Padaikathan is an associate member of the Indian Institute of Metals (AMIIM, 1995) after which he did a MSc. (Engg) in 2005. Currently he is a Scientific Officer in the department. He joined the group for a Ph.D. as a staff registrant in 2007. He completed in March 2016..

His thesis was titled "Development of High Temperature Aluminium alloys through Microstructure Control" under the guidance of Prof. Chattopadhyay.

He can be reached at padai@materials.iisc.ernet.in.