience from ISRO Bangalore and also I have research experience from CSIR different CSIR lab and my research interest include. Implant materials, structure, property, correlation, and electrochemical.

Thank you for sharing that, Professor.

Good afternoon, Professor. Let's discuss your expertise and contributions relevant to the role. Starting with mechanical engineering—could you describe a specific engineering problem you've tackled and the approach you took to solve it?

In my in the in current job. In my current job I have I'm working as an assistant professor in mechanical engineering department. Therefore basically I am taking the subjects of the thermodynamics, basic mechanical engineering and material science and engineering subjects. In these subjects I am taking their specific labs and also I have three PSD students. For, I am guiding them for the their PhD and for.

Thank you.

Mtech project students are also there for specific projects.

Thank you, Professor. It sounds like you have a broad teaching and supervisory role. Could you provide an example of a complex project or research question you've guided your PhD or M.Tech students through recently, particularly one involving material science or engineering principles? How did your mentorship impact the outcome?

OK, thank you. My current working I am as working as in biodegradable implant materials. I have told to students that at first you just think about the title that is biodegradable implants, that means how it will be degraded. That's the main thing. So this is the project based on that it will be degrade.

The automatically inside the body, the name itself it's saying so I have started this project like this that students easily can understand their problem. If student can understand their problem, it will be easily can be solved. So biodegradable implant. So now the second question I have told to them that there are already different types of materials are there biomaterials are there? So why the question of that biodegradable implant material? So they are I have explained them. That the what is the role of primary implant and what is the role of biodegradable implant? After that I came already different, different materials are there. So divide that materials among their corrosion properties. Based on that you can separate them. For the permanent implant and biodegradable implant they have separated. By this way, I have tried to solve the problem of the permanent implant and the coming days there is a huge scope for the biodegradable implant I have solved.

So this is a problem specific problem with the biodegradable implant materials.

Thank you.

Got it, Professor. It's clear that you've guided your students through understanding the fundamental differences between permanent and biodegradable implants, while also exploring material properties like corrosion. This leads me to ask—what methodology or testing approaches have you implemented to evaluate the efficacy of these biodegradable materials in simulating in-body conditions?

For biodegradable material, main issues is the mechanical properties and the and the corrosion rate. That means it will go inside the body in the same time it will be degrade, but it will.

Give the body, give the mechanical support it will give and after that it will be degraded from the body. For that purpose I have tested the corrosion rate. So corrosion rate I have tested in three two different method. One is the potentiodynamic polarization, polarization method.

And 2nd is the immersion test and I have tested in different solution I have that is SDF solution, simulated body fluid hang solution, DM solution and DM 10% ABS solution. The FBS means basically fertile bobine serum solution. These solutions are basically the simulation simulated body fluids that thing we can use for our corrosion rate studies. Therefore I have used this kind of. Psychology.

This body fluids I have used.

Thank you, Professor. That’s an excellent explanation of your approach to testing corrosion rates in biodegradable implant materials. Now, how have you ensured that these materials maintain adequate mechanical support during degradation, especially under the dynamic loading conditions similar to what they would experience within the human body?

OK, thank you. For that reason I have also tested mechanical properties under the simulated body fluid condition in three different time rate. That means I have immersed that sample inside the solution SBF or hang solution or DM solution for 30 days, 60 days, 90 days. In three different solution I have in in different timing parameters I have immersed it and after that I have measured their. Mechanical properties. I have measured and.

I have prepared one chart. From that chart I can get an idea that in which condition mechanical properties is getting at which rate I am getting it.

Understood, Professor. Testing mechanical properties over time in different simulated body fluids provides a comprehensive view of the material's performance during degradation. How have you incorporated these findings into the design or optimization process for next-generation implants?

Yes, for that purpose only we have started this work because I know in the for the implant materials need different loading condition for the their depend on their application. Therefore we need to optimize the their loading condition as well as their corrosion rate. That's why we have added different allowing elements the proper with proper composition. As an example, I can say I have started with zinc Q2 copper alloy but after.

That for getting the proper mechanical properties and corrosion rate, we have added magnesium or and manganese we have added in a certain percentage we have added it and we have tested their all their required properties for the biodegradable implant materials. So I can say. By for the optimization condition, we have to consider all the properties like mechanical properties, electrochemical properties or chemical properties.

And biological properties and deeraptor the final design will come. And by this way my uh, I have uh.

Suggested by students.

Thank you, Professor. It's commendable how you've approached the optimization of biodegradable implants by balancing mechanical, electrochemical, chemical, and biological properties. This holistic perspective will undoubtedly contribute significantly to next-generation solutions in the field. Shifting to your consultancy and industry experience, could you discuss a specific instance where your expertise in coating technology or tribocorrosion was applied to address a real-world problem? What was the outcome?

