Dr. N Kalaiselvi takes charge as the first woman Director General of CSIR

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) welcomed Dr. N. Kalaiselvi as the new Director General of CSIR and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).

With the latest appointment, Dr. Kalaiselvi has become the first woman DG of CSIR in its history and legacy of over 80 years.

Before taking charge as the new Director General at CSIR, Dr. Kalaiselvi worked as the Director of the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. A senior scientist, her work experience spans over 25 years, with research expertise in areas like electrochemical power systems, energy, materials chemistry, energy storage devices, lithium technologies, and electric mobility.

On Monday (August 8) Dr. Kalaiselvi was called upon to meet Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences and MoS, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space and Vice President, CSIR. Dr. Kalaiselvi apprised the minister of the ongoing research projects in cutting-edge and futuristic technologies at CSIR.

CSIR having a network of 38 laboratories and over 4,500 scientists must focus on emerging innovations in areas like hydrogen in the energy transition, carbon capture and storage, accessible solar power, plastic recycling, and cheap energy storage, the minister suggested.

Dr. Kalaiselvi succeeds Shekhar Mande who superannuated in April.