imported>Melcous: MOS:DOCTOR etc

2021-08-15T05:11:55Z

New page

{{Short description|Director at NIT Trichy}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mini Shaji Thomas
| title3 =
| alma_mater = [[University of Kerala]]<br/>[[Indian Institute of Technology, Madras]]<br/>[[Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi]]
| death_place =
| death_date =
| birth_place = [[India]]
| birth_date =
| successor3 =
| predecessor3 =
| president3 =
| term_end3 =
| term_start3 =
| order3 =
| image = Prof. Mini Thomas.jpg
| successor2 =
| predecessor2 =
| term_end2 =
| term_start2 =
| order2 =
| title2 =
| predecessor =
| term_end =
| term_start = 2016
| order = 3rd
| title = Director of the [[National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli]]
| awards =
| website = [https://www.nitt.edu/home/administration/director/| official website]
}}
''' Mini Shaji Thomas''' is the Director of [[National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli]] (NIT, Trichy) since 2016. Thomas is the first female director of the Institute since it was founded in 1964.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=NIT-T gets 1st woman director in five decades|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2016/nov/25/nit-t-gets-1st-woman-director-in-five-decades-1542432.html|access-date=2021-04-21|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== Education ==
Thomas graduated from the [[University of Kerala]] in Electrical Engineering in 1984, where she was a gold medallist in her batch. She completed her [[M.Tech]] in Electrical Engineering (Energy Systems) in 1986 from the [[Indian Institute of Technology, Madras]], where she was a gold medallist and won the Siemen Prize.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-23|title=Jamia professor becomes the first woman Director of National Institute of Technology, Trichy|url=http://www.aapkatimes.com/jamia-professor-becomes-first-woman-director-national-institute-technology-trichy/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=Aapka Times|language=en-US}}</ref> She received her [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in Electrical Engineering (Power systems) from the [[Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi]] in 1991.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=NIT Trichy - Director|url=https://www.nitt.edu/home/administration/director/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=www.nitt.edu}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Mini Shaji Thomas|url=https://www.jmi.ac.in/upload/employeeresume/mthomas.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Jamia Millia Islamia}}</ref>

== Career ==
Thomas was the founder Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), [[Jamia Millia Islamia]] (JMI), and Professor in the Department of [[Electrical engineering|Electrical Engineering]], Faculty of Engineering and Technology, JMI. She was the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of JMI from 2008- 2014 and the Head of the Department of [[Electrical engineering|Electrical Engineering]] from 2005-2008.<ref>https://www.jmi.ac.in/upload/publication/pr1_english_2016november23.pdf</ref> Thomas was a faculty member at [[Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi]] (now DTU), and at the [[National Institute of Technology Calicut|National Institute of Technology, Calicut]] before joining Jamia.

At NIT Trichy, Thomas and her team, with the inputs from all stakeholders, developed the Strategic Plan for the Institute, which aims to propel the Institute to be among the top Technical Institutes in the world. Inching towards this goal, the position of the Institute improved to 9th from 12th in ‘Engineering’, and to 24th from 34th in ‘overall’ position, in the NIRF India rankings over the last 3 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Strategic Plan|url=https://www.nitt.edu/home/NITT-Institute-Presentation-v4.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-21|website=NIT Tiruchirappalli}}</ref> With her keen interest, able guidance, and leadership, NIT Trichy has set up the first of its kind Centre for Excellence in manufacturing in 2018, at an investment of Rs. 190 Crores, in collaboration with Siemens Industry Software, for Research and Training and Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Machines.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NIT Trichy gets Rs 190crore facility which ‘even IITs don’t have’ - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/nit-trichy-gets-rs-190crore-facility-which-even-iits-dont-have/articleshow/66088862.cms|access-date=2021-05-21|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The research publications, projects, and consultancy at the Institute have improved substantially with consistent encouragement and recognition of excellence in multiple ways. Patent filing and publication saw a surge during her tenure with an IPR policy in place. The new offices of the Alumni Relations, International Relations, public relations, and media are taking the Institute to greater collaborations and visibility.

Thomas is currently on the Board of Directors of the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) <ref>{{Cite web|title=Board of Directors IUSSTF|url=https://www.iusstf.org/board-members|website=www.iusstf.org}}</ref> and was the President of [[Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute|Shastri-Indo Canadian Institute]] (SICI) for 2020-21, a binational organization supported by [[Ministry of Education (India)|Ministry of Education]], [[Government of India]], that promotes understanding between India and Canada through academic activities and exchanges.<ref>{{Cite web|title= Past Presidents of SICI {{!}} SHASTRI INDO CANADIAN INSTITUTE|url=https://www.shastriinstitute.org/presidents-bi-national2005|access-date=2021-04-29|website=www.shastriinstitute.org}}</ref>

== Research contributions ==

Thomas has done extensive research work in the area of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Substation & Distribution Automation, and Smart Grid. She has published over 150 research papers <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-09|title=Google scholar profile of Dr. Mini Shaji Thomas|url=https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=ysoKbMAAAAAJ&hl=en|website=GoogleScholar|language=en-US}}</ref> in International Journals and Conferences of repute, supervised 16 Ph.Ds has successfully completed many research projects, and is the coordinator of the Special Assistance Program (SAP) on Power System Automation from UGC, Government of India. She is also a reviewer of reputed journals in her field.

