School of Natural Sciences and Engineering

Prof. S Sreenivasa Murthy received B.E., M. Tech and PhD degrees from Bangalore University(1967) , IIT Bombay(1969) and IIT Delhi (1974) in Electrical Engineering. After serving briefly in BITS Pilani he joined IIT Delhi in 1970 where he held positions of Lecturer (1970-75) Asst Professor(1975-80), Assoc Professor(1980-83) Professor (1983-2012) and Professor in HAG Scale (2006-2012).His major administrative positions include Head of Electrical Engg.Department at IIT Delhi. Director of NIT, Surathkal and ERDA, Baroda and Vice Chancellor of Central University of Karnataka. He had visiting positions in UK (Univ. of Newcastle) and Canada (Universities of Calgary, Ryerson and Waterloo) and also at IISc, PES Univ, Kirloskar Electric ,CPRI & GE R&D Centre in Bengaluru. Presently he is Adjunct Professor at NIAS, member Board of Governors of IIT Dharwad, member Research Advisory Committee (RAC) of ERDA Baroda, Member Appellate Committee of National Board of Accreditation (GoI) and AICTE Distinguished Visiting Professional. He is a Life Fellow of IEEE(USA) and IE(India), and Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) , IET(UK), IETE and Life Member of ISTE. His other recognitions include: ISTE Award for outstanding research, IETE Bimal K. Bose Award for contribution in power electronics,. IEEE- PES/IAS Delhi Chapter Outstanding Engineer Award, IEEE-PES Bangalore Chapter Outstanding Service Award(2015), IEEE-IAS Distinguished Lecturer, Distinguished Alumni Award of BMS College of Engg. He has to his credit 300+ papers, 100+ theses supervision, 90+ sponsored projects, 40+ Technical reports, 7 Books/manuals/conference proceedings and18 patents. 15 video modules of total about 500 lectures recorded at IIT Delhi are available on line in YOUTUBE and other sites. He has delivered 250+ popular and special lectures in India and Abroad (Canada, USA, Japan, UK, Taiwan, Singapore) including 10 webinars. His research on self-excited and grid connected induction generators led to field installation of renewable energy based off grid and grid fed power generation. He has served in many committees of Professional organizations-INAE, IEEE, IET, IE(I), ISTE. He has extensive outreach activities serving Industry, Govt bodies, academia, and social organizations. He has contributed to international collaborations with USA, Canada, Japan, Korea and Australia through establishing MoU with overseas entities. He has organized many international conferences and continuing education programs. He is widely travelled with professional visits to USA, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Oman, Nepal, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia. His interest areas are Electric Machines, Drives, Power Electronics, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Engineering Education. For details see: (ssmurthyblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/12/professor-s-sreenivasa-murthy-a-profile)

Prof. Dhruva Kumar Singh is a nationally recognized authority in critical minerals and rare earth technologies, with more than three decades of leadership in strategic materials research and distinguished contributions to advancing the field. He served as Head, Hydrometallurgy & Rare Earth Development Section at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, and Professor of Chemical Sciences at the Homi Bhabha National Institute, Department of Atomic Energy. A Gold Medallist in M.Sc. Chemistry from Magadh University, he entered India’s premier nuclear research establishment—Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai—in 1991 after completing the prestigious BARC Training School’s Orientation Course in Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology. He obtained his PhD from the University of Mumbai and carried out post-doctoral research at Florida State University with renowned nuclear scientist Prof. G. R. Choppin.

Prof. Singh has pioneered hydrometallurgical technologies for the extraction and processing of rare earth and critical metals using innovative indigenous approaches that contribute to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. These technologies have been adopted and implemented by IREL (India) Limited, enabling India’s first production of several heavy rare earth elements, including dysprosium, yttrium, and gadolinium. His work has also enabled the production of nuclear-grade gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate in the country for reactor applications, along with high-purity neodymium and Nd–Pr oxides—key materials for clean energy technologies and advanced permanent magnets. Technologies developed under his leadership have further supported national initiatives such as the Rare Earths & Titanium Theme Park (RETTP) and strategic rare earth magnet production in India.

He has authored over 300 scientific publications, delivered numerous invited lectures at various forums, mentored numerous PhD and M.Tech scholars, and served on several technical committees, including those of NITI Aayog, where he currently chairs the High-Level Committee on Critical and Strategic Minerals. His distinguished contributions have been widely recognized through prestigious honors, including the Metallurgist of the Year Award (Ministry of Steel), the Hindustan Zinc Gold Medal, the INS Medal, the VASVIK Award, and several Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Currently, he serves as Visiting Professor at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, where he has initiated a course on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths, contributing to capacity building in this strategically important sector.