About Me
Educational, Professional & Achievements Details
Dr. Kantesh Balani, FASM, FNAE, FNASc
Lalit Mohan Kapoor Chair & (past holder of Yadupati Singhania Memorial Chair)
& P.K. Kelkar Research Fellowship (2013-2016)
Head, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Email: kbalani@iitk.ac.in
Phone: +91-512-259-6194 (Office)
Office: Faculty Building, Room #413, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
Dr. Kantesh Balani (ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0619-9164; Researcher ID: A-5325-2011; Scopus Author ID: 8218235100) is currently a full Professor (since Nov. 2018) in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.
He joined as an Assistant Professor in July 2008, and then was promoted to Associate Professor position (in Jun. 2014) in the Department of MSE. He earned his doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Florida International University, Miami, FL, in 2007.
His research concentrated on the role of carbon nanotube dispersion in enhancing the fracture toughness of Al2O3 nanocomposite. He has also worked on bio-ceramic hydroxyapatite coatings for bio-medical applications. He pursued his post-doctoral research in the Nanomechanics and Nanotribology Laboratory (NMNTL) and Plasma Forming Laboratory (PFL), Florida International University, Miami, FL.
He has published 200+ articles in the peer-reviewed international journals and has delivered 220+ lectures in the international/national conferences and workshops. His h-index of 52 (i-10 index of 175+, total citations: 12,000+, Source: Google Scholar, https://scholar.google.co.in Oct. 2025, with 1000+ annual citations since last six ye5rs 2020-2024) strongly endorses his high research productivity. He is co-author of the books Fundamentals of Thermal Spraying (CRC Press, 2022), Biosurfaces: From the Perspective of Materials Scientist and Engineer (Wiley, 2015), and “Advanced Structural Ceramics” (Wiley, 2011), and “Biosurfaces: From the Perspective of Materials Scientist and Engineer” (Wiley, 2015). Also, he has adapted “The Science and Engineering of Materials” (Cengage Learning, 2012).
He is recipient of several fellowships and prestigious awards such as Class of 2021 Fellow by ASM International (FASM), Fellow Indian National Academy of Engineering (FNAE) 2021, Fellow National Academy of Science India (FNASc) 2021, 2018 ASM-IIM Visiting Lecturer award by ASM International, USA, prestigious Swarnajayanti Fellowship (2018-23) by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, Metallurgist of The Year 2016 (Metal Science) by Ministry of Steels, Govt. of India, Young Scientist Award 2014 by Centre for Education Growth and Research, IEI Young Engineer Award (2013-14) by The Institution of Engineers (India) in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering discipline, 2013 P.K. Kelkar Research Fellowship, 2012 TMS Young Leader Professional Development Award (received during TMS 2012 Annual Meeting in Mar. 11-15, 2012, Orlando, US) by Materials Processing & Manufacturing Division, Materials Science and Engineering C Young Researcher Award 2011 by Elsevier, Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award 2010 by National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Young Engineer Award 2010 by Indian National Academy of Engineering, Young Metallurgist Award 2010 from Ministry of Steels and Mines, Govt. of India, Young Scientist Award in Materials Science division by Indian Science Congress Association 2009, R.L. Thakur Memorial Prize 2009 (Indian Ceramics Association), David Merchant International Student Achievement Award 2007, Arthur E. Focke LeaderShape Award 2004, RCTF (Research Challenge Trust Fund) Fellowship 2002, Sudharshan Bhat Memorial Prize and S. Ananthramakrishnan Memorial Prize 2001, and Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Scholarship 2001.
Currently, he serves as the editor-in-chief of Nanomaterials and Energy (Institution of Civil Engineers (Jun. 2017-till date), Associate Editor of Journal of Thermal Spray and Technology (JTST, Springer, since Jan. 2022)a key reader for Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A (Springer), and serves as Principal Editor of the Journal of Materials Research (MRS Publishing), and is involved in the editorial board of Defense Science Journal (DRDO). Also, he is reviewer of over fifty technical journals from Elsevier, Blackwell Publishing Inc., Wiley, Springer, Hindawi, Highwire, MRS India/INSA, ACS Publications, Institution of Civil Engineers and American Society of Metals. His research interests include multi-functional biomaterials, nanomechanics and nanotribology of bio/nano composites, coatings, synthesis and processing of polymeric/ceramic nanocomposites, ultra high temperature ceramics, and energy materials
Educational Details
Ph.D., Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Best Ph.D. Student, Deans Award, Dissertation Year Fellowship
Research Challenge Trust Fund Fellowship
DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) Scholarship and Sudharshan Bhat and
S. Ananthramakrishnan Memorial Prize
Best Outgoing Student.
Professional Experience
- Nov. 2018 – till date:
Full Professor, Lalit Mohan Kapoor Chair & (past holder of Yadupati Singhania Memorial Chair)Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India.
Head of Department, Materials Science and Engineering (July 01, 2024-till date)
Dean, Resources and Alumni (Mar. 2022 – June 2024) - Jun. 2014 – Nov. 2018:
Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India - Jul. 2008 – Jun. 2014:
Assistant Professor, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India - July 2007- June 2008:
Post Doctoral Researcher, Plasma Forming Laboratory (PFL) and Nanomechanical and Nanotribology Lab (NMNTL), Florida International University (FIU), Miami, USA. - August 2003-June 2007:
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, FIU, Miami, FL, USA. - August 2001-August 2002:
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. - May 2000-Feb 2001:
DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) Exchange scholar, University of Stuttgart, Germany. - Jul 1999-May 2000:
Half-Time Teaching Assistant, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.
Course Taught
- Nanotechnology - Nanostructures and Nanomaterials
- Metallurgical - Introduction to Biomaterials
