Perry L Blackshear Institute Chair in Biomedical Engineering

Description

IIT Madras has created an Institute Chair Professorship. These Chairs are to be occupied by Institute Professors who have distinguished themselves and been recognized by their peers for their research/technology development and who have excelled in teaching and service to the Institute/nation/profession.

About the Donor

Dr. Prakash Keshaviah, B.Tech.-1967 in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras, and currently Director, Nephrology Unit, Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust& Hon. Prof. Physiology, Dehradun, Uttaranchal, has funded an "Institute Chair" at IIT Madras in the name of his Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Perry Blackshear. The Chair was officially announced on campus on August 27th at a small function presided over by the Director, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi. Dr. Keshaviah stated on the occasion, "This initiative on my part is about expressing gratitude and trying to give back in small measure for the wonderful education I received both at IIT Madras and at the University of Minnesota under Dr. Perry Blackshear. Prof. Blackshear was a wonderful mentor, giving me a lot of freedom to pursue my research, and encouraging me to go beyond the Master’s degree to a Ph.D. His informal approach, encouragement, hands-off mentorship and financial support were all invaluable in my development. I do not come from a privileged background but have succeeded in my life and career because of the excellent education I received. For that I am truly grateful".

About the Chair Occupant

Prof. Krishna Kumar is a highly dynamic and passionate researcher. Over the years his gustful research spread over longitudinal and lateral stability of 4WD electric vehicles, vehicle parameter identification, finite element tyre modelling, cold forging, powder metallurgy, finite element modelling of aortic valve, fluid dynamics of blood vessels etc. Apart from being passionate researcher, he is an inspiring teacher. His popular lectures on youtube include Vehicle dynamics and finite element analysis.

How the money will be used

The Chair will be operated by keeping the principal of the Endowment intact and deploying the annual returns towards operational expenses associated with the Chair.