Dr. Rajesh P Nair

Dr. Rajesh P Nair is Assistant Professor in the Department of Ship Technology at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), where he has taught since 2015. He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from LBS College of Engineering, Kasaragod, an M.Tech in Computer Aided Structural Analysis and Design from CUSAT and a Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from IIT Madras (2013), where his thesis applied the discrete element method to impact problems. He later worked as a Project Officer at IIT Madras on blast mitigation through fluid-structure interaction and as Associate Professor at Toc H Institute of Science and Technology. His research covers impact and blast mechanics, finite element analysis of marine and offshore structures, and sandwich and natural-fibre composites. He has led sponsored projects funded by MeitY and DRDO's NPOL, has guided one doctoral scholar to completion, and reviews for the Defence Science Journal, Ships and Offshore Structures and the International Journal of Mechanical Sciences.

1. Ph.D. — Applied Mechanics

   IIT Madras

   2013 · Thesis: Impact Analysis using Discrete Element Method (2006–2013)

2. M.Tech — Computer Aided Structural Analysis and Design

   Department of Ship Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)

   2005 · Second rank; project: An improved design for a filament wound pressure vessel

3. B.Tech (Honours) — Mechanical Engineering

   LBS College of Engineering, Kasaragod

   2002

1. Assistant Professor in Ship Technology

   Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi, Kerala, India

   Jul 2015 – present

   Teaches Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding to B.Tech students and Computer Aided Structural Analysis and Design to M.Tech students. Subjects include engineering mechanics, applied thermodynamics, mechanics of solids, analysis of structures, design of machine elements, production management and operations research, FEM applied to offshore engineering, fracture mechanics and dynamics of structures.

2. Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering

   Toc H Institute of Science and Technology, Ernakulam, Kerala, India

   Oct 2013 – Jul 2015

   Taught strength of materials, hydraulic machinery and the finite element analysis laboratory to B.Tech Mechanical Engineering students.

3. Project Officer

   IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

   Sep 2011 – Oct 2013

   Project: Blast mitigation through fluid–structure interaction (coordinator Prof. C. Lakshmana Rao). Experimental and numerical simulation of blast mitigation for a network of fluid-filled pipes using ABAQUS.

4. Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

   Jyothi Engineering College, Kerala, India

   Jun 2005 – Jun 2006

   Taught engineering mechanics, strength of materials, advanced mechanics of solids, environmental studies, industrial management and the strength of materials laboratory.

• Reviewer for Defence Science Journal (DRDO), 2023 and 2025; Ships and Offshore Structures (Taylor & Francis), 2024; International Journal of Mechanical Sciences (Elsevier), 2015–2019 and 2022
• Ph.D. supervision: one scholar graduated (Renjith R); currently guiding four scholars (Mahesh C, Geethu R Babu, Jasna P H and Parvathy S Pillai) in the Department of Ship Technology, CUSAT
• Guided around 50 M.Tech (CASAD) final-year projects since 2015
• Session chair at iCANOE '21 (CUSAT) and at several other national and international conferences and seminars (2016–2021)

• Project Coordinator, CSR funding from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd for the Central Administrative Block at CUSAT (Rs. 1,01,56,379, first allotment; approved 12 January 2026)
• Assistant Coordinator, CSR funding from Cochin Shipyard Limited for Sustainable Ship Building at the Department of Ship Technology, CUSAT (Rs. 3.53 crore; approved 12 November 2025)
• Convenor, 3rd International Conference on Advances in Naval and Ocean Engineering (iCANOE '25), CUSAT, 28–29 November 2025
• Convenor, iCANOE '23, CUSAT, November 2023
• Convenor, Golden Jubilee Seminar, Department of Ship Technology, November 2024
• Observer for the CUSAT Computer-Based Common Admission Test (CAT 2025 and CAT 2026)
• Coordinator, Student Induction Programme 2024 and 2025 (Ship Technology, Polymer Science & Rubber Technology and Instrumentation)
• NAAC 2021–2022 Coordinator, Department of Ship Technology
• Member, Senate of CUSAT (2019–2023)
• Member, PG Academic Committee of CUSAT (2017–2019)
• M.Tech placement coordinator, Department of Ship Technology, CUSAT (Oct 2019 – present)
• M.Tech (CASAD) project coordinator (Jul 2016 – Jun 2018)
• Faculty coordinator for AICTE-EOA, Department of Ship Technology (2017–2020)
• Purchase committee member, Department of Ship Technology (2016–2020)
• NSS programme officer, Department of Ship Technology (2018–2022)
• Academic advisory committee member, Toc H Institute of Science and Technology (2020)
• Co-convener, DIMS 2018 international conference, Cochin
• Organizing committee member, International Conference on Smart Innovation for Sustainable Transportation, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Kochi, February 2025
• Organizing committee member, International Conclave on Next-Gen Higher Education, CUSAT, January 2025
• Core student coordinator, 1st Indian Conference on Applied Mechanics (INCAM 2013), IIT Madras

• Summayya J, Beena Mary John and Rajesh P Nair, Analysis of lateral load resistance of a structural system using FEM, Proceedings of SECON'23, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Springer
• Clint C, U.R. Harikrishnan, B.K. Alok, R.P. Nair and M.J. Beena, Holistic Approach for Design of Structure in the Way of Ship Anchoring System, Proceedings of SECON'25, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Springer

• Life member, Indian Society of Applied Mechanics (ISAM)
• Student member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2012–2013)