Dr. Pradeep Raj R

Dean- Centre for Innovation , Entrepreneurship and Technology (CIET)

Associate Professor & Head - Department of Mechanical Engineering 

Mohandas College of Engineering & Technology 

E-Mail :krsreeraj1@gmail.com    / dean.innovations@mcet.ac.in , hodme@mcet.ac.in Mob: 7558009711

Experience : 17 Years 

About :

I am Dr. Pradeep Raj R, a dedicated academician and passionate advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship in engineering education. With over 16 years of experience, my expertise lies in Mechanical (Manufacturing) Engineering, and I hold a University Second Rank from Anna University for my master’s degree. I completed my Ph.D. in Manufacturing Engineering from Annamalai University.

I have successfully completed the prestigious Management Development Program at IIM Kozhikode and am a certified faculty member recognized by the NSTEDB, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and the Kerala Institute for Entrepreneurship Development. Recognized as a Top Performing Innovation Ambassador (2021–22) and a certified Mentor under the Ministry of Education’s Mentor-Mentee program. I am also a proud recipient of the Best Innovation Ambassador Award from AICTE & the Ministry of Education, Government of India(2025) and the Best Teacher Award from my institution(2019).

My contributions have been further acknowledged through recognitions such as the TCS Young Innovator Award. Over the years, I have coordinated and conducted 1000+ programs related to engineering, technology, innovation, patents, and entrepreneurship, and have delivered more than 600 expert sessions. I have mentored and supported the development of 10+ student startups and have also founded two startups of my own.

I am a Life Member of ISTE, Faculty Advisor of SAE India, and a Fellow of the Indian Thermal Spray Association (iTSA). My research portfolio includes 10 publications in reputed Scopus- and SCIE-indexed international journals and 15+ presentations at global conferences. I have also filed a patent for ‘Nirmohi’, an innovative wheelchair designed to empower differently-abled individuals. Additionally, I have successfully completed 12 funded projects supported by various central and state government agencies and have guided 40+ innovative projects beyond regular academic work.

My professional certifications include specialized training in Industrial Automation from Rexroth Bosch, Industrial Cryogenics from the Department of Technical Education (Govt. of Kerala), Rapid Manufacturing & 3D Printing from DST and NIT Trichy, and Electric Vehicle Technology from Vel Tech University, among others.

With a deep commitment to academic excellence, innovation-driven pedagogy, and impactful mentorship, I continue to contribute actively to shaping the future of engineering education and the broader startup ecosystem. 

Education :

•     PhD. Manufacturing Engineering

Title of Thesis: EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON EROSION CORROSION PERFORMANCE OF HIGH VELOCITY OXY FUEL SPRAYED WC 10Ni 5Cr COATINGS ON NAVAL MATERIALS.

University: Annamalai University, Chidambaram

•     ME in Manufacturing Engineering

University:  Anna University, Chennai

Class: II Rank 

•       BE in Mechanical Engineering

University: Anna University, Chennai

Class: First Class

•      Diploma in Mechanical Engineering

Board: DoTE, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

Class : First Class With Honours 

Publications :

1.  R. Pradeep Raj, D. Thirumalaikumarasamy, C S. Ramachandran, M. Ashokkumar et al., (2022) “Optimisation of HVOF spray process parameters to achieve minimum porosity and maximum hardness in WC10 Ni 5Cr Coatings”. Coatings ,12(3),339 https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12030339  

2.  Mohankumar A, Pradeep Raj R, Duraisamy T, Chidambaram Seshadri R et al., Enhancing the Corrosion Resistance of Low Pressure Cold Sprayed Metal Matrix Composite Coatings on AZ31B Mg Alloy through Friction Stir Processing. Coatings. 2022; 12(2):135. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12020135 

3.  R. Pradeep Raj., D. Thirumalaikumarasamy, T. Sonar, M. Ivanov “Development of slurry erosion prediction model and studying the effect of slurry erosion parameters on erosion of WC 10Ni 5Cr coated 35CrMo steel”. International Journal Interact Design and Manuf (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12008-023-01619-8  

4.  R. Pradeep Raj, D. Thirumalaikumarasamy, V Saravanan, M. Ashokkumar, (2023) Development of Empirical relationship to predict the Adhesion strength of HVOF Sprayed WC 10Ni 5Cr Coatings on 35 Cr Mo Steel using Design of Experiments. European Chemical Bulletin,2023; Volume -12, Page: 1140-1154, https://doi.org/10.31838/e/2023.12.si4.104  

5.  R. Pradeep Raj, D. Thirumalaikumarasamy & Sonar, Tushar & Paventhan, Rajangam. (2024). Effect of water jet erosion parameters on erosion rate of WC10Ni5Cr HVOF coated 35CrMo steel. Materials Testing. https://doi.org/10.1515/mt-2023-0243

6.  Raj, R. P., Thirumalaikumarasamy, D., Suresh, A. V., Nandhana, P. D., & Roy, A. (2024). Role Of HVOF Sprayed Cermet Coatings on Improvement of Erosion Corrosion Resistance of Naval Materials-A Review. Journal of Thermal Spray and Engineering, 4, 132-140. 