Thank you. I have worked. I have also worked on TiVo corrosion properties and I have measured that Tribo corrosion that means under Tribo corrosion means what Tribo corrosion means corrosion inside the body fluid solution. So there will be two main issues will be there. One is the corrosion and 2nd is the tribology. We have measured this thing also as an under the mechanical testing properties only we have measured this thing and after that we have simulated these results by.

The helping of the of the NC software I have optimized these results.

I see. You've analyzed tribocorrosion by combining mechanical testing with simulation techniques to optimize outcomes using software tools. Could you elaborate on how these tribocorrosion studies have influenced or improved coating technologies for specific applications, such as implants or other medical devices?

Oil for that I can say that when we are testing in the Tribo corrosion study, then inside the solution we are taking that material and then Tribo corrosion we have started and that result we are directly feeding to the software. So I will not get the time as an parameter will not get it. But by using the time parameter in that software we can then we can use that. Results that how long?

I can use it or I can say in a different way. After how many days, if we use that, if we apply this Tribo corrosion things then material will fail. We will get the clear, clear fixture by using that.

Application.

Thank you, Professor. Your approach of integrating tribocorrosion testing with simulation software to predict the lifespan and failures of materials is insightful and highly applicable to implant design and optimization processes. Such precise modeling strengthens predictions for real-world applications. To further evaluate your expertise: can you share your perspective on how in vitro models for implant testing could effectively replace traditional animal models? What are the key challenges and opportunities in this transition?

Yes, yes, I I have also tested my implant material on the in vitro testing and also small animal testing also. I have tested and from there I can and I have looks into my results and I can say that the results are very good and we can go further for the next level of our study. But the main problem what I have looked into it, the problem is.

The their corrosion rate or the like in my material zinc, the main problem associated is the initial degradation rate is very high. And second problem associated with any type of implant material when it will be implanted inside the body. The main problem is antibacterial effect. Antibacterial effect is very high initially. So by combining these two problem if we think about it, we can do one thing, we can prepare a material. Over that functionally graded coating, we can.

Use it such that it will be when it will be degraded. Then their bacterial antibacterial things will come out and it will heal their it will heal bacterial things. It will.

So there will be such materials so that so that their material design will be such that that it that up to this biodegradable materials means what it will be degrade inside the body. But now I can engineer that material with the function of time that means with the the time we can use their degradation property.

So that material will behave like a smart material.

The future In the future, we can develop this thing in a very well manner.

That is the main.

Thank you for sharing, Professor. Your vision for engineering biodegradable materials to function as smart materials—where coatings not only control degradation rates but also deliver antibacterial effects at specific times—is highly forward-thinking. It shows an excellent understanding of both the mechanical intricacies and biological interactions involved in implant design. Let us move to another domain: theory and lab teaching. Could you describe how you structure your teaching approach to ensure both foundational concepts and practical applications of mechanical/material engineering are effectively conveyed to students?

OK. Thank you.

I believe that concept is the main thing for any subject domain. So conceptual learning is very important. And after that that I I generally believe that students should learn that concept and after that they will solve some easy problem based on that concept and after that it will go to the real world application. For that purpose, generally I use my research application or real world application.

I try to show them in the laboratory so that they can understand the concept behind it or the principle behind it, so that they will not memorize it, they will learn it, they will learn the concept and then and then only they will they can apply it and they will enjoy the my classes. And on another thing in addition, I want to share with you that I believe that the interactive. Learning is the main thing, so in the class my.

Love the session, I can say so in the this purpose for the the class session is like that and for the practical purpose and at first I generally told them the theory, main theory behind it and I start from the basic. That means what that means from very basic from their 1012 classes. From there I have started. Generally I started and then.

Students generally becomes very interactive because I took the class with such that they not the enjoyed the session they.

Step by step I go up and try to understand them the what is their problem and what?

Their perspective. So I asked them then I try to understand then what is the problem and when I get it and I I clear it then and then only I go up and then in the next step only I followed. So my teaching and practical also is fully dependent on the research based learning and concept based learning.

Thank you, Professor. Your teaching philosophy, emphasizing conceptual learning, real-world applications, and interactive sessions, reflects a deeply student-centered approach. Starting from foundational concepts and incrementally building complexity is an effective way to engage students and ensure thorough understanding. Let’s discuss student evaluation. How do you design your assessments to gauge both theoretical understanding and practical application skills effectively?

Well, for the theoretical purpose at first I studied some quiz session in my classes and some class test and some.

