Dr. Prince Jeya Lal Lazar is a distinguished academic and researcher with a specialization in Lightweight Materials & Structures. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's Degree in Engineering Design, both of which laid the foundation for his deep expertise in the field. He earned his Ph.D. from Anna University, Chennai, where he made significant contributions to the understanding of impact, blast, and crash loading on lightweight structures. Further enhancing his global research perspective, Dr. Prince completed a Post-doctoral tenure at Arizona State University in the United States. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Prince has established himself as a leading expert in developing innovative solutions for lightweight materials that enhance performance and sustainability across various industries. His research output includes numerous high-impact articles and book chapters that have gained wide recognition in the academic community. In addition to his research, Dr. Prince is actively involved in training and mentoring the next generation of engineers. He has successfully conducted various sponsored projects and training programs, supported by esteemed organizations such as SERB-DST, BRNS-DAE, TNSCST-DOTE, and the Centre for Faculty Development at Anna University. His commitment to advancing the field extends to his role as a reviewer for prestigious journals like Engineering Structures and Key Engineering Materials. He also serves as a Guest Editor for Elsevier Materials Today Proceedings and Sustainable Civil Infrastructures of Springer. His contributions to academic excellence are further recognized through his role as a Ph.D. Supervisor at Anna University, Chennai.Dr. I. A. Palani is a prominent academic and researcher, currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, India. He earned his Doctorate from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and subsequently worked as a post-doctoral research scientist at the Graduate School of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan. At IIT Indore, Dr. Palani has been instrumental in establishing the Mechatronics and Instrumentation Lab. His expertise spans several advanced areas, including laser-assisted surface processing, micro-machining, smart materials, and shape memory alloys. He is a prolific author, with over 100 international journal publications, and has filed six Indian patents. Dr. Palani has successfully executed projects worth ₹6 crores, funded by various prestigious agencies such as the DST, SERB, DAAD, JSPS, DRDO, and MHRD. His strong industry collaborations include technical consulting roles with companies like Volvo Eicher, John Deere, and WABCO. In addition to his industry work, he has established significant research collaborations with leading international institutions, including the University of IFW Dresden, Germany; Kyushu University, Japan; Jeju University, South Korea; St. Petersburg State University, Russia; and Purdue University, USA. A life member of the Indian Laser Association and the Institute of Smart Materials and Structures, Dr. Palani has received numerous accolades, including the 2015 Alumni Award for research and innovation. He has also been honored with the Kyushu University Friendship Scholarship and the AICTE National Doctoral Fellowship. His leadership roles at IIT Indore include being the founding Head of the Metallurgy Engineering and Material Science department, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Discipline, and currently, the Dean of Research and Development.Dr. Manish Kumar is an esteemed academic and researcher, currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Bombay, India. He earned his MS and Ph.D. degrees in Structural and Earthquake Engineering from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, USA. Following his doctoral studies, he furthered his research as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Civil Engineering at SUNY Buffalo. Dr. Kumar is also a Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the state of California. Dr. Kumar's research is centered on the development of Blast and Impact Resistant Structures. He has been instrumental in establishing a state-of-the-art blast and impact laboratory at IIT Bombay, enabling cutting-edge experiments at the lab scale. His prolific research output includes 15 high-impact journal articles, 3 book chapters, and 15 conference proceedings. His multidisciplinary work encompasses the development of analytical models, numerical analysis, and experimental investigations in blast engineering. Dr. Kumar is an active member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Concrete Institute (ACI), and American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). He also contributes to national standards as a member of the CED 39 committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Base-Isolated Buildings. Currently, he is guiding 7 Ph.D. research scholars in exploring advanced topics in impact and blast engineering.
