Microwave Energy and Biomaterials: Technologies, Processing and Applications

Dr. Rahul Samyal is currently working as a Post-doctoral Researcher at the Bernal Institute, School of Engineering at the University of Limerick, Ireland. He completed his Doctorate in “Microwave Joining and Characterization” at the Department of Mechanical Engineering from Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, India. His current research interests are advanced manufacturing, material characterization, metallurgy, and microwave processing of materials. Previously, his work has been on the microwave joining of different metals and the dynamic characteristics of the joints. He has explored the characterization of modal characteristics, phase identification, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) and Fractography. Dr. Samyal has filed 7 Indian patents and contributed to 15+ scientific papers in leading international journals, conferences and book chapters.

 
Dr. Radha Raman Mishra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Pilani Campus, India. He is also serving as Associate Head, Center for Research Excellence in National Security (CRENS), BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus. He earned his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Roorkee, for his novel contribution to the "Microwave Casting Technique". His research group has developed a novel additive manufacturing process, "Microwave-assisted Direct Ink Writing Technique" at BITS Pilani. Dr. Mishra's research group is working at the intersection of different technologies, such as additive manufacturing, robotics, machine learning, product design, and microwave material processing techniques. He has significantly contributed to the domain of microwave energy-based techniques, including microwave casting, microwave joining, microwave sintering, microwave drilling, microwave-based additive technique and microwave plasma-based CVD process.  

Dr. Sunny Zafar serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, with over a decade of distinguished experience in research and academia. He has been instrumental in positioning IIT Mandi as a leader in translational research on microwave-assisted manufacturing and recycling of composites, through collaborative projects with ISRO, DRDO, SERB, and leading industrial partners. His pioneering contributions to the development of innovative microwave-based manufacturing processes—integrating advanced materials research—have earned international recognition.
Dr. Zafar has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed international journal articles and delivered over 50 invited lectures. He has developed specialized MOOCs in turbine manufacturing, benefiting researchers globally. With an h-index of 28, over 2,700+ citations, and more than seven patents, several of which have been granted, he continues to advance high-impact translational research. As a reviewer for prestigious publishers including Elsevier, Wiley, and Springer, he actively contributes to the scholarly community. At IIT Mandi, he has secured several sponsored research fundings, driving innovation and expanding the frontiers of sustainable manufacturing research. He has also organized more than 10 workshops and conferences, training and benefiting over 500+ participants till date.