Rohit Pillai

Dr. Rohit Pillai is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering. His research focuses on multiscale thermofluids phenomena including nanoscale heat transfer, surface wettability, bubble dynamics, and ice nucleation. He leads the NANO-COOL project developing nanomaterial-enhanced thermal management systems.

Education:

• PhD, University of Melbourne (2017)
• MSc, University of California, Davis (2012)

Research interests center on interfacial phenomena at micro/nanoscales, with applications in thermal management systems, surface engineering, and phase-change processes. Key areas include electrohydrodynamics of droplets, nanoscale bubble nucleation, vibration-induced ice formation, and solid-liquid interfacial heat transfer.

Recent publications show a consistent focus on nanoscale surface effects, interfacial transport phenomena, and phase-change dynamics. Articles frequently integrate computational modeling with experimental insights to explore fundamental mechanisms in surface-dominated processes.

Active in the Multiscale Thermofluids Research group and collaborates internationally on projects involving molecular simulations of interfacial phenomena. Currently leads the EPSRC-funded NANO-COOL project (2024-2029) on advanced cooling systems.