Chile’s UTEM confers ‘Recognition for External Projects–2026’ on Indian researcher
Santiago, Chile: Dr. Praveen Barmavath, Assistant Professor in the Departamento de Mecánica at Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana (UTEM), Santiago, Chile, has received the prestigious ‘Recognition for External Projects–2026’ (Reconocimiento Proyectos Externos 2026) for his significant contributions to international research, externally funded projects and scientific collaboration.
Dr. Barmavath was personally invited to the special recognition ceremony, where the honour was presented to him by Marisol Durán Santis, Rector of UTEM and President of the Consortium of State Universities of Chile (CUECH).
Dr. Praveen Barmavath, who hails from Balajinagar under Kodad mandal in Suryapet district, comes from a humble tribal family. After pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, he went on to establish himself as an Assistant Professor at a university in Chile. He attributed his achievement to the encouragement and support extended by his father, Matria Naik, and other family members.
Key role in three postdoctoral research projects
Dr. Barmavath is currently serving as the Sponsoring Investigator (Investigador Patrocinante) for three ANID–FONDECYT Postdoctoral Research Projects at UTEM. The projects focus on advanced materials, thermal engineering, energy conversion and energy storage technologies.
He is also serving as an External Principal Investigator (PI) in a joint international research project with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. The research focuses on the development of MXene-based advanced materials for environmental applications.
International expert in DRDO project
In India, Dr. Barmavath is serving as an International Expert and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) in a research project funded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation–Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (DRDO–NSTL), Government of India, in collaboration with the National Institute of Technology Andhra Pradesh (NIT Andhra Pradesh).
The project focuses on the performance and dynamics of supercavitating torpedoes, an area of strategic importance in advanced defence technology research.
Over 175 research publications
Dr. Barmavath has authored more than 175 research publications indexed in Web of Science journals. He also holds two granted patents and has served as an editor of three academic books, reflecting his sustained contributions to engineering research, innovation and technological development.
Prof. Fernando Fuentes Gutiérrez, Director of the Departamento de Mecánica at UTEM, congratulated Dr. Barmavath on the honour and appreciated his valuable contributions to the department’s research activities.
The recognition is being seen as an acknowledgment of Dr. Barmavath’s continued efforts to strengthen externally funded research, postdoctoral research development and international scientific collaboration. His research engagements have also helped foster academic and scientific connections among Chile, India, Saudi Arabia and the wider international research community.
