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Mr. Kota Bhanu Shankar Rao

Independent and Non-Executive Director

Profile:

Dr. K. Bhanu Sankara Rao obtained B.E (Metallurgical Engineering, Nagpur University, 1973), M.Tech (Physical Metallurgy, 1975), (Ph.D., Metallurgical Engineering, University of Madras, 1989). He is an expert in the fields of high temperature Materials Development, Mechanical Metallurgy, Physical Metallurgy, Powder Metallurgy, Welding Science and Technology, and Structure-Property Correlations. Dr. K. Bhanu Sankara Rao provided excellent R&D support in metallurgy for the development of Fast Breeder Reactor technology in India while working in DAE at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam during 1977-2009. His sustained contributions have resulted in the development of several high temperature materials for reactor core, structural components, and steam generators. He played a pivotal role in the development of reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steels meeting very stringent chemical composition with several trace, tramp and impurity elements at PPM levels for the Indian Test Blanket Module (IBM) of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) being built currently in France with International Collaborations. He has been associated with the development of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Ferritic-Martensitic Steel for fuel clad tube applications of FBRs using Powder Metallurgy route. He is an internationally known expert in Mechanical Metallurgy of high temperature materials and ensuring structural integrity through materials sustainability. During 2009-2013, he has made very significant contributions towards the establishment of the School of Engineering Sciences and Technology at University of Hyderabad. He served as Government of India, Ministry of Steel Chair Professor during 2013-2018, Pratt and Whitney Chair at University of Hyderabad during 2018-2021 and as INAE Distinguished Professor and Technologist at IIT Hyderabad during 2022-23. Currently, he is associated with IIT HYDERABAD as Professor of Practice.

He had received the prestigious Best Metallurgist award (1995) and NATIONAL METALLURGIST AWARD (2012), from Ministry of Steel, Government of India. He has been the recipient of PLATINUM MEDAL(2016), G.D. Birla Gold Medal(2004), Binani Gold Medal (1989), and SAIL gold Medals(2000, 2004) from The Indian Institute of Metals. He received USA- NASA APPRECIATION in 1994 for his meritorious accomplishments in the research areas relevant to aerospace materials and engineering. He received many awards from Indian Institute of Welding and Materials Research Society of India. He was honored with Dr. N. KONDALA RAO Memorial Research Award Lecture in 2020 for his sustained contributions for achieving self-reliance in strategic materials. He delivered Daya Swaroop Memorial Lecture of IIM during 2012.

He served as an Independent Director of Midhani (2001-2014) and as Technical Expert during 2015-2021. He served as a member in the committees of Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Board of Research in Fusion Science and Technologies (BRFST), Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Aeronautical Engineering and Research Board (AERB), President of India Nominee for Recruitments in National Institute of Technologies, and Chairman of DMRL Laboratory Assessment Board (2017-2023).

For his outstanding contributions in materials science and technology and Metallurgical Engineering, he has been elected Fellow by ASM International, Indian National Academy of Engineering, Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian Institute of Metals, Indian Structural Integrity Society, and Telangana Academy of Sciences.

He served as Chief Editor of Transactions of IIM (2003-2017), Transactions of Indian National Academy of Engineering (2019-2021), and as Editor of International Materials Reviews, Materials for energy systems and member of technical books committee of ASM International over several years. Currently, he is serving as Editor-in-Chief of IIM Metal News.