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DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KANPUR 208016, INDIA

R. Balasubramaniam 19 December 2008

Professor

RECOMMENDATION LETTER

I am writing this letter of recommendation supporting Mr. Anubhav Pandey’s application for higher

studies in your department. I have known Mr. Pandey of Department of Metallurgical Engineering,

Punjab Engineering College, Deemed University, Chandigarh in the capacity as his research supervisor

during his internship at IIT Kanpur. He spent two and half months in my laboratory in the summer of

2007 working as a summer trainee.

During his summer training, he was actively involved in understanding the microstructure and phase

distribution in crucibles used for wootz steel making. He has analyzed the phases using X-ray

diffraction method and the distribution of phases using scanning electron microscopy. Mr. Anuphav

Pandy was able to show several unique features of these ceramic crucibles like reinforcement by

mullite and carbon fibres. He worked diligently on the project and I rate his performance as very

satisfactory. I found him to be a very hard working student. He was always eager to learn and apply

new concepts. I like his positive attitude towards learning. Based on the work performed by him, we

published a paper [“Analysis of Wootz Steel Crucibles from Northern Telangana,” R.

Balasubramaniam, Anubhav Pandey and S. Jaikishan, Indian Journal of History of Science, 42 (2007)

649-672.]. This is commendable.

As regards his character, he is a gentleman. He has good command over English and can effectively

communicate in that language.

Mr. Anubhav Pandey has expressed his desire to pursue a graduate degree in materials science and

engineering. He is a good learner and I am sure that he would fare very well in his graduate studies. I

do not have any hesitation in recommending him for admission with full scholarship. In this regard, I

must emphasize that I would not hesitate to take him under my guidance for graduate studies. I wish

him the very best and I am confident that he would acquire a leadership position in his profession.

R Balasubramaniam

[Ph. D. (1990) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY]

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