ABOUT ME

I was born on the 31st of May, 1990, in the city of Calcutta (now known as Kolkata) to Mrs. Papia Dhar (an exceedingly accomplished home-maker who trained in Zoology) and Mr. Pradip K. Dhar (a Civil Engineer who retired from services of the Govt. of West Bengal). I was brought up in the satellite town of Santragachi, Howrah, and we also currently live here. I am married to Mrs. Anuradha Gupta (who is pursuing a doctorate on Sociology/Anthropology from Jadavpur University, and is a faculty member of Sociology at the Heritage Law College (affiliated to Calcutta University), Kolkata). 

FORMAL EDUCATION

My formal education began at the St. Augustine's Public School, Howrah (West Bengal), in the Lower and Upper Nurseries (1993 - 1995). I spent the next thirteen years (1995 - 2008), from kindergarten to the 12th standard, attending the Don Bosco High and Technical School, Liluah, Howrah . 

I received a B. Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Durgapur (West Bengal) (July 2008 - May 2012). I later opted for higher education over an offer of Design Engineer from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) (a government sector aerospace enterprise in India).

I then received my M.S. and Ph.D. (dual degree) from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Tamil Nadu) (July 2012- Sept. 2015, degree awarded in Feb. 2016). My thesis discussed aspects of augmented thermophysical and electromagnetic transport properties of graphene based colloids. I also worked on various problems of fluid dynamics and thermal sciences during these 3.5 years. 

ACADEMIC CAREER

I started my career in academics as a teaching and research assistant during my graduate studies, in several undergraduate and graduate level courses; mostly hosting tutorials/revision sessions, and instructing lab courses. I was also involved in mentoring several bachelors and masters theses. I was awarded an Institute Post-doctoral Fellow position for 6 months at IIT Madras (from Sept 2015 - Feb 2016) for submission of thesis in 3 years with research credentials adjudged excellent. 

I then joined the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (Punjab), as a Visiting Faculty from Feb 2016 to June 2016. From June 2016 to August 2019, I was affiliated to the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (Punjab) as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering. 

I later shifted to the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (West Bengal) in Aug 2019, as an Assistant Professor. 

Since Feb 2024, I am affiliated here as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering.  

HONORS & RECOGNITIONS

2023: Awarded the KN Seetharamu Medal and Prize - 2023 by the Indian Society for Heat and Mass Transfer (ISHMT). 

2021: Recognised among the Top 2% Scientists and Researchers of the World for the year 2020 – a joint exercise published by Stanford University and Elsevier 

2021: Invited as the Track Chair for Micro-Nano-Scale Fluid Flow & Heat Transfer, International Heat and Mass Transfer Conference (IHMTC) 2021

2020: Awarded as an Associate by the Indian Academy of Science (IASc). 

2015: Awarded an Institute Post-doctoral Fellowship for 6 months by IIT Madras for submission of MS-PhD thesis in 3 years and 2 months. 

INTERESTS

I try to spend some time on some of my other interests. I have had a long, formal training in the fine arts during my school days and try to sketch or paint now and then, whenever time can be spared. I also self-taught myself to play the guitar during my undergraduate days and play during my free time. Philately and numismatics are two of my hobbies and I still collect stamps and coins. I also enjoy playing table tennis and used to play daily. I also enjoy reading, I collect books, and spend time reading whatever topic tickles the mind.