Prof Gnanamoorthy is a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from CIT, Coimbatore, MS in Mechanical Design from IIT Madras, Dr Engg in Materials & Mechanical Engineering from Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan. He has served at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University Japan, a renowned research centre, as a regular employee before joining as Faculty at IIT Madras. His teaching and research interests are focused on Advanced Materials & Product Design, Machine Element and Special Purpose Test Machine Design, Damage Tolerant & Tribo Design, and Surface Engineering.

Prof Gnanamoorthy has published more than 250 original research publications in reputed International Journals and Conferences. His research publications were cited in more than 1200 research publications worldwide. He has guided 7 Doctoral scholars and holds a patent for one of his inventions on innovative surface modification process. He has successfully completed many sponsored research projects for Government organizations such as NRB, ISRO, DST, IGCAR and offered consultancy services to reputed Industries in India and Abroad.

He was on the International Advisory Board of Japanese Society of Mechanical Engineers, and served on a number of Government, Academic, and Industry committees and advisory bodies associated with the development of new Institutes, curriculum improvement and new product development.

Prof Gnanamoorthy, is a regular Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras since 1997 and served in different roles as Prof i/c of IIITDM, Registrar and Dy Director since inception before taking over as the Founder Director of IIITDM Kancheepuram. As a Founder Director of IIITDM, he has created a state of the art of green campus at the outskirts of Chennai and is an architect of Design Centric Engineering and also Smart Manufacturing academic programs in India. He has also served as Director i/c of Central Institute of Classical Tamil and also the Mentor Director for IIITDM Kurnool, AP.