S.A. Sannasiraj is currently a full Professor at Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India. His research contributions are well received in the international platform in the fields of wind-wave modelling, dynamics of wave breaking and numerical modelling of nonlinear free surface waves. He is one of the collaborating partner in the programme ‘Coordination action on wave energy’ under European Commission 6th Framework Programme on Research, Technological Developmental and Demonstration. He has also carried out an Indo-Russia joint research project on Wind and wave climate study in Indian Ocean based on numerical simulations by the new wind-wave model. This model has successfully implemented under the support of Russian Foundation for Basic Research. At present, he is involved in an application project on coastal process modelling for Building Construction Authority of Singapore Government. Apart from the international research collaboration, he has carried out five major research projects sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Naval Research Board, Ministry of Earth Sciences and Indian Space Research Organization. The broad major thrust of above research programmes is laboratory investigations on wave-structure interaction, numerical modelling of sloshing and wind-wave modelling.
He has been recognized with DAAD Fellowship by German Foundation during 2006, Endeavour India Executive Award by the Australian Government during 2007 and Fulbright-Nehru Senior research fellowship by Department of Education, Science and Technology, US Governement during 2011. He has been actively involving in the formulation of PIANC guidelines for anti sedimentation in marinas.
His work on prediction of tsunami wave using data buoys has been recognized by the Indian Government with Indian Maritime Award during 2005-’06.
He is a member of various professional bodies in his field of expertise including The Institution of Engineers (India), PIANC, The International Navigation Association, Brussels, and IAHR. He has organized various short courses and workshops for field engineers, scientists and academicians.
He has supervised 12 graduate thesis and 8 phD thesis. At present, six research scholars are pursuing their phD programmes with him. He has 50 research papers in peer reviewed journals and more than 100 publications in the National and International conferences.
Apart from core research activities, he has been actively involved in various field application projects as consultant in coastal protection, outfall system design, breakwaters and wave modelling.