Janakarajan Ramkumar

Prof. Janakarajan Ramkumar holds the prestigious Satish Chandra Agarwal Chair Professor position at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, where he has been actively contributing since 2003. He serves as Chairman of the Senate Post-Graduate Committee (SPGC) and Security Advisory & Executive Committee (SAEC), while also coordinating several key initiatives including MedTech Lab, Imagineering Lab, and RuTAG at IIT Kanpur. His leadership extends to chairing the AICTE and IITK Sponsored Winter Internship Program for J&K students.

With expertise spanning micro/nano machining, manufacturing engineering, and assistive technologies, Prof. Ramkumar's research focuses on precision machining processes for defense systems including components for Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (MPATGM), UAV development, and aerospace applications. His work in frugal innovation has led to impactful solutions for locomotive disabilities, Agritech, and medical devices. During the pandemic, he developed widely adopted innovations including SWASA masks and Sanjeevani (Oxygen Concentrator).

Prof. Ramkumar's publications demonstrate a strong focus on advanced manufacturing techniques, with recent work exploring incremental sheet forming, wire-electrochemical machining, composite materials, surface engineering, and the application of AI in manufacturing processes. His research bridges traditional manufacturing with cutting-edge technologies like additive manufacturing, machine learning, and metamaterials.

His numerous awards reflect exceptional contributions to the field, including the Late GK Dubey Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, Fellow of INAE, Satish Chandra Agarwal Chair Professorship, and multiple national awards recognizing his teaching excellence and research impact. His work has been recognized by prestigious institutions including IEEE, IETE, INAE, and various engineering academies.

As an educator, Prof. Ramkumar has created eight highly successful MOOCs courses with over 48 lakhs views, and has conducted more than 100 workshops in Design Thinking to promote innovation among students, scholars, and industry professionals. He has established several key facilities at IIT Kanpur including the Imagineering Laboratory, Tinkering Lab Maker's space, MedTech IIT Kanpur, and RuTAG IIT Kanpur, creating an ecosystem that supports innovation across multiple disciplines.