Dr. Ramesh Kumar: Postdoctoral Fellow at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
Title/Designation: Dr
Name: Ramesh Kumar
Current Role/Designation: Postdoctoral Fellow
Organization/Institution: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
Subject Track: Engineering
Key Areas of Expertise: Process Metallurgy, Extractive Metallurgy
Award Category: Best Innovator Award
Dr. Ramesh Kumar is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. He is a materials scientist and metallurgical engineer whose work bridges hydrogen plasma technology, green steelmaking, and extractive metallurgy. He earned his Ph.D. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Durgapur, where he designed and fabricated a transferred arc plasma furnace to study impurity removal from liquid iron. His research has led to significant advancements in sustainable metallurgy, particularly in developing hydrogen-based refining methods that reduce carbon emissions. With a strong foundation in mechanical and metallurgical engineering, Dr. Kumar has contributed to both academic research and applied industrial solutions in iron and steelmaking.
Online Profiles
Dr. Ramesh Kumar’s research contributions have begun to make a measurable impact within the academic community. According to Google Scholar, his work has received 22 citations in total, all accumulated since 2020, reflecting the relevance of his recent publications in hydrogen plasma metallurgy and sustainable steelmaking. He currently holds an h-index of 3, indicating that at least three of his papers have been cited three or more times, suggesting that while his research is still emerging, it has already garnered international attention in niche areas of green metallurgy. With multiple articles published in leading journals such as Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, JOM, and Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly, along with ongoing postdoctoral work, these metrics are expected to grow steadily as his research continues to gain visibility and influence.
Education
Dr. Kumar holds a Ph.D. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from NIT Durgapur (2019–2024), where his doctoral thesis focused on Desulphurization studies of liquid iron by hydrogen in an indigenously fabricated transferred arc plasma furnace. Prior to this, he completed his M.Tech. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at NIT Durgapur (2017–2019) with a CGPA of 8.12/10, working on Effect of copper and chromium on microstructure, mechanical and wear properties of Al-Fe alloys. He began his academic journey with a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada (2012–2016), graduating with 73.43%. These milestones provided him with a strong foundation in both theoretical concepts and practical applications of metallurgy.
Research Focus
Dr. Kumar’s research revolves around sustainable metallurgical processes with an emphasis on hydrogen plasma refining, iron and steelmaking, and advanced furnace design. He has a strong focus on reducing carbon emissions by replacing conventional fossil fuel-based refining methods with hydrogen and ammonia-based technologies. His expertise also extends to alloy development, desulfurization mechanisms, biomass utilization in metallurgy, casting processes, and impurity removal in metals. By integrating experimental research with modeling approaches such as regression analysis and artificial neural networks, he brings predictive insights into impurity removal and process optimization. His overarching goal is to contribute to the development of cleaner and greener metallurgical processes for the steel industry.
Experience
Currently, Dr. Kumar is working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at IIT Hyderabad on a Ministry of Steel-funded project, where he is developing methods for the reduction of iron ore using hydrogen and ammonia in order to produce green steel. His role involves reactor design, pilot-scale testing, and process optimization for industrial relevance. During his Ph.D. at NIT Durgapur, he independently designed and fabricated a transferred arc plasma furnace, achieving significant impurity removal from liquid iron. Beyond his research, he has served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate and postgraduate students, guided student projects, and contributed to official duties such as examination invigilation and accreditation data management. He is also an active peer reviewer for journals including Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, and JOM.
