Member of Advisory Board at Atria University | Professor IIT Bombay
Professor Sagar Mitra is a leading expert in Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay, specializing in advanced energy storage technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Solid State Electrochemistry from IISc Bangalore and completed postdoctoral research in France before serving as Principal Electrochemist at Replisaurus Technologies, Sweden. In 2006, he received the prestigious Swedish award for “Expert in Electrochemistry for Electronic Industry.” As head of the battery research team at IIT Bombay’s National Centre for Solar Photovoltaic Research and Education and a Board Member of Epsilon Advanced Materials, he is advancing innovations in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. Professor Mitra also serves on Atria University’s Advisory Board, contributing to cutting-edge renewable energy solutions.
Director, Centre of Excellence in Energy Sciences and eMobility
Abhishek Padmanabhan brings extensive industry experience in distributed energy to academia. An alumnus of IIT Bombay and Cornell University, he has worked at the intersection of technology, data, and policy across the US, Canada, and India. He previously led technology at Fenice Energy (SunEdison), where he developed innovative solutions to make rooftop solar installations faster, safer, and more efficient, including advancements in inverters, batteries, structural systems, and software. As Director of Atria University’s Centre of Excellence in Energy Sciences, he is focused on driving research, innovation, and experiential learning to prepare the next generation of leaders for the challenges of the global energy transition.
Registrar
Dr. K.V. Narayanaswamy holds a Ph.D. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from VTU, specializing in Wireless and Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks. With over 30 years of teaching and research experience, he has served at institutions including PES University and Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, and has also held Principal positions at KSIT and Atria Institute of Technology. He has contributed to international collaborations under the UKIERI program with Coventry University, UK, and the University of Bahrain. His research spans next-generation wireless communications, sensor networks, optical network design, and automotive communication protocols. He has led several funded projects, delivered corporate training for organizations such as Tata Motors, WIPRO, and Mahindra, and has published over 20 papers in reputed journals including IEEE.
Assistant Professor - CoE Energy Science & eMobility
Dr. Sheshadri Shekhar Rauth is an Assistant Professor at Atria University with expertise in renewable energy systems, hybrid microgrids, power electronics, and battery storage. He holds an M.Tech in Renewable Energy from AcSIR-CSIR and has submitted his Ph.D. in Power & Energy Systems at IIT Kharagpur. His research focuses on wind integration into AC/DC hybrid microgrids, grid stability, and advanced operational strategies. An active IEEE member, he has contributed to projects on solar PV and hybrid microgrids, published extensively, and received awards including the Best Paper Award at a Springer International Conference.
Program Director and Professor-Energy Sciences, Atria University
Dr. Pushpendra Singh leads the Energy Sciences program at Atria University with over 20 years of experience in academia and research. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Tech from MNIT Jaipur and has served in key roles including Principal and Head of Department at institutions such as JK Lakshmipat University and JECRC Jaipur. He has authored 100+ research papers, holds 18 patents, and has published articles in The Times of India and Financial Express. A Fellow of IE (India), Chartered Engineer, and Senior Member of IEEE and IIIE, his research focuses on smart grids, DER integration, power quality, EVs, and system stability. He has supervised four Ph.D. scholars and serves on the advisory boards of several international journals.
Associate Professor - Energy Sciences
Dr. Ravi Kumar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Energy Science at Atria University. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrochemistry from Newcastle University, UK, and has more than 10 years of academic and industry experience in electrochemical energy systems. His research spans fuel cells, electrolysers, and batteries, with a focus on advanced electrode materials for metal-ion and metal-air batteries. He also brings practical industrial experience in water electrolysis for green hydrogen generation, a major area of focus at Atria for renewable energy integration. Dr. Kumar has published over 50 articles in international peer-reviewed journals
Assistant Professor - eMobility
Christina Sundari is a power electronics researcher at Atria University with over 15 years of academic experience. She holds an M.Tech in Power Electronics and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in grid integration. Her research centers on power electronics systems for electric vehicles (EVs), with a focus on building efficient and scalable solutions for sustainable transportation. Combining her technical expertise with a passion for innovation, she works on addressing the evolving challenges of EV power systems and grid connectivity.
