Dr. Pravin D. Sawarkar has won the ASTRA 2023, Outstanding Researcher Award for his specialization in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Engineering). He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Nagpur University in 1997, received Masters degree from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai with specialization in Thermal and Fluid Engineering in 2008 and Ph D from TDCE Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai in 2018 in Combustion Engineering. His M Tech dissertation title is “Use of delta wing inserts for heat transfer augmentation in pipe flow” and supervisor was Prof. R. P. Vedula. His Ph D thesis title is “Studies on the effects of externally applied flow pulsations on diffusion and partially premixed flames” and supervisors were Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. K. Srinivasan of Department of Mechanical Engineering. After graduation he served Kavikulguru Institute of Technology and Science (KITS), Ramtek (affiliated to Nagpur University) from 1997 to 2008 as Lecturer and then joined Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur as Assistant Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2008. He is in teaching profession since 1997 and having teaching experience of 25 years. He has guided many B Tech projects, more than Ten M Tech dissertations and Three research scholars are pursuing Ph D under his supervision. He is actively engaged in research in thermal science. His current fields of research are Heat transfer enhancement, Solar energy, Thermal management of photovoltaic panels, Battery thermal management system, Combustion engineering and research on Vortex tube. He has filed a patent on his research on Modified Vortex tube. He attended many International and National conferences and organized Two workshops and One Short Term Training Programme (STTP) namely, “ Two week ISTE workshop on Thermodynamics in Mechanical Engineering” during 14-24 June 2011 at VNIT Nagpur, “Two week ISTE workshop on Heat Transfer” during 29/11/2011 to 10/12/2011 at VNIT Nagpur and “AICTE-ISTE STTP on Induction Training for Engineering Teachers”, during 15-27 March 2004 at KITS Ramtek. Some of the research papers published in International journals to his credit are “Effects of externally applied pulsations on LPG flames at low and high fuel flow rate”, Applied Thermal Engineering, Elsevier, 111(2017), 1664-1673; “Performance evaluation of PV panel surfaces exposed to hydraulic cooling – A review”. Solar Energy, Elsevier, 2021;224: pp. 1193–1209; “Experimental study on photovoltaic panel integrated with Polyethylene Glycol 1500 phase change material”. Journal of Energy Storage, Elsevier,55, (2022),105518; “Numerical study on photovoltaic thermal phase change material system in hot climatic condition”, Applied Thermal Engineering, Elsevier, 227 (2023),120423. Some of the papers published by him in International and National conference are “Numerical analysis of photovoltaic panel integrated with PCM and water container” International Conference on Heat and Mass Transfer, IIT Madras, Chennai, Conference Proceedings in the journal of Begell House Digital Library. 2021; “ Experimental investigations on the effects of externally applied pulsations on LPG flames”, 23rd National Heat and Mass Transfer Conference and 1st International ISHMT-ASTFE Heat and Mass Transfer Conference IHMTC 2015, 17-20 December, 2015, ISRO, Thiruvananthapuram, India; “Experimental Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in Pipe Flow by Swirl Flow”, International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering, May 29-31, 2013, College of Engineering, Pune, India; “Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Vortex Tube for Maximization of COP”, 22nd National and 11th International ISHMT-ASME Heat and Mass Transfer Conference, December 28-31, 2013, IIT Kharagpur, India; “Experimental Analysis of Vortex Tube for Optimization of COP”, May 29-31, 2013, College of Engineering, Pune, India. (6) “Use of Modified Delta Wing Inserts for Heat Transfer Augmentation in Tubular Flows”, 35th National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power, PESIT, Bangalore, December 11-13, 2008. The following are his research contribution as book chapters: “Effect of Air Distribution on Cooling of Photovoltaic Panel and Its Performance”, Advances in Mechanical Engineering 2020 Jun 29 (pp. 495-502). Springer, Singapore; “Placement of Heated Blocks Under Forced Convection for Enhanced Heat Transfer”, Advances in Mechanical Engineering 2020 Jun 29 (pp. 59-65), Springer, Singapore; “CFD Analysis in the Design of Diffuser for Air Cooling of Low-Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (LCPV/T) Solar Collector”, Advances in Applied Mechanical Engineering 2020 (pp. 191-198), Springer, Singapore. He acted as Reviewer in some International journals and conferences. He has been session chair in some International conferences. He is Life Member of Indian Society for Heat and Mass Transfer, Life Member of Indian Society for Technical Education and Associate Member of Institution of Engineers, India. He has completed Two consultancy projects related to Air conditioning system. He has established New Fluid machines laboratory in New Academic building of institute and he is also lab incharge of this laboratory. He has submitted Two research proposal as Principal investigator to DST: “.Experimental investigations on the effects of external pulsations on stability of flame and pollutant emission” and “Experimental investigations on the effects of combined active and passive cooling methods on performance of photovoltaic panel.” Apart from academic work, he is actively involved in administrative work of institute level and department level. Currently, he is Professor Incharge of ACs and water coolers maintenance of the institute. As a incharge he has to look after the maintenance of different type of ACs namely, window, split, cassette, tower, duct and VRF type, and water coolers of capacity varying from 40 to 400 litres. Also, he has to calculate the capacity of ACs required for new installations in particular room/hall. He also acted as Departmental exam coordinator, Faculty Advisor for B Tech students, Convocation committee member, Stock verification committee member and Ph D admission committee member.