Rate My Professor Arunachala Mada Kannan

Arunachala Mada Kannan is a Professor of Engineering in The Polytechnic School, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, where he joined in 2005 as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in May 2014. He currently serves as Graduate Program Chair for the MS in Clean Energy Systems, MS in Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering, and PhD in Systems Engineering. His career includes roles as Principal Scientist at ZEVX (2021–2024), Chief Scientist at Hoku Scientific Inc. (2002–2005), Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin (1999–2002), Head of Technical at Exide Industries in India (1993–1999), and Research Scientist at SPIC Science Foundation (1991–1993). Kannan holds a Ph.D. in Batteries and Fuel Cells from the Indian Institute of Science, India (1990), M.S. in Chemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University, India (1985), M.B.A. in Statistical Process Control from Madras University, India (1999), and B.S. in Chemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University, India (1983).

Kannan's research focuses on proton exchange membrane fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries including Li-ion and vanadium redox flow, renewable energy systems, nanomaterials, and thermal management for electric vehicle batteries. He has authored or co-authored over 164 peer-reviewed journal publications, with more than 14,200 citations and an h-index of 58. Notable works include co-editing the book Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling of PEM Fuel Cells from Theory to Practice (Springer, 2025), and book chapters on phase change materials for EV batteries (Elsevier, 2024), 3D-printed MXene composites for batteries (CRC Press, 2023), and MXenes for supercapacitors (IOP Publishing, 2021). His contributions extend to editorial roles as Associate Editor of the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy since 2017 and leadership in numerous faculty search committees, promotion and tenure committees, and university senate representations at ASU. Kannan has received the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (2026), Fulbright Distinguished Chair Award (2018), Fulbright Specialist Award (2011–2015), ASU-CTI Dean’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Service (2013), and Dean’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities (2011).