Prof. (Dr.) Indranil Manna has taken over as Director of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK) with effect from October 1, 2012. Born on January 22, 1961, Prof Manna obtained his B.E degree from Calcutta University (B.E. College) in 1983 and M Tech degree in 1984 from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. After a brief stint at Mishra Dhatu Nigam, Hyderabad, he joined IIT, Kharagpur in 1985 as Lecturer and rose to the position of Full Professor in 2003. Prof Manna is a metallurgical engineer, a renowned educator and a prolific researcher. His significant contributions in the studies of amorphous/nanocrystalline Al-alloys, nano-fluid and laser/plasma assisted surface engineering greatly inspired the scientific community. His early contributions in moving boundary phase transformation are still widely cited. As a teacher, Prof Manna has developed several new courses and taught subjects related to phase transformation, materials engineering, surface engineering, thermodynamics and X-ray diffraction. His research interest spans from structure-property correlation in engineering materials including synthesis/application of nano-materials, surface coating/engineering, phase transition, fuel cells, sensors, bainitic steel and mathematical modeling. Prof Manna worked as guest scientist in several institutions of excellence and universities abroad such as Max Planck Institute at Stuttgart, Technical University of Clausthal, Nanyang Technological University, Liverpool University, University of Ulm, etc. Prof. Manna is a recipient of INSA Medal for Young Scientists, Young Metallurgist and Metallurgist of the Year Awards, MRSI Medal, AICTE career award, DAAD and the prestigious Humboldt Fellowships. He is also a recipient of the Acta Materialia Best Referee Award for years 1999 and 2003, respectively. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Bonn appointed Prof Manna as Honorary DAAD Advisor in India for three years, INAE selected him for Indian National Academy of Engineering-All India Council of Technical Education (INAE-AICTE) Distinguished Industry Professorship for 2007-08 to work with Tata Steel, and the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) conferred upon him the GD Birla Gold Medal for 2008. He has published about 225 peer-reviewed papers, supervised 14 Ph.D, 35 M. Tech. and 50 B. Tech. theses, carried out 32 sponsored projects worth over Rs. 16 crore and also obtained a patent on amorphous AlCuTi alloy. Prof. Manna is a Fellow (FNAE) of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, New Delhi; a Fellow (FNASc) of The National Academy of Sciences of India, Allahabad; and a Fellow (FASc) of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. Prof. Manna was the President of the Materials Science Section of the 97th Indian Science Congress held in Trivandrum during January 3 - 7, 2010. The INAE has recently awarded him the prestigious "INAE Chair" for two years. To date, he remains the third recipient of this prestigious chair. IIT Kanpur IIT Kharagpur IIT Council INAE

Nanocrystalline Materials: Evolution of phases including new metastable/polymorphic phases, crystal to glass and glass to nanocrystal transition under non-equilibrium processing condition. Development/preparation of nanometric, intermetallic and amorphous alloys and composites by mechanical alloying and characterization of microstructure and its stability by TEM, DSC, XRD, PAS, NMR. Synthesis/characterization of nanofluid for advanced thermal engineering. Compaction/sintering by microwave and extreme pressure. Nanocrystalline hydrides for refrigeration, fuel cell and hydrogen-storage applications. Surface Engineering: Laser, plasma ion implantation and electrodeposition assisted surface modification under extreme conditions of rapid thermal quenching to improve resistance to wear, corrosion, etc. by formation of a metastable microstructure (extended solid solution/amorphous phases) and/or composition in the near-surface region, characterization by the electron-optic analytical techniques, X-ray diffractometry/ spectrometry, and testing of the mechanical and electrochemical properties. Microstructural evolution in welding, cladding, rapid manufacturing and similar processing under extreme conditions. Mathematical Modeling: Mathematical modeling of thermal and mass transfer profile in laser material processing. Developing suitable mathematical models to correlate the microstructure/composition with properties by analytical/numerical techniques to simulate the temperature/compositional distribution profile following mechanical alloying (by high-energy ball milling), plasma ion implantation, discontinuous precipitation. Thermodynamic modeling of solid-state amorphization, metal-hydrogen equilibria, phase transition, etc. Interface Diffusion and Related Phase Transitions: Determination of Arrhenius parameters of grain/interphase boundary diffusion through kinetic analysis of interface diffusion controlled phase transition like discontinuous precipitation, eutectoid reaction; and studying the micro-mechanism of these changes in iso-thermal/stress/strain conditions. Material Development: Developing suitable materials/processes for industrial applications (e.g. nanofluid, austempered ductile iron, nano-metal hydride). Texture: Development of a suitable preferred orientation in polycrystalline aggregates to induce an optimum level of soft magnetic property, etc.