Devesh Ranjan

Devesh Ranjan is the Grainger Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, appointed in June 2025. He oversees one of the nation's top engineering institutions with 8 departments, 220 faculty, and $120M+ annual research expenditures. Previously, he was Professor and School Chair at Georgia Tech (2014-2025) and held faculty roles at Texas A&M University (2009-2014). His research centers on fluid dynamics, turbulent mixing, and energy systems in extreme environments.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2007)
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2005)
• B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology-Trichy, India (2003)

Research Focus: Ranjan's interdisciplinary work explores power conversion, supersonic/hypersonic flows, hydrodynamic instabilities, and granular thermal energy transport. His lab employs advanced experimental diagnostics and numerical modeling to study turbulence, mixing phenomena, and renewable energy applications.

Publications: Recent articles (2023-2025) emphasize turbulent flow analysis, granular dynamics for solar storage, Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities, and supercritical fluid behavior. Methodologies combine high-fidelity simulations with cutting-edge experimental techniques like multi-tracer PLIF and shock tube studies.

Awards & Honors:

• 2023: ASME Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award, USG Executive Leadership Fellow
• 2021: Inaugural Ring Family Chair (Georgia Tech)
• 2020: Diversity & Inclusion Fellow
• 2019: NAE Global Grand Challenges Summit Invitee
• 2018: Provost Teaching Fellow, Markstein Paper Award
• 2016: DOE Early Career Award, NAE Frontiers Symposium
• 2013: NSF CAREER, AFOSR Young Investigator
• Fellow: ASME, Governor’s Teaching Fellows

Leadership: Mentored award-winning students (e.g., 2016 Best M.S. Thesis advisor) and secured major grants including DOE/NSF awards. Directed interdisciplinary initiatives at Georgia Tech spanning pediatric tech, brain imaging, and advanced manufacturing.