Satish Kandlikar

Satish Kandlikar is the Gleason Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he has been a faculty member since 1980. He is affiliated with the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Previously, he served as faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay before joining RIT.

Professor Kandlikar's research focuses on flow boiling phenomena, developing ultra-high performance pool and flow boiling heat transfer surfaces, stabilizing flow boiling in microchannels, interface mechanics during rapid evaporation, and advanced chip cooling with single-phase liquid flow. His work has evolved from empirical studies that produced widely accepted correlations for different geometries to fundamental investigations using high-speed photography techniques to understand bubble dynamics. Recently, he has expanded into biomedical applications, particularly using infrared imaging technology for breast cancer detection.

His research output shows a clear progression from fundamental boiling mechanisms to practical applications in electronics cooling and biomedical diagnostics. Recent publications (2019-2021) demonstrate continued innovation in surface engineering for boiling enhancement using graphene and other nanomaterials, while simultaneously branching into medical applications of thermal imaging.

Scientific Awards:

• Eisenhart Award for Outstanding from RIT
• Trustees Scholarship Award from RIT
• Engineer of the Year Award from Rochester Engineering Society
• Heat Transfer Memorial Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Professor Kandlikar advises numerous graduate students, with recent publications showing strong student involvement as lead authors. His lab appears well-funded with active research in both traditional thermal engineering and innovative biomedical applications. He has founded significant professional initiatives including the ASME Heat Transfer chapter in Rochester and the E-cubed science and engineering fair for middle school students, demonstrating strong commitment to mentoring and community engagement.

His laboratory focuses on experimental thermal science with capabilities in high-speed imaging of bubble dynamics, nanofabrication for surface modification, thermal testing of microchannel systems, and potentially clinical thermal imaging equipment for the biomedical applications. The lab culture appears collaborative, with students taking lead roles in publications and presenting at major conferences.