Dr. Rajesh S. Pande is an eminent scholar with over 32 years of experience as an academician, researcher and administrator. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering & Technology from VNIT, Nagpur, and has a strong research focus on VLSI Design and RF MEMS.

As the Director of the RCOEM Technology Business Incubators Foundation, he has spearheaded numerous innovative projects. He has led projects funded by Industries and funding agencies, including the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise, and the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission. He is the Principal Investigator for research projects exceeding 2.25 crores. He has served as the Principal Investigator for research projects, including those on MEMS cantilever switches at IIT Bombay under the Indian Nanoelectronics Users Programme (INUP), where he received the Best Project Award in 2018.

Dr. Pande has published more than 45 research papers, in journals, conferences, and book chapters that include 12 publications in SCI-indexed journals and three granted patents. He has guided PhD students and produced 06 Doctorate. He is associated with professional bodies as a Senior Member, of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Life Member, the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) and an Associate Member, of the Institution of Engineers (IE).

Dr. Pande was honoured with the Best Principal Award by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University in 2018 and received the Principal Excellence Award in 2023 and 2024 for his contributions to the EduSkills Excellence Programme at the AICTE-EduSkills Conclave.

During his 10 years of tenure as Principal of Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management (RCOEM), the institution was ranked 64th among all Engineering Colleges in India by the NIRF, MHRD, Government of India in 2017, placed in the 151-200 band in the NIRF overall category in 2020, and in the 51-100 band in the Innovation category in 2023.

His leadership and dedication continue to propel Ramdeobaba University towards excellence in engineering education and research.