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 , Mob: 7558009711

About :

Engineering Educator with a proven track record of fostering creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in educational institutions. Appointed as an Innovation Ambassador by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, I spearhead initiatives to cultivate a culture of innovation across diverse learning environments.Expertise in ideation, product development, and design thinking, honed through facilitating over 700 sessions nationwide. Recognized for my contributions as a certified resource person in Innovation and Entrepreneurship by NSTEDB and a mentor for numerous funded projects under KSCSTE. My dedication has been acknowledged through prestigious awards, including the TCS Young Innovator Award and recognition as a Top Performing Innovation Ambassador. Passionate about empowering both students and faculty in the pursuit of innovation. Founded the White Paper Academy to bridge the skills gap and cultivate continuous learning in the evolving landscape of knowledge. Post Graduate in Mechanical (Manufacturing) Engineering with research experience in thermal spray technologies. Automotive Expert with a strong passion for driving and traveling.

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  

Memberships :

·         Life Member – ISTE

·         Faculty Advisor – SAE, India

·         Indian Thermal Spray Association (iTSA)

Achievements

•  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 : 7

Number of National Conferences : 10

Number of FDPs Attended : 15 

 My Last 16 Sessions handled as Recourse Person :

1. Triniy College of Enginneering , Trivandrum

2.  LBS College of Engineering for Women, Trivandrum (Startup Development)

3.  Mar Ivanious College, Trivandrum (Innovation)

4.  IHRD College of Engineering, Karunagapally (Entrepreneurship Ecosystem) 

5. Sree Budha College of Engineering, Pandalam, Alappuzha (Startup Development)

6. Mar Baselios College of Engineering & Technology, Trivandrum (Patents)

7.  St. Joseph Collage, Devagiri, Kozhikode (Boot camp on innovation and Entrepreneurship)

8. Saingrits College of Engineering, Kottayam (Patents)

9. Assumption College, Changanasery (Startup Bootcamp)

10.  MAMO College, Kozhikode (Entrepreneurship)

11. NAM College, Kannur (Innovation)

12.  PSMO College, Malappuram (Design Thinking)

13.  Karuna College of Pharmacy, Palakkad (Entrepreneurship)

14.  All saint’s college Trivandrum (FDP- Innovation Ecosystem)

15.  Govt. Polytechnic college, Nilambur (Entrepreneurship)

16.  Morning star home science college, Angamaly (MVP)