Director
Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan
Director
Email : director.niist[at]csir[dot]res[dot]in
Telephone : +91-471 - 2515226 Fax : +91-471 - 2491712 / 2491585
Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan took over the charge as the Director of CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, in November 2022. Prior to this, he served as the Director of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Thanjavur (an Institute of National Importance; formerly known as Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT)) from 2016.
He obtained B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from A.C.Tech, Anna University, Chennai, and completed M.Tech at Anna University, Chennai. He has done his doctoral research in Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. During his Ph.D., he was awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship Program by the Government of the United Kingdom.
His areas of research include food nanotechnology, engineered nano- and micro-scale delivery systems for the controlled and targeted release of food bioactive compounds, 3D food printing, engineered human dynamic gastrointestinal system and glycemic index studies, spray drying, and spray-freeze-drying of food products, computational modeling of food processing operations, and sustainable packaging solutions.
Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan is an active researcher with three decades of experience in research and administration. His research endeavours are well documented in 228 impact-factor publications (average impact factor of 4.69 and h-index of 77), three international patents, thirteen Indian patents, and one commercialized patent. He is also the author and editor of 23 books and 140 book chapters published by coveted publishers. He has supervised 17 Ph.D. theses and more than 50 bachelor’s and master’s theses. He has been an invited speaker at more than 250 talks at national and international conferences, convocation addresses, and panel discussions. He has transferred 17 technologies to various industries and has provided handholding support to more than 150 food processing start-ups and enterprises to facilitate product innovation and revenue growth.
Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan is the Mission Director of India’s 1st Integrated mission mode project – CSIR National Mission on ‘Sustainable Packaging Solutions for Net Zero Future’. He was the Chairman of the capacity-building and research program for the centrally sponsored PMFME Scheme, implemented by the MoFPI. Under this scheme, about 73 incubation facilities have been established across the country with the support of NIFTEM-Thanjavur, and more than 3000 beneficiaries have been trained as part of the One District One Product program.
Dr. Anandharamakrishnan is the elected Fellow of National Academy of Sciences (FNASc), Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS), Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), Fellow of Royal Society of Biology (FRSB), Fellow of Indian Chemical Society (FICS), Fellow of the Bose Science Society (FBSS), Fellow of Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) –AFST(I), Fellow Institute of Engineers (FIE) and Fellow of Kerala Academy of Sciences (Hon. FKASc). He serves as the Associate Editor of Food and Bioprocess Technology. Also, he is an Editorial Board Member of various reputable journals, including the Journal of Food Process Engineering, Drying Technology Journal, and a peer reviewer for more than 20 international journals. He is a member of several professional committees and the Board of Studies at various academic institutions.
Dr. Anandharamakrishnan has been honored by the Hon'ble President of India with the highest recognition award in the field of science, technology and innovation, 'Rashtriya Vigyan Shri’ 2024 Puraskar, for distinguished contributions to the Agricultural Science sector. The World Food Prize Foundation has recently recognized him as one of the Top Agri-Food Pioneers (2026) in the world. He was awarded the ‘2024 Tata Transformation Prize’ for Food Security by the New York Academy of Sciences and TATA Sons. He is a recipient of the prestigious ‘ICAR - Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Sciences - 2019’. He also received the NAAS Recognition Award (2022) and the NASI Reliance Industries Platinum Jubilee Award (2018). He was also honored with the ‘Distinguished Alumni Award 2023’ by Alagappa College of Technology, Anna University, Chennai. He was awarded the Tata Innovation Fellowship 2019 - 20 by DBT, Government of India. He was also awarded the National Design Award 2019 for outstanding contribution by the Institution of Engineers, National Design and Research Forum. He is also the recipient of the AIFPA Special Platinum Jubilee Award for Development of Food Processing Technology & Innovation 2018. He is the recipient of the Tamil Nadu State Scientist Award (TANSA) 2018, instituted by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. He has received several other awards, including the National Scientist Award (2022) and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Best Scientist & Distinguished Fellow Award 2018-2019 from the Bose Science Society, MS Swaminathan Scientific Tamil Excellence Award (2017) from the Agricultural Scientific Tamil Society (SciTSA), Tamil Nadu, Dr. B.D.Tilak Chemcon Distinguished Speaker Award 2016 from the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), Dr. M. Sabir Oration Award 2017 by Indian Society of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Best Director of the year 2018, and Visionary Leader of the Year 2018 by Integrated Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI).
Greetings to all!
Welcome to CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram!
I am pleased to pen this message in the capacity of the Director of CSIR-NIIST, a premier interdisciplinary research laboratory under the aegis of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India. Renowned for its scientific rigor in research with an underlying societal cause, CSIR-NIIST demonstrates excellence in the areas of photochemistry, chemical-bioscience confluence, advanced materials, bioprocess and product development, agro-processing, and value addition to the region-specific natural resources. I thank the vibrant NIIST community comprising scientists, students, and staff for their persistent efforts in upholding the eminence of this Institution, time and again.
With various scientific accomplishments and accolades, the NIIST family is marching towards its ‘Diamond Jubilee Year’ in 2035. As we head to celebrate this milestone, we envision to emphasise the ethos of scientific & social responsibility, sustainability and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar). The NIIST fraternity would foster a vividly interdisciplinary approach that integrates information, concepts, tools, and techniques from different disciplines to resolve real-world challenges.
I envisage CSIR-NIIST to foster impactful research in the frontier areas of national relevance, harness the best from industry partnerships and nurture an entrepreneurial culture amongst the younger generation. In the way forward, NIIST would emerge as India’s pioneering R&D nucleus in the cutting-edge areas of advanced materials, drug development from natural products, post-harvest technology, bioprocessing, and environmental engineering. Team CSIR-NIIST should ensure that the manufacturing sector counts upon us for our niche research on the ‘Industry 4.0’ concepts. I foresee the enhanced national and global visibility of NIIST for our pioneering innovations and significant contributions toward achieving the Sustainability Development Goals. I realize that a parallel research focus is mandatory on the indigenous development of material and machinery. With a strengthened and rejuvenated research focus, CSIR-NIIST will endeavour to create collaborations with the Central and State Governments and ensure that the timely ‘Lab-to-land’ transformation of our technologies would touch the lives of people and aid in nation building.
If you are an aspirant intending to pursue unique and innovative research or seeking science-based solutions to realise your ideas, our website will be a one-stop platform.
Once again, I welcome you all to be a part of our mission, which is, ‘Make in India! Make for the World!’
Thank you for visiting our website! Wishing you success in all your endeavours!
Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan
Director, CSIR-NIIST
Mr. K.L.Raja Shekar
Principal Private Secretary
Email : rajashekar[at]niist[dot]res[dot]in
Telephone : +91-0471-2515226
Ms. Sangeetha T V
Assistant Section Officer (G)
Email : -
Telephone : +91-0471-2515498
Ms. Arya Senan M C
Technical Assistant
Email : aryasenan[at]niist[dot]res[dot]in
Telephone : +91-0471-2515226