Karthik Menon | Curriculum Vitae

H +91 9742742127 B karthikmenon.13@gmail.com

Date of Birth: 29 March 1993

Education
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

20112015

CGPA 8.61/10 (First Class Honours)

Computer Skills
Scientific Computing: C, C++, Python, MATLAB, OpenFOAM, Gerris Flow Solver
Software: Tecplot360, ICEM-CFD, Ansys FLUENT, Pro-Engineer, Catia, AutoCAD

Experience
Academic Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad
"Simulations of Density Gradients and Ocean Mixing in the Bay of Bengal."

2015Present

Project Scientist with Prof. Rama Govindarajan at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences.
{ Developing a 3D, nonhydrostatic ocean model using the Gerris Flow Solver framework, with grid adaptivity
and parallel processing, to study sub-mesoscale mixing processes in the upper ocean.
{ Aim is to use these simulations, along with linear stability analysis, to understand mixing in salinity and
temperature fronts in the Bay of Bengal, and their effect on the Indian Monsoons.
{ Part of a large collaborative effort to understand the monsoons with multiple groups in India and USA.

Technische Universitt Berlin

"Collective Dynamics of Active Particles with Hydrodynamic Interactions."

Aug Nov 2015

Visiting Scientist in the group of Prof. Holger Stark, Institut fr Theoretische Physik
{ Data from simulations based on the Multi Particle Collision Dynamics method used to study phase
separation in active spherical particles at low Reynold numbers.
{ Developed Python scripts to analyze and understand the phase separation in the system and devised
methods to efficiently detect a phase separation and the properties of component phases.
{ Statistics such as hexatic order concentration, voronoi areas, and structure factors were used to characterize
the nature of the two-phase system.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - Goa Campus

"Renormalization Group Analysis of Hydrodynamic Turbulence."

Jan May 2015

Reading Course supervised by Dr. Chandradew Sharma, Department of Physics

{ Aim of the study was to understand the principles behind the use of Renormalization Group theories and
apply them to the study of chaotic systems such as turbulence.
{ Some basic reading and review of works on the use of RG in dynamical systems was undertaken, and codes
developed to solve stochastic differential equations.

1/3

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad

"Flow of Foams Through a Channel: Flowing and Jamming Behaviour"

Jun Dec 2014

Bachelors Thesis supervised by Prof. Rama Govindarajan, TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences & Prof. Shubha Tewari, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
{ Developed a code to implement the "Bubble Model", with modifications to the original model, the most
important being the inclusion of a tunable attractive potential to imitate the effects of disjoining pressure.
{ Flow through a straight channel was studied, where the geometry of the flow channel plays no significant
role in the dynamics, and studied the influence of the attraction on the flow.
{ Showed new stick-slip and jamming regimes, dictated by the attractive potential. Also formulated a
preliminary mechanism for jamming of foams in a channel, using energy fluctuations and neighbour changes.
{ Manuscript being reviewed. Target journal: Soft Matter.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - Goa Campus

"Computational Study of Passive Vortex Generators."

2013 2015

Study Project supervised by Dr. Shibu Clement, Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering
{ The RANS k SST Model, implemented in OpenFOAM, was used to simulate the effect of vane-type
vortex generators on an incoming turbulent flow initially on a flat plate, and later in a diffuser.
{ The downstream evolution of vorticity, TKE, etc. were compared with existing experimental results and
with results from Large Eddy Simulations. They showed good agreement.
{ Subsequently did a parametric study of position and geometry of VGs in a diffuser to minimize separation.

Industrial Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yuken India Ltd., Bangalore
Summer Internship, Design Department

Jun Jul 2013

{ Design and modelling of a 250 bar stop-valve using AutoCAD and Pro-Engineer.
{ Prepared CAD designs, which would then be ready for manufacturing and testing as a prototype. Subsequently, this new design was to be included in the Companys catalogue of products.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore

Summer Internship, Supply Chain

Jul 2012

{ Overflow Analysis in the Supply Chain of Toyotas Just-In-Time system.

{ The focus was on minimizing overflow of parts at procurement. Overflow data for the models Corolla and
Etios was collected, and reasons for overflow were submitted to the company.

Other Technical Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Society for Automotive Engineers - BITS Goa Chapter
Solar Vehicle Project
{ Design team for optimization of aerodynamics of a 4-seater solar vehicle using Ansys FLUENT.
{ The design of the body, was optimized for minimum drag and regions of flow separation, etc.

Aerodynamics Club, BITS Goa

Projects as a Core Member of the Club
{ Moss Glider, Micro Yak - 54, SPADET LC-40, Grumman Goose (Amphibious plane capable of take-off
from water)

Publications and Presentations

SST variations and salinity fronts in the Bay of Bengal
Karthik Menon, Ritabrata Thakur, Debasis Sengupta, Rama Govindarajan

Nov 2015

Dynamics of the Indian Ocean: Perspective and Retrospective, International Symposium on the Indian Ocean,
Goa, India. (Poster Presentation)

2/3

How does a pressure-driven foam jam in a straight channel?

Shubha Tewari, Karthik Menon, Rama Govindarajan

Nov 2015

American Physical Society - 68th Annual Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting, Boston, USA.

Jamming and Unjamming of Foam Flow in a Straight Channel

Karthik Menon, Rama Govindarajan, Shubha Tewari

Mar 2015

American Physical Society - March Meeting 2015, San Antonio, USA.

Academic Achievements
2014: GRE Score of 332/340.
2014: Awarded the Indian Academy of Sciences Summer Research Fellowship.
2011: Top 0.1% in India for Chemistry in Class 12 CBSE Board Exams.

Extra-curricular Activities
Basketball
{ Awarded "Most Valuable Player" award at Spree 2015, National Sports Festival of BITS Pilani Goa Campus
(2015).
{ Awarded "Most Valuable Player" award at Lawsons Cup, Don Bosco College, Goa (2013).
{ Player for National Games Village Basketball Club, Bangalore.
{ Selected for Karnataka State Under-16 Basketball team (2009) and invited to participate in State level
Under-18 training camp (2009).

Leadership Roles
{
{
{
{
{

Served as the Head Boy of the School Student Council (2010-11).

Served as Sports Vice-Captain of the School Student Council (2009-10).
Captain of College Basketball team (2013-14), School Basketball team (2009-11) and Club Team (2009).
Core member of Department of Publicity and Public Relations, BITS Pilani Goa Campus (2012-13).
Member of Centre for Entrepreneurial Leadership, BITS Pilani (2011-12).

Volunteer Service
{
{
{
{

Trained with refugees as part of One World Basketball in Berlin (2015).

Actively involved in science outreach programs at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad.
Organized basketball training sessions at the Fr. Agnel Orphanage in Verna, Goa (2014)
Worked with children with educational disabilities, teaching basic Mathematics, English, General Science
and Computers at The Deens Academy, Bangalore, in July 2011.

Languages
English: First language
Malayalam: Mother tongue
Hindi: Proficient
German: Currently learning

3/3