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Rhushikesh Ghotkar
919 Foster Street, Evanston, IL-60201|rhushikeshghotkar2015@u.northwestern.edu|Ph.No- 2244324104
TITLE Mechanical Engineer with Project Experience in Design, Analysis and Prototyping of Mechanical Systems
OBJECTIVE Seeking a full time position as a Mechanical Engineer where I can use my skills of design and analysis of
mechanical systems and learn new traits to have a stable professional growth in industry.
EDUCATION  Masters in Mechanical Engineering (ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY), 2015-2016
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
CGPA 3.65 after 4 quarter, graduating Dec 2016
 Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering, 2011-2015
National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, India
CGPA 3.7
INTERESTS CAD, Design, Analysis, Prototyping, Thermal
EXPERIENCE Research Assistant, Northwestern University- Sep 2015- Dec 2016
Project Title
Development of a new medical device for testing of HIV.
Project Description
Reduction of testing time is the major driver behind this project and Prof David Kelso understood this
problem and decided to tackle this challenge. The aim was to develop a device which will cut the time
of HIV testing from 3 hours to 30 minutes.
My contribution
 Worked on understanding the major factors which contribute to the rate of alternating heat
transfer in such a device.
 Modelled the cyclic heat transfer model for improving the rate of PCR reaction which is used for
testing of HIV.
 Developed1-D heat transfer numerical models using Matlab for simulating the problem statement
and optimized the device based of the results. Experiments done on prototypes helped to
establish the authenticity of the numerical models.
 Recommended material and geometry changes after analysis of results. The recommendations
were implemented in future iterations leading to reduction of heat transfer time. Current total
testing time is 30 minutes.
Research Assistant, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, October 2013-April 2015
Project Title
Design and analysis of an optomechanical energy harvester using a vibrating micro-cantilever beam
Project Description
Developing an innovative technique of energy harvesting was the primary aim of the project.
Numerical modelling of such a system and identifying the major factors affecting it was required. Piezo
electric patch was used to harvest the energy from the vibrations of the beam which are setup using
optical sources.
My contribution
 Worked on identifying the primary drivers of the entire process.

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 Developed numerical models using Comsol which helped identify and understand the effects of
each process parameter like base material thickness and laminate coating thickness on the
ensuing vibrations.
 Theoretical models were identified and setup based on the process parameters. These model
results helped to verify the results of numerical models.
 The recommendation to reduce the base material thickness helped in increasing the vibrations
and thus increased the energy harvested from the system
Research Assistant, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, India October 2014- April
2015
Studied the effect of addition Cu nano particles using ANSYS FLUENT in cryogens like liquid nitrogen
and hydrogen at cryogenic temperature on the heat transfer properties of heat exchanger. Studied the
effect of addition of nanoparticles on the efficiency of evacuated solar collectors for use in solar water
heaters. Results compared with experimental data.
Summer Intern, University of Seville, Spain -May 2014-July 2014
Designed a reactor for thermochemical production of hydrogen in ANSYS CFX and optimized the design
for various parameters in the Monte Carlo method like mesh, number of histories, emissivity direction
of radiation etc.
PUBLICATIONS  Rhushikesh Ghotkar, Elvira Tapia, Alfredo Iranzo, Antonio Salva, Pallav Pattnaik, José Guerra (2014)
“Optimization of numerical methods for the CFD analysis of solar reactors” IBERCONAPPICE 2014.
 Rhushikesh Ghotkar, S.M. Kulkarni (2014) “Design and analysis of cantilever optomechanical resonator”
STM Trends in Machine Design, 2015, 2(1), 21-25p
 Rhushikesh Ghotkar, Ajay Kumar Yadav (2014) “Effect of using nanoparticles on the fluid heat transfer
coefficient at cryogenic temperature” International conference on Environment and Energy, Hyderabad.
 Pallav Pattnaik, J. Antonio Salva, Alfredo Iranzo, Elvira Tapia, Rhushikesh Ghotkar, Felipe Rosa (2014).
“Analysis of the effect of P, HR and λc in the performance of a PEM stack using CFD”. IBERCONAPPICE
2014, Barcelona.
RELEVANT
ELECTIVES/
CLASS
PROJECTS/
SOFTWARE
PROFICIENCY
 Electives- Engineering Optimization, Nuclear Energy, Cryogenics Technology, Design of Thermal Energy
systems, Nuvention Energy- Greengrass solutions (Energy management platform for Cannabis
producers)
 Class Projects- Optimization of wind turbine using OLHS. Simulation of slider crank inversions using
Matlab
 Softwares- ANSYS, Solidworks, Matlab
LEADERSHIP
EXPERIENCE
 Captain, Team Project Renewable Energy Vehicle. Designed a battery operated vehicle for Shell Eco
Marathon.
 Joint Convener at Star Gazing Club NITK.
 Events Coordinator at Engineer 2014- South Asia’s Largest Technical festival.