Dr. Purbarun Dhar
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Google Scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=4NDNHPQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&authuser=1&sortby=pubdate
IIT Kharagpur page: http://iitkgp.ac.in/department/ME/faculty/me-purbarun
Information and Contact
Office: My office is located on the first floor of the 'Heat transfer, Complex fluids and Multi-phase flows lab' and the 'Gas dynamics lab'. Please ask at the department office for directions.
E-mail (official): purbarun[at]mech[dot]iitkgp[dot]ac[dot]in
E-mail (personal): pdhar1990[at]gmail[dot]com
Phone (office): +91-3222-28-2938
ABOUT ME
I was born on the 31st of May, 1990, in the city of Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). 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 (years 1995 - 2008), from kindergarten to the 12th standard, attending the Don Bosco High and Technical School, Liluah, Howrah .
I pursued 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 pursued M.S. (Engg.) and Ph.D. in Thermal and Fluids Engineering 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 colloidal complex fluids. I also learned and worked on various problems of fluid dynamics and thermal sciences during these 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 Research Associate position for 6 months at IIT Madras (from Sept 2015 - Feb 2016) for submission of M.S. & Ph.D. theses in 3 years with research credentials adjudged excellent.
I then joined the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (Punjab), and from February 2016 to August 2019, I was affiliated as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Next, I shifted to the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (West Bengal) in August 2019, as an Assistant Professor of Mech. Engg..
Since February 2024, I am affiliated here as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
HONORS & RECOGNITIONS
2025: Awarded the Faculty Excellence Award - 2025 by IIT Kharagpur on its Platinum Jubilee (75 years) Foundation Day.
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 – 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 Research Associateship 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, collect books, and spend time reading whatever topic tickles the mind.
