Prof. Kamireddi Venkateswara Rao, popularly known as Prof. K. V. Rao, is well known among the Chemical  Engineering institutions &  Petroleum, Refining, Petrochemical and other Chemical Industries. He is currently Programme Director, Petroleum Courses, JNTUK, Kakinada.

He served Andhra University in various levels till he attained superannuation in 2005. Later, he worked in the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies [UPES], Dehra Dun as a Distinguished Professor. In his academic career, he taught most of the Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Refinery Engineering, Petrochemicals and Energy Engineering. At UPES, he taught several core subjects in petroleum and natural gas engineering.

Prof. Rao has a rich research experience especially in phase equilibrium thermodynamics, multicomponent distillation and process design. He published over 150 research papers in national and international journals. He successfully guided three candidates for their Ph. D., about 50 P. G. students for their M. Tech and several scores of B. Tech. students for their undergraduate projects. His enthusiasm for research still keeps him as an active researcher.

Prof. Rao has conducted and attended several conferences in India and Abroad. He widely travelled in USA, Canada, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, South Korea, Singapore , Hong Kong, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Thailand.  He visited several Foreign Universities and a visiting professor at the Technical University, West Berlin in 1980.

Prof. Rao established good contacts with industry as a consultant too. He is an expert in feasibility studies for Chemical Process Plants, Safety and Energy Audits as well as Hazop and Risk Assessment Studies.

Recognizing his research work in biodiesels, Prof. Rao has been invited by the Chairman, Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas Government of India to make a presentation on “Strategy for Development of Alternative Resources of Oil and Gas with reference to Biodiesels”. Prof. Rao made the presentation on December 12, 2006.

Prof. Rao is a member of several Professional, Academic and Government Bodies – Fellow, Institution of Engineers (India); Life Member, Indian Society for Technical Education; Life Member, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers; Associate Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Associate Member, A. P. Akademi of Sciences; Life Member, Youth Hostels Association of India; Member, National Geographic Society, U.S.A.; Member, Water, Land and Trees Authority, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad (2001-2003); Member, Governing body, Korukonda Sainik School (2003-2005); Member, Academic Council, GITAM Engineering College (2003-2005); Member, Board of Studies in Chemical Engineering, Andhra University (1979-2005); Member, Board of Studies in Chemical Engineering & Petroleum Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (2008-2010); Chairman, Board of Studies in Petroleum Engineering and Petrochemical Engineering, JNTUK (Since 2010); Member, Expert Committee, Assessment of Pollution in Oil Industries located in Konaseema Area, E. G. Dt. A.P. (Since 2015); Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE International), USA; Membership Chairman, SPE – Kakinada Section; Faculty Advisor, JNTUK-SPE Student Chapter; Faculty Coordinator, JNTUK Chapter of Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry; Member, Board of Studies in Chemical engineering, MVGR College of Engineering, Vizianagaram and Member, Board of Studies in Petroleum Engineering, Vignan University.