Dr. D. Shailaja Donempudi

 

Vice Chairperson

Chief Scientist and Chair, Business Development & Research Management at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad

 

 

  

 

Dr. D. Shailaja is Chief Scientist and Chair, Business Development & Research Management at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad. She started her career as Scientist B at the Polymers & Functional Materials Department of CSIR-IICT in the year 1993 after completing a Ph.D. (1993) in Polymer Chemistry from Osmania University, M.Sc.(1986) and M.Phil.(1987) in Chemistry from the University of Hyderabad (UoH).

 

Areas of her research interests are Polymer synthesis & characterization. She has worked on several projects of National relevance, sponsored by Government and Private Industries, supervised 4 Ph.D. students, and 25 Masters's students, and has 35 publications in reputed international journals. She was awarded CSIR-DAAD Fellowship in the year 1996 and was deputed to the University of Kiel, Germany for a period of 1 year to pursue advanced research studies. Dr. Shailaja’s pioneering contributions to polymer chemistry fetched her three Technology Team Awards for the successful transfer of technologies to private industries.

 

Recognizing her leadership qualities and interpersonal skills, she was given an additional role in S & T management as Chair of Business Development & Research Management in 2017. Her expertise in speed networking with industries, matchmaking of the innovations, and information harvesting from new clients helped in catalyzing new business opportunities. She created collaborative platforms and industry-friendly business models that enhanced technology transfers and out-licensing of patents and helped the institute raise record revenues by placing it in the top five brackets amongst 37 labs of CSIR under her watch the institute is marching towards self-sustenance. She received special appreciation awards for her contributions to business development & skill programs.

 

 

Having the distinguished hybrid experience in technical and managerial exposition over the past 28 years in CSIR system, Dr. Shailaja has delivered invited talks in Polymer chemistry, Science Technology Innovation and Diplomacy, Management of Business and Technology transfers etc,.at various domestic and international platforms as panelist or resource person and has travelled widely within India and overseas. Audio Visual Research Centre (AVRC), OU has produced an audiovisual program on her work and telecast on DD1 channel under the title “Ladies in Labs”.