7. Raj, R. P., Thirumalaikumarasamy, D. (2024). Slurry Erosion Behaviour of HVOF Sprayed WC-10Ni-5Cr Coated 35CrMo Steel. Journal of Thermal Spray and Engineering, 4, 154-161. 

8.Sathyamoorthy, R Thirumalaikumarasamy, D., Pradeep Raj, R. (2025) Prediction and Optimization of Mechanical Properties of HVOF sprayed TiO2 coatings utilising response surface methodology. Journal of Thermal Spray and Engineering, 5, 162-173. 

9. Raj R., P., Duraisamy, T., Suresh, A. V., P., D. N., & Roy, A. (2025). Experimental investigation of erosion behavior of WC-10Ni5Cr coatings on 35CrMo steel under solid particle impact at oblique and normal angles. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/01694243.2025.2479109  

10. Pradeep Raj, R., Thirumalaikumarasamy, D., & Ashokkumar, M. (2025). Erosion–corrosion behaviour of HVOF coated WC-10Ni-5Cr coatings on 35 CrMo steel. Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/00084433.2025.2496548 

Certifications :

1.     Completed MDP in Innovation and Entrepreneurship development by IIM-Kozhikode 

2.   Certified Resource person for Entrepreneurship development training by NSTEDB, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt, of India.

3. Certified on Personal Entrepreneurial Characteristics by Kerala Institute for Entrepreneurship Development (KIED).

4.   Industrial Automation & Robotics  by Rexroth Bosch

5.  Electric & Hybrid Vehicles by Vel-Tech University , Chennai 

6.  Industrial Cryogenics by DoTE, Govt. of Kerala

7. Sustainable Mobility by APJ Kerala Technological University 

8.  Rapid Manufacturing and 3D Printing by Dept. of Science & Technology and NIT, Trichy

9.  Engineering Mechanics, ISTE Certification by IIT Bombay

10.  Fluid Mechanics, ISTE Certification by IIT Kharagpur

11. Innovation Ambassador by Govt . of. India  

Roles and Responsibilities:

Currents Roles

• DEAN- Innovations & Technology 

• Head- Department of Mechanical Engineering 

• President - Institution Innovation Council 

• Manager- Technology Business Incubation Centre 

• Coordinator -NISP & NEP

• Coordinator - TrEST Park Satellite Centre 

Previous Roles 

• Head - Innovation Centre 

• Nodal officer -IEDC 

• Coordinator - Admissions 

• Principal (I/C)

Memberships :

·         Life Member – ISTE

·         Faculty Advisor – SAE, India

·         Indian Thermal Spray Association (iTSA)

Achievements

•  Awarded as Best Innovation Ambassador by AICTE & MoE, Govt. of. India (2025) 

• Handled more than 700+ sessions across the country as a resource person in the field of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Startup development, Ideation, Design thinking, out of the box thinking etc.

•   Recognized as Top performing Innovation ambassador by MoE-Govt of India (2021) for promoting innovation activities in schools and colleges.

•  Young Innovator Award-TCS (2018) as a part of KTU TECH Fest.

•    Best Teacher Award (MCET)-2019

•   Developed Rs. 28,50,000 funding in my current institution for promoting innovation ecosystem from both state and central governments.

• Coordinated 700+ programs like Boot camps, Hackathons, Ideation camps, Design thinking workshops, Skill development programmes, Faculty development programmes, E-skills programmes etc.  to mould an ecosystem to bridge the gap between academia and entrepreneurship.

• Initiated 36 innovative students’ projects and 23 projects completed successfully with funding support of total Rs. 8,28,000 and rest of the projects are under guidance.

•  Filed a patent for a project titled Nirmohi which is an innovative wheel chair design for differently abled peoples. 

•   President of the Five-star rated innovation centre from MIC, Ministry of Education, Govt.of. India (2019) & currently 4-star rating (Highest star rating from 2022).

•  Selected as a mentor under mentor mentee scheme by MIC, Ministry of Education, Govt.of. India (2019)

•   Selected as a mentor for ATL Tinkering Labs in Schools under mentor mentee scheme by MIC, Ministry of Education, Govt.of. India (2019)

• Nodal Officer of Top Performing IEDC award by KSUM (2016,2021)

•  Nodal Officer of Accredited IEDC by KSUM (2021)

•  Mentor of the Title winner of KTU first Tech fest -TEKON (2018)

•    Mentor of the Title winner of National Innovators Meet by NIRD&PR, Govt.of. India. (2019)

•    Mentor – Reboot Kerala Hackathon(2020)

•  A Public speaking trainer – Training students for developing best public speaking abilities from last 4-5 years

•  Initiated outreach programmes like Innovation School, Hands of Gravity to motivate and develop innovation, creativity among school students, orphanages and other needy peoples.  These initiations appreciated widely.

•    Mentored and developed 10 startups (Both Service and product based) in last 10 years.

Number of International Conferences : 12

Number of National Conferences : 10

Number of FDPs Attended : 25