Professor Devendra Jalihal takes charge as IIT Guwahati director

NEW DELHI: Professor Devendra Jalihal took charge as the director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati today, May 15. He succeeded professor Rajeev Ahuja, who held the additional charge of the institute since November last year. Jalihal was serving as a professor in the department of electrical engineering at IIT Madras.

Professor Jalihal earned his BTech (Hons) from IIT Kharagpur in 1983 and completed his PhD in electrical engineering from Duke University, Durham, USA, in 1992. He joined the electrical engineering department at IIT Madras in 1994 and served as the Head of Department (HoD) from 2016 to 2019. Before assuming the role at IIT Guwahati, professor Jalihal chaired the Centre for Outreach and Digital Education at IIT Madras, overseeing all educational outreach activities of the institute.

The professor has research interests in digital signal processing, wireless communication, real-time voice and video communication, and societal applications of wireless technologies, and has contributed to numerous projects, including low bit-rate video conferencing, tactical communication systems, disaster management communication systems, and satellite communication networks. He also partners with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on strategic communication challenges.

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In his statement as the director, Jalihal said, “IIT Guwahati is a prestigious institution ranked consistently among the top 10 by the NIRF Rankings and high research citation rank of 32 in QS world rankings. Situated in one of the most biodiverse and economically dynamic locations of the country, this region has experienced rapid infrastructure development, skill enhancement, and industrial growth.”

Highlighting the industrial potential of the region and IIT Guwahati’s strategic position within it, he said, “With the upcoming Tata-sponsored Semiconductor testing and packaging industry near Guwahati, IIT Guwahati is poised to lead the technological advancement of the region. As the only IIT in the northeast region, the institute will work to fulfill the aspirations of all the stakeholders.”