Thomas has set up the first of its kind SCADA laboratory and Substation Automation (SA) Laboratory at JMI, with Industry involvement, which is bringing laurels to the University in terms of research publications, MOUs, and training opportunities, and more importantly, enhanced image among the world power engineering fraternity. She, as the founder coordinator, drafted the curriculum, started a unique, first full-time, M Tech program in the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, JMI, in 2003 in Electrical Power System Management, with industry participation, which has courses on power automation and novel hands-on training. For these contributions, Thomas won the IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB) Meritorious Achievement Award 2015 for 'Design and Development of curriculum and laboratory facilities for professionals and students in the electric utility industry".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Thomas|first1=M.S.|last2=Kumar|first2=P.|last3=Chandna|first3=V.K.|date=August 2004|title=Design, development, and commissioning of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) laboratory for research and training|url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1318697|journal=IEEE Transactions on Power Systems|volume=19|issue=3|pages=1582–1588|doi=10.1109/TPWRS.2004.826770|bibcode=2004ITPSy..19.1582T|issn=1558-0679}}</ref> She is the author of the textbook 'Power System SCADA and Smart Grids' <ref>{{Cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=Mini S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wnN3CAAAQBAJ&q=info:TBjYIU5KiuMJ:scholar.google.com&pg=PP1|title=Power System SCADA and Smart Grids|last2=McDonald|first2=John Douglas|date=2017-12-19|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4822-2675-1|language=en}}</ref> by CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, USA, and a book chapter in the McGraw hill Standard Handbook of Electrical Engineers, 17th edition, 2018. She is a 'Distinguished Lecturer' of IEEE Power & Energy Society.

Thomas is very active in professional societies and she is among a handful from the Asia Pacific to be on the global boards of IEEE with experience over a decade on the international boards and committees. Thomas has traveled extensively around the globe, delivered lectures in prestigious universities, and has interacted with technical experts from all over the world.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Mini Shaji Thomas|url=https://www.jmi.ac.in/upload/employeeresume/mthomas.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Jamia Millia Islamia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mini Shaji Thomas IEEE profile|url=https://ieee-collabratec.ieee.org/app/p/minishajithomas|url-status=live|website=IEEE Collobratec}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* Best Teacher Award by IEEE Kerala Section in 2019 <ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-13|title=NIT Trichy Director Mini Shaji Thomas gets best teacher award from IEEE Kerala section|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/nit-trichy-director-mini-shaji-thomas-gets-best-teacher-award-from-ieee-kerala-section/articleshow/67513575.cms|website=ToI|language=en-US}}</ref>

* IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Continuing Education for "Design and development of curriculum and laboratory facilities for professionals and Students in the Electric Utility Industry" by IEEE Educational Activities Board, USA in 2015 <ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-23|title=Jamia Professor wins IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement in Continuing Education Award 2015|url=https://indiaeducationdiary.in/jamia-professor-wins-ieee-eab-meritorious-achievement-in-continuing-education-award-2015|website=IndiaEducationDiary|language=en-US}}</ref>

* Larry K Wilson Trans-National Award by IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Board, USA in 2013 <ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-12-03|title=Jamia faculty wins IEEE MGA Larry K Wilson Translational Award 2013|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/22555/Jamia+faculty+wins+IEEE+MGA+Larry+K+Wilson+transnational+award+for+2013|website=MEA|language=en-US}}</ref>

* Outstanding Power and Energy Chapter Chair by IEEE Power and Energy Society, USA in 2012 <ref name=":16">{{Cite web|date=2016-02-01|title=2015 IEEE educational activities board awards|url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=7397000|website=IEEE|language=en-US}}</ref>

* Outstanding Power Engineer award by IEEE Power and Energy Society Delhi in 2008 <ref name=":16">{{Cite web|date=2016-02-01|title=2015 IEEE educational activities board awards|url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=7397000|website=IEEE|language=en-US}}</ref>

* MGA Innovation Award by IEEE Member and Geographic activities Board, USA in 2008 <ref name=":16">{{Cite web|date=2016-02-01|title=2015 IEEE educational activities board awards|url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=7397000|website=IEEE|language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition, Thomas received the ‘Career Award’ for young teachers, Govt. of India, won the IEEE Power and Energy Society Outstanding Chapter Chair award 2013, IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Innovation award 2008, IEEE Outstanding Volunteer award 2005, IEEE Outstanding Branch counselor award 2002 and Power and Energy Society (PES) Outstanding Chapter Engineer award. She is a certified trainer for ‘Capacity building of Women managers in higher education, by UGC and has conducted many training sessions for Women empowerment.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-29|title= Mini first women director of NIT Trichy|url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2016/11/28234314/1022467/Mini-first-woman-director-of-NITTiruchy-takes-charge.vpf|website=dtnext|language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{google scholar id|ysoKbMAAAAAJ}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Indian academics]]
[[Category:People from Kerala]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Institutes of Technology people]]
[[Category:IIT Madras alumni]]

Mini Shaji Thomas - Revision history

imported>Melcous: MOS:DOCTOR etc