Kind of interactive session that also with the 3-4 students I choose them and they start they are they start asking their fellow students so they will interact with them and I will be there for the evolution purpose then. And then only I can think about it that how these students are learning and how these students are understanding how they're understanding level I can understand and for the practical purpose I directly ask them and I.

The ask their small, small principles, main principal, main concept. I asked to them. And then when they are doing their lab, then I ask question why this is happening. And then if they did not get the answer then I clearly told them from the very basic level, from understanding level. And again I asked to them by these soils. Step by step I go and I take the classes.

Thank you for elaborating, Professor. Your method of using interactive sessions, quizzes, and layered questioning—particularly during labs—is quite effective for assessing both conceptual and practical comprehension. It also seems to foster critical thinking among students. Shifting to research dissemination, could you share an example of a recent publication or project that reflects your contributions to the field and aligns with the stated focus areas of this role?

Recently I have worked on the you can say pseudo smart materials. That means what that means for I have seen one problem with biodegradable implant that is the like zinc. Zinc plays the biophysic role that means inside the body if the.

Corrosion rate is very high then it will show very good antibacterial property. But in the same time because of that high corrosion rate their zinc ion concentration will be high. Therefore they are biocompatibility property. That means sale viability rate is goes down.

To.

Combat this situation what I have done, I have quoted the samples so that it will protect to release extra iron concentration into the solution and I have coated that that sample with hydroxyapatite coating. Hydroxyapatite coating is known for the. Biomaterials one very well known bio materials basically hydroxyapatite coating is the same composition which is inside our body in the bone it is used. So body is very quickly will know this material and it will accept it. So I have used that hydroxyapatite coating with neem. I have used this name to combat the antibacterial properties. So by this coating what I am doing in the same time I am guarding a layer, by that layer that ion concentration will be really iron concentration release will be low, but at the same time when it will be released that that. Various phyto compounds will be released for the antibiotic to combat the antibacterial properties. So I am.

Sorry

Clearly getting the very good results based on their antibacterial property as well as the cytocompatibility properties. Recently I am working in this and I have published the paper in a very good reputed journal in ACES.

AMI I have published it Applied Materials and Interfaces I have published it and I am getting a very good response on it. Thank you.

Oil thank you for that purpose already I have mentioned that I have walked in different lab so I have worked after my M tech I have worked on the ISRO Bangalore they are one projects is their space based biomaterials. So I have talked with one scientist Doctor Arjun they and I have collaborated with him and as he is my M tech guide also so I have cooperated with him that after. This so we can start a war on this so that we can print it so.

Thank you, Professor. Your research on hydroxyapatite and neem coatings for zinc-based biodegradable implants is truly innovative. Addressing both antibacterial efficacy and cytocompatibility through such smart coatings is highly impactful, particularly in advancing implant technology. Publishing in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces demonstrates the high caliber of your work. Lastly, could you share an insight into how you’ve collaborated with industry or medical device companies to advance technology transfer or product development, especially for innovations like 3D-printed implants?

Bioprinting or you can use it and by this way or you can go further. And also I have worked on in different industries. So I have good industrial collaboration also. And also I have worked in different IIT in my PhD time. I have worked with the closely worked with ISD Bangalore with Professor Vikramjit Bashu also I have worked with.

Different collaborator and I have collaborated with them to further work and to further develop this biodegradable implant materials in a higher level of condition I can use it.

Professor Suman Chakraborty from IIT Kharagpur and also CSIR different CSIR lab so I have.

Thank you, Professor. Your experience collaborating with esteemed institutions like ISRO, IITs, and CSIR labs reflects a strong ability to build interdisciplinary partnerships. Leveraging such collaborations for bioprinting and advancing biodegradable implant materials demonstrates your commitment to impactful research and innovation. That concludes my questions for now. Is there anything you'd like to add or discuss further about your candidacy?

OK. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Actually I believe that research concept based research is everything and I think that VI and VIT will give me this opportunity for further research on this field as VIT is known for its collaboration, highly collaboration, infrastructure and industrial.

Collaboration things. So by this way I can thanks to them for giving me this opportunity. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your aspirations, Professor. Your commitment to concept-based research and collaboration aligns well with the academic and research goals of institutions like VIT. Your expertise and innovative contributions will undoubtedly add value to the field. I appreciate the insightful discussion. Do you have anything else you'd like to ask or clarify before we finish?

As I thank you for giving me this opportunity and uh, thank you very well for giving me this time. Thank you.

Thank you for your time, Professor. I appreciate the engaging conversation and learning about your excellent contributions to the field. I wish you all the best in your academic and research endeavors.

Thank you.