Dr. Harish Selvam | Engineering | Best Researcher Award
Post-doctoral researcher, Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
Harish Selvam is a Scientific Staff member at the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management (IWW) at RWTH Aachen University, Germany. With over 8 years of expertise in Hydraulics and Coastal Engineering, Harish’s research focuses on physical and numerical modeling, particularly in violent tsunami-structure interactions. His dual MS and PhD in Ocean Engineering were awarded with distinction from RWTH Aachen University and Indian Institute of Technology Madras. 🌊🏛️
Publication Profile
Strengths for the Award:
- Academic Excellence: Harish Selvam’s educational background is impressive, with a dual degree (MS & PhD) in Ocean Engineering from RWTH Aachen University and IIT Madras, completed with distinction. His B.E. in Civil Engineering also showcases strong academic performance.
- Research Contributions: His PhD thesis on violent tsunami-structure interaction is a significant contribution to the field of Hydraulics and Coastal Engineering. He has published numerous papers in high-impact journals such as Coastal Engineering, Water, Applied Ocean Research, and Ocean Engineering, indicating a strong research output.
- Awards and Recognitions: Harish has received prestigious awards, including the Prof. Vallam Sundar best PhD thesis in Ocean Engineering from IIT Madras and the ISH best PhD thesis award in Hydraulics, water resources, and coastal engineering.
- Professional Experience: With eight years of experience in Hydraulics and Coastal Engineering, Harish has held significant positions, including Junior Research Group Coastal Engineering Leader and Scientific Staff at RWTH Aachen University. His involvement in major projects and contributions to CFD software development demonstrate his applied research skills.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in programming languages (MATLAB, C++, FORTRAN) and technical software (AutoCAD, Stadd Pro, FreeCAD, OpenFOAM, DualSPHysics, Ansys) highlights his capability in numerical and physical modeling.
- Supervision and Mentorship: Harish has supervised multiple Master’s and Bachelor’s theses, indicating his leadership and mentorship abilities. His guidance on projects related to tsunami-like wave impacts and hydraulic engineering showcases his expertise in guiding young researchers.
- International Exposure: Harish’s involvement in international projects and conferences, along with scholarships from DAAD and UGC, underscores his global perspective and collaboration.
Areas for Improvement:
- Language Proficiency: While Harish has basic proficiency in German (A2.1 level), improving his language skills could enhance his integration and communication within the international research community in Germany and beyond.
- Expanded Research Impact: While his research is strong, broadening the impact through more interdisciplinary collaborations and applications beyond tsunami-structure interaction could enhance his profile further.
- Industry Collaboration: Increasing collaborations with industry partners could translate his research findings into practical solutions and innovations, thereby enhancing the societal impact of his work.
Conclusion:
Harish Selvam is a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His robust academic background, significant research contributions, professional experience, and technical skills make him a standout researcher in the field of Hydraulics and Coastal Engineering. While there are areas for improvement, such as language proficiency and expanding the impact of his research, his overall profile is highly commendable and deserving of recognition.
Education
Harish completed his dual degree MS & PhD in Ocean Engineering from RWTH Aachen University and Indian Institute of Technology Madras in July 2023, graduating with a summa cum laude distinction and a 9.74 CGPA. He holds a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, with an 8.74 CGPA. He also achieved top grades in his Higher Secondary and Matriculation courses. 🎓📚
Experience
Currently, Harish serves as a Junior Research Group Coastal Engineering Leader at IWW, RWTH Aachen University. His previous roles include Scientific Staff at IWW since October 2021 and Project Associate at IIT Madras. He has worked extensively with OpenFOAM and other CFD software, and has been involved in notable projects like the “Impact of waterborne debris on near shore structures” and “Flood-induced building damages after 2021 German floods.” 🏗️🌍
Research Focus
Harish’s research primarily investigates tsunami-like flow interactions with coastal structures. His PhD thesis delves into tsunami-induced forces on shorefront structures, leveraging both physical experiments and numerical simulations to enhance understanding and design improvements in coastal engineering. His current work includes numerical simulations of tsunami impacts and flow interactions with various structural models. 🌪️🔬
Awards
Prof. Vallam Sundar Best PhD Thesis Award (2023), Indian Society of Hydraulics (ISH) Best PhD Thesis Award (2023), GATE Qualification (2016), University Rank Holder in B.E. among colleges affiliated with Anna University, Chennai. 🏆🎖️
Publications
- Harish, S., Sriram, V., Schüttrumpf, H., & Sannasiraj, S. A. (2021). Tsunami-like flow induced force on the structure: Prediction formulae for the horizontal force in quasi-steady flow phase. Coastal Engineering, 168, 103938.
- Harish, S., Sriram, V., Schüttrumpf, H., & Sannasiraj, S. A. (2022). Tsunami-like flow induced forces on the structure: Dependence of the hydrodynamic force coefficients on Froude number and flow channel width. Coastal Engineering, 172, 104078.
- Harish, S., Sriram, V., Schüttrumpf, H., & Sannasiraj, S. A. (2022). Tsunami-like Flow-Induced Forces on the Landward Structure behind a Vertical Seawall with and without Recurve Using OpenFOAM. Water, 14(13), 1986.
- Harish, S., Sriram, V., Schüttrumpf, H., & Sannasiraj, S. A. (2022). Flow-structure interference effects with the surrounding structure in the choked quasi-steady condition of tsunami: Comparison with traditional obstruction approach. Applied Ocean Research, 126, 103255.
- Harish, S., Sriram, V., Schüttrumpf, H., & Sannasiraj, S. A. (2024). Tsunami-like flow induced forces on the building with openings and orientation in the quasi-steady flow phase. Ocean Engineering, 301, 117337.