Assistant Professor - eMobility
Dr. Canute Sherwin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of eMobility at Atria University. With over 12 years of academic and research experience, his work spans materials science, manufacturing, thermal and design systems, and robotics and mechatronics. His research includes metal coatings, electrochemistry, alloy modification, sustainable technologies, and smart systems. Dr. Sherwin has authored 15 peer-reviewed articles, contributed to four book chapters, and is editing two books with Wiley-Scrivener and Taylor & Francis. He actively mentors students, presents at international conferences, and leads both national and global research collaborations.
Assistant Professor - Energy sciences and eMobility
Dr. Radha Shivaramaiah is an Assistant Professor at Atria University, specializing in sustainable materials, clean energy technologies, and the circular economy. With over a decade of academic and industrial research experience, her expertise includes inorganic synthesis, electrocatalysis, energy storage, critical materials, and green hydrogen production. Her work at AU focuses on extracting critical elements from waste, lithium-ion battery recycling, and developing reversible hydrogen fuel cells for decentralized hydrogen generation. She holds a Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry and has previously worked at the University of California, Davis, and Saint-Gobain Research.
Head - Energy Digitalization
Jyotirmayee Sabat leads Energy Digitalization at Atria University’s Centre of Excellence in Energy Sciences & e-Mobility. Her work focuses on co-developing and scaling clean energy technologies while building collaborations between academia, industry, and communities. She holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay and a Master’s from Columbia University. With experience across the US, Europe, and India in sectors ranging from petrochemicals to consumer technology, she specializes in user-centric product development. Before joining Atria, she worked on digitalizing classrooms in the affordable private school sector and now runs a solar installation and decentralized solar products business in Raipur, promoting grassroots renewable energy adoption.
Program Director, eMobility
Dr. Anand Ramani is the Program Director for eMobility at Atria University, with over 25 years of experience across the automotive, aerospace, engineering, and consulting sectors. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. His expertise spans structural dynamics, vibrations and NVH, finite element analysis, design optimization, vehicle dynamics, and AI/ML applications. Over the course of his career, he has held technical and leadership roles at Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, Honeywell, General Motors, General Electric, and Applied Materials. Most recently, he served as Head of Technology Development at Jukshio Technology Innovation, an AI/ML startup focused on eKYC solutions.
Professor of Practice & Head, Water-Energy Nexus Lab
Dr. Purnima Jalihal is a leading ocean energy expert and former Head of the Energy and Fresh Water Group at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), India. She has pioneered innovations in wave, marine current, and ocean thermal energy (OTEC), as well as ocean thermal desalination. She holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Duke University and has been recognized with honors including the Vishwakarma Medal (2006) and the Uehara Prize (2019). Dr. Jalihal has served on numerous committees, including as Vice Chair of the IEA’s Ocean Energy Systems and Chair of BIS Mirror Committee ETD-54. Named India’s Mission Innovation Champion in 2020, she was also featured in CNBC TV18’s Future Female Forward in 2023. At Atria University, she serves as Professor of Practice and leads the Water-Energy Nexus Laboratory.
Assistant Professor - Energy Sciences
Dr. Sheikh Suhail Mohammad is a senior researcher and consultant specializing in microgrid design, research, and analysis, with over seven years of experience in the field. He holds a Ph.D. in Microgrids from the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, a Master’s in Power Systems, and a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering. His academic achievements include a Silver Medal and “Best in Technical Innovation” award during his Master’s program, along with distinction in his Bachelor’s degree. He has also been awarded the Ministry of Education (MOE) Ph.D. Fellowship, Government of India, and the 2023 Student Energy Fellowship from Student Energy Canada.
