VISION
To be a center of repute in aerospace engineering in imparting quality technical education with emphasis on industrial connect and research
MISSION
- To create conducive learning environment with state of the art facilities to impart quality education in aerospace engineering
- To promote industry collaborated activities to develop aerospace domain clusters for skill development suitable for aerospace research and employment
- 3.To develop and promote student centric centers of aerospace engineering for providing national/international exposure through projects and related activities.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Aerospace Engineering was established in 2024 and offers a four-year B.E. Aerospace Engineering Program with an intake of 60 students and a two-year M.Tech. Aerospace Engineering Program with an intake of 18 students. The emphasis of the department is on imparting quality education in Aerospace Engineering, enabling the creation of expertise in this specialized area to cater to the requirements of the fast-growing aerospace sector in the country. In addition, the Department actively promotes research initiatives in the various sub-domains of the discipline. At present, the department has five full-time faculty members with all of them possessing Ph.D. degrees with specializations across various streams within aerospace engineering. All faculty members have extensive teaching and research experience and have consistently published and presented their work in reputed peer-reviewed international journals and conferences. In addition, they possess proven expertise in executing externally funded research projects. The faculties have been recognized as Research Supervisors by Visvesvaraya Technological University to supervise Scholars pursuing Ph.D./M.S.(Research)/ Integrated Ph.D. programs The department has established well-equipped academic laboratories in areas of aerodynamics, structures, propulsion and flight simulation. Key facilities include a well- instrumented computerized subsonic wind tunnel, a micro gas turbine engine test rig, and a high-fidelity flight simulator with advanced features. The department also supports design and analysis activities via CAD modelling and simulation facilities. These resources significantly support both faculty and students in conducting in-house research and development activities. The department has been promoting extracurricular activities, allowing students to establish clubs like the Aeromodelling Club, CubeSat Club, alongside many other initiatives which are currently in the pipeline. In addition to academics, the students are encouraged to participate in various competitions allowing them gain recognition and receive prizes.
Department of Aerospace Engineering offers the following programs:
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Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Aerospace Engineering.
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M.Tech Degree in Aerospace Engineering.
Dr. Jayaram R. Pothnis

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Dr. Jayaram R. Pothnis is currently serving as the HOD-Incharge of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at RIT.
- Dr. Jayaram R. Pothnis graduated in Mechanical Engineering from MSRIT, Bangalore University in the year 2000. He subsequently completed his M.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering (Aerospace Structures) from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in the year 2010 and obtained his Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore in the year 2021.
- Prior to joining RIT, Dr. Jayaram R. Pothnis was working as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Bernal Institute, Limerick, Ireland. He has also served as a Scientist in the Prestigious Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for over 9 years.
- Dr. Pothnis has been a part of various DRDO programs contributing towards the development of composite airframe structural components / assemblies for various unmanned aerial vehicles developed at Aeronautical Development Establishment, DRDO. His significant efforts also include the development of novel composite materials systems and fabrication processes for aircraft applications.
- Dr. Pothnis has been a recipient of the Boeing Scholarship Award for Academic Excellence during his M.Tech. Degree at IIT Bombay in 2010. He was also awarded the Prof. C.V. Joga Rao Medal (Gold Medal) for Best PhD Thesis in Aerospace Engineering for the year 2020-2021 at IISc Bangalore.
- Dr. Jayaram R. Pothnis has been active in research in the broad area of Polymer Composites. Dr. Pothnis has worked on funded projects. He has published over 25 papers in reputed peer-reviewed journals and presented his work in various International / National conferences. At present, his research is focused on the development and characterization of hierarchical polymer composites for structural applications.
- Dr. Jayaram R. Pothnis is serving as a member of Research Advisory Committee of PhD scholars and has guided several PG students / UG student groups in their projects.
Email: hod_aero@msrit.edu
9483429034