Dr. Mayur Karate is a dedicated academician and researcher with 6+ years of experience in teaching, research and academic engagement in agricultural engineering and food processing. He is currently serving as Assistant Professor (Contractual) at K. K. Wagh College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Nashik (Present), where he is involved in teaching, research supervision and curriculum delivery in the Department of Processing and Food Engineering.

Previously, he served as Assistant Professor at College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Saralgaon (2019–2022) and as Assistant Professor (Contractual) at Govt. College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Kashti, Malegaon (2025–2026). He holds a Ph.D. in Processing and Food Engineering from Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (2021–2024), a Master of Technology from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri (2017–2020), and a Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Engineering from K. K. Wagh College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Nashik (2012–2016).

Research & Publications

Dr. Karate has developed a focused research profile in post-harvest technology, agricultural machinery design and food engineering, with particular emphasis on onion and mango processing systems. His doctoral research centred on the Development of Onion Leaves Cutting Machine, while his master's research addressed Design and Development of Power Operated Raw Mango Cutting Machine. His research output includes 8 first-author journal publications, 1 second-author publication and 1 third-author publication in peer-reviewed journals with NAAS ratings ranging from 3.43 to 7.13. His publications span topics including zero energy water lifting devices, mango cutting machine design and performance evaluation, refractive window drying, physical and engineering properties of raw mangoes, food packaging advances, root crop de-topping machinery, and moisture-dependent properties of onion varieties. He has also contributed to 4 book chapters in peer-reviewed edited volumes covering supply chain management in post-harvest systems, edible coatings for shelf-life extension, post-harvest management of vegetables, and quality standards and grading of vegetables.

Research Projects & Supervision

Dr. Karate has supervised and guided two undergraduate student research projects. These include studies on the Development of Onion Powder Using Xanthan Gum As A Foaming Agent Using Foam Mat Drying Method (completed 2026) and Development of Thepla Premix Powder Fortified with Amaranthus Leaves Powder (completed 2025). His mentorship spans both agricultural engineering and food technology disciplines.

Academic Research & Development

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Karate has completed three major research projects. His undergraduate capstone project focused on the Design and Development of Zero Energy Water Lifting Device, his master's research addressed Design and Development of Power Operated Raw Mango Cutting Machine, and his doctoral work centred on the Development of Onion Leaves Cutting Machine. These projects demonstrate progressive advancement in research complexity and application to agricultural mechanization challenges.

Professional Training & Skill Development

Dr. Karate has actively enhanced his technical competencies through diverse training programmes. He completed a National Online Workshop on Statistical Data Analysis Using R & Python (November 2024), a one-month training in AutoCAD and CATIA (2018), a four-month industrial internship at EPC Mahindra, Nashik (2016), and summer internships at A. D. Wines (2015) and the Northern Region Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute, Hisar, Haryana (2013). His technical skill set includes Design Expert Software, R software, CATIA, AutoCAD, and MS Office applications.

Co-Curricular Activities & Professional Engagement

Dr. Karate has demonstrated sustained commitment to professional development and knowledge dissemination. He is a life member of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, New Delhi (since 2023). He has actively participated in multiple national conferences and webinars, including the National Conference on Innovative Technologies in Agriculture (NCITA) at Priyadarshini Bhagwati College of Engineering, Nagpur (2022), the 58th ISAE Annual Convention and International Symposium at Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani (2024), and the National Webinar on Role of Post-Harvest Technologies and Machinery in Ensuring Food Security (2023). He has delivered paper and oral presentations at national conferences and has contributed poster presentations on food packaging advances. Additionally, he served as a volunteer for the National Service Scheme and Tech. Innovation Forum for Agril. Nurturing (TIFAN) (2019). His engagement also includes participation in training programmes on agri-systems resilience to disaster, value chain management of agricultural commodities, and post-harvest technology advancement.

Awards & Professional Qualifications

Dr. Karate has earned the prestigious ASRB/ICAR-NET-2021 qualification in Agricultural Structure and Process Engineering, demonstrating his competency in research and academic standards as recognized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board.

Eligibility for Young Scientist Award

Dr. Mayur Karate represents a promising emerging researcher in agricultural engineering and food processing. His profile demonstrates consistent research productivity with 10 peer-reviewed journal publications in NAAS-rated journals and 4 book chapters, combined with active research supervision, technical skill development, and sustained professional engagement through conference participation and institutional memberships. His work addressing post-harvest technology and agricultural mechanization reflects relevance to contemporary agricultural challenges. His qualification through ICAR-NET-2021 and his progression from postgraduate research to independent research supervision further underscore his research maturity and academic rigor.

Based on his research publications, academic contributions, research supervision, professional qualifications and demonstrated commitment to agricultural innovation, Dr. Mayur Karate is eligible for consideration for the Young Scientist Award in Scientific Laurels, particularly in recognition of his contributions to post-harvest technology development, agricultural machinery design and food engineering innovation.