Hyderabad: Dr. Shailja Donempudi, a former scientist based in the City IICT, has become the first woman in CSIR’s eighty-year history to receive the title of Outstanding Scientist. Ottomania alumnus Dr. Donempudi was appointed as an outstanding scientist, leading the business development team at the CSIR headquarters in New Delhi. She took office on Monday
Dr. Donempudi’s connection with the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) began in 1993, after receiving his PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Osmania University after postgraduate studies at the University of Hyderabad. Over her 28-year career, she has made extensive contributions to polymer synthesis, characterization and technology development.
In 1996, she received a CSIR-DAAD scholarship, which allowed her to conduct advanced research at the University of Kiel, Germany. Her efforts resulted in three technical team awards to successfully transfer research to the industry and demonstrate the connection between lab work and real-world applications.
She has served as Chair of Business Development and Research Management of CSIR-IICT since 2017, where she has played a leading role in building collaborations. Her career and contributions were exhibited in the documentary Lady in the Lab, produced by AVRC, Osmania University, and were broadcast on Doordarshan.
