Related Category: Alumni

Prof. Narendra Dixit Elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences

The Department of Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, is proud to announce that Prof. Narendra M. Dixit has been elected as a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), Bengaluru. This prestigious recognition honors his outstanding contributions to the fields of Computational Biology, Infectious Diseases Modeling, and Microbiome Engineering.

About the Indian Academy of Sciences

Founded in 1934 by Sir C.V. Raman, the Indian Academy of Sciences is one of the premier scientific institutions in India. The Academy is dedicated to promoting the progress and application of science in India and recognizes exceptional scientists through its fellowship program. Election to the fellowship is a significant honor, reflecting the recipient’s impactful contributions to their field and their commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.

Prof. Narendra Dixit’s Contributions

Prof. Dixit, a distinguished faculty member at IISc, holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a BTech from IIT Bombay. His research focuses on developing mathematical models to understand and combat infectious diseases such as HIV, COVID-19, and tuberculosis. His work integrates host-pathogen interactions, immune responses, and epidemiology to improve interventions and predict disease dynamics. Additionally, his pioneering efforts in engineering microbial communities have applications in biotechnology and human health, including designing strategies to restore gut microbiomes.

Prof. Dixit is also a Senior Fellow of the Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance and has received numerous accolades, including the INSA Medal for Young Scientists and the IISc Alumni Award for Excellence in Research.

This fellowship is a testament to Prof. Dixit’s dedication to advancing science and addressing critical challenges in healthcare and biotechnology. The IISc ChemE community congratulates him on this well-deserved recognition.

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Prof Rajnish Kumar

We are proud to announce that Prof. Rajnish Kumar, an esteemed alumnus of Chemical Engineering at IISc Bangalore, has been honoured with the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology for the year 2023. This award, one of the highest recognitions in India for scientific excellence, acknowledges Prof. Kumar’s outstanding contributions to the field of engineering sciences. His innovative research and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge continue to inspire the academic community and uphold the esteemed legacy of IIT Madras. Congratulations to Prof. Kumar on this remarkable achievement!

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Jatin Panwar starts at IIT Delhi

After his post doctoral fellowships at EMBL Heidelberg and EPFL Lausanne, Dr. Jatin Panwar recently joined the Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology at IIT Delhi as an assistant professor. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 2018. Dr. Panwar’s research interests span synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess optimization, using microfluidic technologies focusing on developing innovative biotechnological solutions. His extensive work in these areas reflects a deep commitment to advancing the field of biochemical engineering through both academic excellence and practical applications.

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Prof. R Kumar Award 2025

Call for Prof. R Kumar Award for Innovative Modelling in Chemical Engineering

The Department of Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore invites applications for the Prof. R. Kumar Award for Innovative Modelling in Chemical Engineering – 2025.

Call for Prof. R Kumar Modelling Award 2025

The award is instituted in honour of Padma Bhushan Prof. R. Kumar, an outstanding chemical engineer and a visionary leader, whose exemplary research contributions brought international recognition to IISc’s Department of Chemical Engineering, where he served as a faculty member his entire career, and placed it on its path of long-standing excellence in research and teaching. At the heart of his contributions was modelling. Built on remarkable physical insight and highly imaginative thinking, his models displayed rare novelty and not only helped solve difficult challenges of the time but also synthesize vast bodies of seemingly disparate knowledge.

About Prof. R Kumar

The award is instituted with the generous contributions made by well-wishers and admirers of Prof. Kumar and those who have benefited from his association, with the intention of celebrating and furthering his legacy.

Learn more about the Prof. Kumar Fund

IISc Alumnus Shri S Somanath appointed ISRO Chairman

Shri S. Somanath has taken on the roles of Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission. Prior to this, he spent four years as the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram and also served for two and a half years as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala.

Shri Somanath holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, and a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where he specialized in Structures, Dynamics, and Control and graduated with a Gold Medal. He began his career at VSSC in 1985, where he led the integration of the PSLV during its early stages.

An expert in the system engineering of launch vehicles, Shri Somanath has significantly contributed to the PSLV and GSLV MkIII programs, focusing on their overall architecture, propulsion stage design, structural dynamics, separation systems, vehicle integration, and the development of integration procedures.

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IISc Alumnus Dr Rajesh Gokhale appointed Secretary, Department of Biotechnology

Rajesh Gokhale has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India, succeeding Renu Swarup. Gokhale, a prominent scientist, previously served as the Director of the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and held significant positions at the National Institute of Immunology (NII) and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS). His appointment brings fresh leadership to the DBT, a key organization in promoting biotechnological research and innovation in India. Gokhale completed his Ph. D. from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in the area of Protein Folding and Stability and then carried out postdoctoral work at Stanford University.

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