About PI

Umesh Madanan

Umesh Madanan is an Assistant Professor and P. K. Kelkar Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. His research interests lie in the field of experimental/analytical fluid mechanics and heat transfer, wherein he has authored/co-authored more than 20 journal articles and several conference presentations/publications. Prior to joining IIT Kanpur as a faculty member, he received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2019) for his dissertation on experimental study of high-Rayleigh-number thermal convection in enclosures. He obtained his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (2012) and Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering with honors from University of Calicut (2007). During the intermediate years between his academic pursuits, he gained industrial experience working at General Electric Power and Water (2012-2014) as an Edison Engineer and as an Assistant Manager in the Product Development division at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (2007-2009). He was a recipient of the Scientific High Level Visiting Fellowship by Institut français India - Embassy of France (2022) and the Max Planck-India Mobility Grant by Max Planck Gesellschaft (MPG), Germany (2024-2026). He is an elected member of the Scientific Council for International Centre for Heat and Mass Transfer, an Early Career Editorial Board member for Applied Thermal Engineering (Elsevier), an Associate Editor for the Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering (Springer Nature), and has also served as a guest editor for ASME Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. He holds memberships in professional societies such as The Institution of Engineers (India), The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Indian Society for Heat and Mass Transfer, and National Society for Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power.

Experience & Education

Assistant Professor

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
2020 - Present

Guest Scientist, Fluid Physics, Pattern Formation and Biocomplexity

Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Germany
May - Jul 2024 May - Jul 2025 May 2026 - Present

Post-doctoral Researcher, Heat Transfer Laboratory

University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA
Aug - Dec 2019

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA
2014 - 2019

Edison Engineer, Advanced Technology Operations

GE Power & Water, India
2012 - 2014

M.Tech., Mechanical Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India
2010 - 2012

Assistant Manager, Product Development Division

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India
2007 - 2009

B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering (Hons.)

University of Calicut, India
2003 - 2007

Awards & Honors

  • 2026 - 2029 P. K. Kelkar Fellowship Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
  • 2026 Associate Editor Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Springer Nature
  • 2025-27 Member, Early Career Editorial Board Applied Thermal Engineering, Elsevier
  • 2024-25-I Outstanding Instructor (ME613 | Thermal Environmental Control) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
  • 2023-24-II Outstanding Instructor (ME341A | Heat and Mass Transfer) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
  • 2023-24-I Outstanding Instructor (ESO201A | Thermodynamics) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
  • 2023 International Travel Support Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
  • 2022 Scientific High Level Visiting Fellowship Institut français India - Embassy of France in India
  • 2020-21-II | 2021-22-II Outstanding Instructor (ME642A | Convective Heat and Mass Transfer) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
  • 2018-19 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA
  • 2017-18 | 2016-17 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Mention, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA
  • 2014-15 Graduate Student Fellowship, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA
  • 2014 Winner of ENG@GE Robotics Competition GE Global Learning Technology, Bengaluru, India
  • 2012 Prof. B. Sengupto Prize and Institute Medal 1st rank in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India
  • 2011 Prof. N. Venkatarayulu Memorial Prize and Institute Medal 1st rank in the Thermal Engineering Stream, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India
  • 2011 Ramanan Ramamurthy Memorial Prize and Institute Medal 1st rank in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India

Teaching Areas

Heat and Mass Transfer
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Convective Heat and Mass Transfer
Boiling and Condensation
Energy Systems
Thermal Environmental Control
Thermal Management of Electronics Systems