My journey towards design and development of catalysts started with an aim for innovative green and economical processes for chemical industry, to fulfill my life ambition of serving the society through meaningful research contributions. My research group developed cutting edge technologies for fine chemicals employing catalysts, that meet stringent environmental specifications in pollution abatement.  We have made significant contributions on developing various novel solid acids/ bases, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts and processes for alkylation, nitration, oxidation, C-C and C-N coupling, asymmetric catalysis and other reactions. I have 290 research publications, 43 international patents to my credit. I serve as an editorial board member for The Chemical Record and Journal of Chemical Sciences. I am a Fellow of Indian National Science Academy, India; Royal Society of Chemistry (UK). I am a member of several scientific committees in India and the Chairperson for chemical sciences of Women Scientists Scheme, Department of Science and Technology, India. I am an Adjunct Professor, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.My father was a doctor and he had a great influence on me.  In the early sixties, I am the first girl to go to school and college on a cycle and became a trend setter for many girls in those days. This upbringing helped me to be bold in all walks of my life. Despite of having an opportunity to go for medical education, I opted Ph.D. in chemistry in accord with my professional ambition. I joined CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad, a premier research laboratory in chemical sciences and technology, as a Scientist in 1984. I served as Head, Inorganic & Physical Chemistry Division for 9 years and rose to the position of Director, CSIR-IICT in the year 2013. I attribute my success to my willingness to work and strong will to take decisions.

Challenges and opportunities in Indian science: My experiences

248th National Meeting (2014)

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