Dr. Kalaiselvi Becomes CSIR’s First Woman DG; Breaks The Glass Ceiling

Breaking the glass ceiling, Dr. Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, a senior electrochemical scientist, has become the first woman to be appointed as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). She was appointed to the position on Sunday at the CSIR, a consortium of 38 state-run research institutes across the country.

This adds a second feather to her hat. In 2019, Dr. Kalaiselvi was also the first woman scientist to head the CSIR- Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI).

Dr. Kalaiselvi has an experience of 25 years in the industry, which primarily focused on electrochemical power systems and, in particular, the development of electrode materials, custom-designed synthesis methods, optimization of reaction parameters, and electrochemical evaluation of in-house prepared electrode materials for their suitability in energy storage device assembly. Her research interests include lithium, and beyond lithium batteries, supercapacitors, and waste-to-wealth-driven electrodes and electrolytes for energy storage and electrocatalytic applications.

Dr N Kalaiselvi has been appointed as the DG, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR.

Hearty congratulations to Dr Kalaiselvi from the CSIR Family.@PMOIndia@DrJitendraSingh@PIB_India@DDNewslivepic.twitter.com/oHIZr9uoMG

— CSIR (@CSIR_IND) August 6, 2022

She has also worked on more than 125 research papers and six patents, and eight research scholars have received Ph.D. degrees and six researchers are currently pursuing their Ph.D. under her guidance. She has also been awarded the MRSI medal, CSIR Raman Research Fellowship, INSA-NRF Exchange award, Brain Pool Fellowship of Korea, and the Most Inspiring Women Scientist award.

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Currently involved in the development of practically viable Sodium-ion/Lithium-sulfur batteries and Supercapacitors, Dr. Kalaiselvi has also been a nominee of the CSIR-CECRI. Since her nomination, she has participated in the meetings conducted at various levels by MNRE and TIFAC, starting 2015, for the implementation of e-mobility in India with indigenous technological support from CSIR and especially from CSIR-CECRI in a major way. As per the Institute, Dr. Kalaiselvi was instrumental and coordinated from CSIR-CECRI towards the preparation of the Technical Report on NMEM (National Mission for Electric Mobility) in collaboration with TIFAC identified academic, research, and industrial partners. She is also a part of the MNRE-initiated Mobility Mission Concept Note.

Since her appointment, several eminent personalities including the vice president of India have poured in congratulatory messages and good wishes.

Heartiest congratulations to Dr. N. Kalaiselvi on becoming the first woman Director General of CSIR. Her appointment to the apex scientific body is another example of women scaling new heights & breaking the glass ceiling. It will inspire many young girls to become scientists. pic.twitter.com/eGODyqXA2f

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) August 8, 2022

“Heartiest congratulations to Dr. N. Kalaiselvi on becoming the first woman Director General of CSIR. Her appointment to the apex scientific body is another example of women scaling new heights & breaking the glass ceiling. It will inspire many young girls to become scientists,” wrote Venkaiah Naidu, the Vice President of India.

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N Kalaiselvi becomes the first woman director general of the esteemed #CSIR. Kudos for breaking another glass ceiling. #womenempowerment

— Puja Sethi (@pujasethi11) August 8, 2022

Puja Sethi, the group editor of Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited, wrote, “N Kalaiselvi becomes the first woman director general of the esteemed #CSIR. Kudos for breaking another glass ceiling. #womenempowerment.”