Research Timeline & Activities
Dr. Kumar’s academic journey began with his B.Tech. in 2016, which was followed by an M.Tech. in 2019 focusing on Al-Fe-Cu-Cr alloys. He then pursued his doctoral research (2019–2024) on hydrogen plasma refining and desulfurization, where he achieved landmark results in impurity removal using plasma furnaces. Since 2024, he has been engaged as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at IIT Hyderabad on projects aimed at decarbonizing the steel sector. Over the years, he has actively participated in research dissemination, presenting at prestigious conferences such as the IIM Annual Technical Meeting, METWASTE 2020, and other international forums. He has published in top-tier journals including Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly, International Journal of Metalcasting, and others. His collaborative work has also extended to international research teams, including with CSIRO in Australia.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Kumar has been recognized with several academic awards and fellowships throughout his career. He secured an All India Rank of 22565 in the GATE 2017 examination among more than 200,000 candidates in Mechanical Engineering. He was awarded the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) National Fellowship during both his M.Tech. and Ph.D. programs. He received the Best Oral Presentation Award at the International Conference on Metallurgical Waste Management (METWASTE-2020) organized by IIT-BHU. In addition, he has played leadership roles as an organizing committee member at national metallurgical events, such as the 35th National Convention of Metallurgical & Materials Engineers and the National Conference on Low-Grade Ore and Waste (LOW: CR-2023) held at NIT Durgapur.
Top Noted Publication
Among Dr. Kumar’s research contributions, one of the most significant is his 2025 publication in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B titled Sustainable steel refining by hydrogen: effect of impurities on desulfurization of liquid iron. In this work, he demonstrated how hydrogen-based refining processes can effectively remove critical impurities such as sulfur and carbon, offering a pathway toward sustainable steelmaking. The paper not only advances the academic understanding of hydrogen metallurgy but also provides industrially relevant insights into decarbonizing steel production. This publication stands as a cornerstone in his research career and reflects his dedication to environmentally responsible metallurgical engineering.
Removal of C, Si, Mn, S and P in iron melt under hydrogen plasma
R Kumar, AK Saha, KN Malik, AK Mandal
JOM 75 (12), 5667-5675 (2023) — Cited by 8Removal of metallic and non-metallic impurities by hydrogen plasma-arc melting
R Kumar, AK Saha, AK Mandal
Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly 62 (2), 383-395 (2023) — Cited by 7Utilization of iron ore slime and bottom ash: An overview
R Kumar, AK Mandal, RK Dishwar, OP Sinha
Materials Today: Proceedings 46, 1505-1514 (2021) — Cited by 6Investigation on mechanical characteristics of fluxed composite pre-reduced pellets made with high ash coal
AK Saha, R Kumar, KN Malik, AK Mandal
Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series D 105 (2), 1041-1046 (2024) — Cited by 1Sustainable Steel Refining by Hydrogen Plasma: Effect of Impurities on Desulfurization of Liquid Iron
RK Arup Kumar Mandal, R Kumar
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B (2025) — New contribution
Strengths for the Best Innovator Award
1. Pioneering Hydrogen Plasma Technology for Green Steelmaking
Dr. Kumar has innovated in the field of sustainable metallurgy by designing and fabricating a transferred arc plasma furnace to study impurity removal in liquid iron. His pioneering work in hydrogen plasma-based refining has established new pathways for achieving decarbonized steel production, offering a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based refining.
2. Development of Indigenous Furnace Design and Process Optimization
He independently developed an indigenous transferred arc plasma furnace during his Ph.D., which not only reduced research dependency on imported technologies but also enabled India’s entry into advanced plasma-based metallurgy. His ability to combine furnace design, process innovation, and performance optimization reflects his practical engineering excellence.
3. Research Contributions with Industrial Relevance
Through his current postdoctoral fellowship at IIT Hyderabad, Dr. Kumar is translating laboratory-scale innovations to industrially relevant processes. His work on hydrogen and ammonia reduction of iron ore directly supports the Ministry of Steel’s mission to achieve carbon neutrality, thereby bridging academic research with large-scale industrial sustainability goals.
4. Integration of Advanced Modeling with Experimental Metallurgy
Dr. Kumar has combined experimental research with computational approaches, including regression models and artificial neural networks, to predict impurity removal trends and optimize process parameters. This integration of data-driven insights with metallurgical experimentation exemplifies his innovative problem-solving ability.
5. Recognized Emerging Leader in Sustainable Metallurgy
With multiple publications in top-tier journals (Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, JOM, Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly), growing citations, and invitations to review leading journals, Dr. Kumar has already established himself as an emerging innovator in green metallurgy. His awards, including the Best Oral Presentation Award at METWASTE 2020, further recognize his role as a thought leader driving innovation in sustainable steelmaking.