Inter University Centre for Nanomaterials and Devices

Inter University Centre for Nanomaterials and Devices (IUCND) at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is an inter-university research centre formed by the government of Kerala. The centre is established with a view to provide state of the art infrastructure to support research and development in the domain of nanotechnology and also provide a platform for collaborative research involving academia and industry. Currently about 25 faculty members of various departments of the university associate with the centre to support the academic and research activities of the centre and more expertise will be added through visiting fellow programme. This multidisciplinary platform is expected to promote research towards scalable technologies in the emerging areas of Energy, Communication, Environment and Medicine. By engaging researchers and postgraduate students in its academic outreach programmes such as specialised elective courses, workshops, seminars and internship programmes a new generation of innovators with multidisciplinary talents will be produced. This trained manpower is essential to convert our state and the country a leader in the creation of cheaper and useful technology in energy production, medicine and environmental management. A roadmap for elevating the centre as a design and fabrication centre for nano and micro electromechanical devices, nano-chips and sensor arrays for diagnostic applications and thin film transistors and photovoltaics devices exists which require addition of clean rooms, fabrication facilities such as lithography systems and high resolution electron microscopes. Besides material science it also propose to create a centre of excellence in the development of economically viable therapeutic platforms integrating nanomaterials and medicine for the treatment of cancer and other ailments affecting third world population. An integrated facility with animal houses, tissue culture and toxicology research meeting all the required biosafety and ethical guidelines is also proposed. Currently the centre has expertise in the synthesis of functional nanomaterials for application in the thrust areas. Characterisation facility includes an X-ray diffractometer and Atomic force microscope and other spectrometers.

Governing council

1	Chief Minister of Kerala (Chairman) 1(A). Minister for Education (Vice Chairman)
2	One MLA
3	Vice Chancellor of CUSAT (Convener)
4	Two experts in Nanomaterials (Nominated by VC, CUSAT) Vice Chancellor of University of Kerala Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University Vice Chancellor of Calicut University Vice Chancellor of Kannur University
5	One of the deans of the CUSAT who shall be a member of the syndicate as nominated by the VC
6	One teacher from host University suggested by Hon. Director, IUCND
7	One nominee of the government from industry
8	Secretary (Finance) or his nominee of the rank not below Joint Secretary
9	Secretary (Higher Education) or his nominee of the rank not below Joint Secretary
10	Director IUCND (Member Secretary)

Executive Committee

1	The Vice Chancellor (Chairman)
2	The Dean who is a member of the Governing Council
3	Director of the Centre (Convener)
4	A University Professor/Associate Professor from CUSAT Dr. Manoj. N Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, CUSAT
5	Two external experts with post-doctoral research experience in the relevant field. Dr. Kuruvilla Joseph Professor and Dean, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Valiyamala P.O., Thiruvananthapuram kuruvilla@iist.ac.in, kjoseph.iist@gmail.com Dr. P. S. Anil Kumar Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. anil@physics.iisc.ernet.in

Academic Committee

The Vice Chancellor (Chairman)

Director of the Center (Convener)

Professors/ Associate Professors from the relevant field (from the host University)

Dr. Pramod Gopinath
Professor, International School of Photonics, CUSAT
Dr. Sarita G Bhat
Professor, Dept. of Biotechnology, CUSAT
Dr. Sailaja G S
Professor, Dept. of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, CUSAT

Professors/ Associate Professors from the relevant field (from other Universities)

Prof. Sabu Thomas, Hon. Vice Chancellor, MG University Professor, School of Chemical Sciences, Hon: Director, International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. sabupolymer@yahoo.com sabuthomas@mgu.ac.in
Dr. H. K. Varma Head, Bmt Wing & Scientist-in-Charge, SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram. varma@sctimst.ac.in
Dr. Manzoor K Professor, Nanosciences, Center for Nanosciences, ACNSMM, Kochi. manzoork@aims.amrita.edu
Dr. K. G. Sreejalekshmi Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Valiyamala, P.O., Trivandrum - 695 547. sreeja@iist.ac.in
Dr. Reji Philip Professor, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, India – 560080. reji@rri.res.in

Apex Committee

1.	Dr. Honey John, Hon. Director, IUCND
2.	Dr. Manoj N, Dept. of Applied Chemistry
3.	Dr. Pramod Gopinath, International School of Photonics
4.	Dr. Sarita G Bhat, Dept. of Biotechnology
5.	Dr. Anandan C K, Dept. of Electronics
6.	Dr. Saji K J, International School of Photonics
7.	Dr. Aldrin Antony, Dept. of Physics

Project Implementation Group

1.	Dr. Honey John, Hon. Director, IUCND [Chairperson]
2.	Dr. Anandan C K, Dept. of Electronics [Member]
3.	Dr. S Prathapan, Dept. of Applied Chemistry [Member]
4.	Dr. Manoj N, Dept. of Applied Chemistry [Member]
5.	Dr. Pramod Gopinath, International School of Photonics [Member]
6.	Dr. Saji K J, International School of Photonics [Member]
7.	Dr. Priya Rose T, International School of Photonics [Member]
8.	Dr. Sarita G Bhat, Dept. of Biotechnology [Member]
9.	Dr. Ajith Vengellur, Dept. of Biotechnology [Member]
10.	Dr. Sailaja G S, Dept. of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology [Member]
11.	Dr. Jayalatha Gopalakrishnan, Dept. of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology [Member]
12.	Dr. Senoy Thomas, Dept. of Physics [Member]
13.	Dr. Susmitha De, Dept. of Applied Chemistry [Member]
14.	Dr. Sebastian Nybin Remello, Dept. of Applied Chemistry [Member]
15.	Dr. Asha A. S, Dept. of Physics [Member]
16.	Dr. Baby Chakrapani P. S, Dept. of Biotechnology [Member]
17.	Dr. Aldrin Antony, Dept. of Physics [Member]
18.	Dr. Suja Haridas, Dept. of Applied Chemistry [Member]
19.	Dr. Kala R, Dept. of Applied Chemistry [Member]
20.	Dr. Praveen C S, International School of Photonics [Member]
21.	Dr. Reju V G, Dept. of Instrumentation [Member]
22.	Dr. Anshida Mayeen, IUCND [Member]