KS

K Suresh Akkihebbal

Also known as: A.K. Suresh, Akkihebbal K. Suresh

Indian Institute of Technology Madras-Zanzibar campus, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Monash University, Indian Institute of Science, Hindustan Lever Research Centre

ORCID iD 0000-0003-0700-877X
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About

Prof. Suresh retired as a Professor from the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Bombay in 2022, and continued as an Emeritus Fellow till October 2024. He then moved to IIT Madras' Zanzibar campus to take up the position of Vice President (Academic Administration) Prof Suresh holds a Bachelor’s degree from KREC (now NITK) Surathkal, Masters’ from the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, and a PhD from Monash University, Australia, all in Chemical Engineering. He joined the faculty of IIT Bombay in 1988 after a stint with Hindustan Lever Research Centre (now Unilever R&D). During his tenure at the Institute, apart from his engagement with teaching and research, Prof Suresh has held important administrative positions, including the Headship of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Deanship of Faculty Affairs and Deputy Directorship in charge of Academic and Infrastructural Affairs. Prof. Suresh has also held visiting positions at various national and international Institutions, including National Chemical Laboratory, India, Monash University, Australia, Australian Defence Force Academy, Australia and Washington University in St Louis, USA.
In research, Prof Suresh's interests are on the broad theme of interplay of transport and reaction in multiphase systems. The current research themes being pursued in his group involve membrane forming processes and membrane applications in liquid and gas separations as well as electrolysis; solid state reactions; liquid phase organic oxidations, and novel nanofluid-based strategies for intensifying interphase transport processes. These themes find their application in some of the important contemporary problems such as carbon capture, green energy and sustainable chemical processing. Prof Suresh has guided 37 PhDs on the above and related themes, and is currently guiding 1. He has over 100 publications in international journals, over 70 presentations in conferences, and two patents. He has served, on the editorial boards of two international journals in his field. He has been conferred many awards and honours for his contributions, among which may be mentioned the Visiting Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the Herdillia award for excellence in basic research by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), and the Education leadership award from the World Corporate Universities congress. He was elected a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) in 2010, and was Convener of the Chemical Engineering Sectional committee of the INAE during 2020-2021. He was awarded a 3-year membership of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in July 2015 in recognition of engagement with the Society’s mission, and was recognised with an Institute Chair at IIT Bombay for two consecutive terms. In recognition of the all-round contributions of Professor Suresh, IIT Bombay conferred on him its Life Time Achievement Award in 2022.

Employment

  • Indian Institute of Technology Madras-Zanzibar campus Vice President and Professor-in-Charge, Academic Administration
    2024 - Present
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Emeritus Fellow
    2022 - 2024
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Deputy Director (Academic and Infrastructural Affairs)
    2017 - 2020
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Professor, Higher Administrative Grade
    2010 - 2022
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Dean
    2009 - 2014
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Head
    2005 - 2008
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Professor
    1998 - 2022
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Associate Professor
    1994 - 1998
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Assistant Professor
    1989 - 1994
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Lecturer
    1988 - 1989
  • Hindustan Lever Research Centre Research Scientist
    1986 - 1988

Education

  • Monash University PhD
    1982 - 1986
  • Indian Institute of Science M.E.
    1979 - 1981
  • Karnataka Regional Engineering College B.Tech.
    1974 - 1979

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (109)