Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar is known globally for his pioneering research in polymer science and engineering, exceptional and transformative leadership of major Indian R&D institutions, playing a key role in pioneering the intellectual property movement in India and being a dominant force in shaping India's science, technology and innovation policies and performance in the post-liberalised India.
He served as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), with thirty-eight laboratories for over eleven years. He was also the President of Indian National Science Academy and Chairman of National Innovation Foundation.
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Bombay, 1969
- Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, University of Bombay, 1966
In recognition of his pioneering research contributions, he has been honoured as a Fellow of Royal Society, Foreign Fellow of US National Academy of Science as also Engineering, Foreign Associate of American Academy of Arts and Science & Fellow of US National Academy of Inventors, TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize, Business Week (USA) award of `Stars of Asia’& JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award.
Forty-four universities from around the world have honoured him with honorary doctorates, besides the rare honour of holding the most prestigious position as National Research Professor for ten years. Dr. Mashelkar was a member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister for over thirty years.
He has been honoured with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, some of the highest civilian honours in India.
His association with the educational system in India and abroad is intimate and influential.
In India, he has been a Chancellor of Assam University, Silchar (2003-2005), Chancellor of Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (2013-2016) and presently the Chancellor of Institute of Chemical Technology (2010- till date).
He has been the Chairman of Research Advisory Council, IITB-Monash Research Academy, Mumbai (2014- till date), Chairman, Board of Governors of IISER, Kolkata (2010-2014), IISER, Mohali (2010-2014), IIT, Gandhinagar, (2011-2014) and National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research, Mohali (2001-2005).
At a national educational policy level, he has played a key role. He chaired the High Powered Review Committee to review the Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) in 1998, where the Committee recommendations were fully accepted by the Government of India to create NITs.
Dr. Mashelkar's connections with the international academic education and research community are deep and wide. He has been a Visiting Professor at Harvard University (2007-2012), at Delaware University (1976, 1988), and at Technology University of Denmark (1982). He has been Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished Professor at Monash University for thirteen years (2007- 2019), a record for this most prestigious professorship.