Ajay Malshe

Ajay Malshe

R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Agricultural and Biological Engineering (by courtesy)

School of Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University
585 Purdue Mall
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2088

Office: ME 3003G

Phone: 7654967553

Research Interests

  • Bio-inspired designs
  • Surface engineering and multifunctional materials
  • Convergent Manufacturing for Industry 5.0: hybrid manufacturing processes, heterogeneous materials, and bio-inspired designs
  • Systems integration, productization, and production
  • Heavy-duty machines: machining, lubrication, and corrosion
  • Heterogeneous and hierarchical integration (mechanical-electrical-optical and nano-micro-meso-macro)
  • Precision agricultural and food: cellular agriculture, vertical farming, micro-production, and resilience
  • Frugal engineering, social innovations, and social equity
  • Manufacturing in space

Biography

Simple ideas make the world a better place. Typically, they are the most difficult to realize. My experience and interdisciplinary skills enable me to think differently to realize simple ideas while building synergy among people, ideas, and tools. Synergy to enhance the quality of life, equity, and equality for the community and planet. I subscribe to servant leadership for business as a mission.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Educator, inventor, innovator, fundraising, entrepreneurship, executive management, productization, technology scale-up, manufacturing development, customer relations, IP strategy, and technical sales.

EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATOR | 1995 – present
As a life-long educator and innovator, I have published 200+ peer-reviewed articles, delivered 100+ keynote talks worldwide, have received 22+ patents (US and foreign) for breakthroughs in materials and manufacturing and 40+ awards. I have trained 60+ graduate students, 1250+ undergraduate students, and mentored professional engineers in the industry. I have also worked extensively with high school students and teachers to advance student learning success. Students that I have advised lead at corporations such as Apple, Caterpillar, Google, Tesla, Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, Schlumberger, Walmart, and more, and Universities such as the University of Florida.

ENTREPRENEUR | 2002 – 2017
Nanomanufacturing: platform inventions, breakthrough innovations, productization, and at-scale manufacturing
Responsible for building a team of highly effective scientists and business engineers, and generating significant breakthroughs in nano-manufacturing and materials S&E. Directed the growth of technology portfolio and successfully translated these ideas from the lab tabletops -to- factory floor products (25+), which are now used across many sectors, including the energy, automotive, aerospace, HD trucking, transportation, performance racing, and other sectors.

HOBBIES:
Painting, make beer, sing, and hiking.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Fellow of five prestigious professional societies, 1. American Society of Materials (ASM); 2. American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME); 3. International Academy of Production Engineering (CIRP); and 4. Institute of Physics (IoP), London, UK; 5. National Academy of Inventors (NAI)
  • 2020 | The 20 most influential professors in smart manufacturing, SME
  • 2018 | Member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE)
  • 2018 | SMEs' Dornfeld Blue Sky Award for "Manufacturing In Space"
  • 2018 | NanoBusiness Alliance's Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2017 | Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) S.M. Wu Research Imp. Award
  • 2017 | Edison Award for "nGlide® Superflo Coating & Lubricant"
  • 2016 | Edison Award for "GuardX® Technology"
  • 2014 | Edison Award for "TuffTek® Cutting Tools"
  • 2014 | US Small Business Association's and the EPA's Tibbett Award
  • 2013 | R&D 100 Award for "TuffTek® Innovation"