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Australian professor named first Correll chair in energy at UMaine

Courtesy photo

Krish P. Thiagarajan, the first Alston D. and Ada Lee Correll Presidential Chair in Energy at UMaine.

Posted June 19, 2011, at 11:45 a.m.

ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine has named a mechanical engineering professor in Australia the first Alston D. and Ada Lee Correll Presidential Chair in Energy.

Krish P. Thiagarajan is a professor at the University of Western Australia in Perth,

where he researches the hydrodynamics of floating structures. His appointment will bolster UMaine’s research efforts in offshore wind and tidal energy, according to a UMaine press release.

Thiagarajan who will also have the title of professor of mechanical engineering is expected to arrive on campus in August.

“Dr. Thiagarajan brings critical expertise in design of floating structures,” Dana Humphrey, dean of the College of Engineering, said. “This is critical to UMaine’s efforts in offshore wind and tidal power, as well as to many Maine companies that design structures and vessels for the marine environment.”

Thiagarajan has also served as the program leader for the University of Western Australia’s Offshore and Subsea Facilities Research Program. Other experience in his field includes visiting research specialist at CSO Aker Engineering in Houston and regional manager for Australian Maritime Engineering CRC, Ltd. He has more than 80 refereed journal and conference publications.

He has degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology, Memorial University in Canada, and a Ph.D. in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The Correll Chair was funded by a $2 million gift from Alston D. “Pete” and Ada Lee Correll, of Old Town.