Prof. Dr. K. Yamuna Rani | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology | India

Prof. Dr. K. Yamuna Rani is a distinguished chemical engineering professional whose academic journey reflects consistent excellence and innovation. She earned her B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from Osmania University with distinction, followed by an M.Tech. in Process Control from IIT Madras, where she secured the first rank and was awarded the prestigious Dr. Subba Raju Memorial Medal. She later completed her Ph.D. at IIT Madras, focusing on the optimization and control of semi-batch processes using artificial neural networks. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, she has advanced through progressive scientific leadership roles, from Scientist B to Chief Scientist and Chair. Her research interests lie in process control, optimization, artificial neural networks, and plantwide control design, contributing significantly to both fundamental and applied aspects of chemical engineering. She has been recognized with numerous honors, including the CSIR Young Scientist Award, Kuloor Memorial Award, DAAD Fellowship, Distinguished Professional Accomplisher Award (IIChE HRC Chemical Ratna), and fellowships from prestigious professional bodies. She also serves as an editor and reviewer for reputed journals, highlighting her academic influence. Prof. Rani’s career epitomizes excellence, dedication, and leadership, making her a trailblazer and inspiration in the field of chemical engineering.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Viswanath, D. S. (2007). Viscosity of liquids: Theory, estimation, experiment, and data. Springer Verlag.

Sarmah, N., Revathi, D., Sheelu, G., Rani, K. Y., Sridhar, S., Mehtab, V., & Sumana, C. (2018). Recent advances on sources and industrial applications of lipases. Biotechnology Progress

Prasad, N. S., Moulik, S., Bohra, S., Rani, K. Y., & Sridhar, S. (2016). Solvent resistant chitosan/poly (ether-block-amide) composite membranes for pervaporation of n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/water mixtures. Carbohydrate Polymers

Alam, S., Kumar, J. P., Rani, K. Y., & Sumana, C. (2017). Self-sustained process scheme for high purity hydrogen production using sorption enhanced steam methane reforming coupled with chemical looping combustion. Journal of Cleaner Production

Rani, K. Y., & Gangiah, K. (1991). Adaptive generic model control: Dual composition control of distillation. AIChE Journal

Sunitha, K., Rani, K. Y., Moulik, S., Satyanarayana, S. V., & Sridhar, S. (2013). Separation of NMP/water mixtures by nanocomposite PEBA membrane: Part I. Membrane synthesis, characterization and pervaporation performance. Desalination

Kamesh, R., & Rani, K. Y. (2016). Novel formulation of adaptive MPC as EKF using ANN model: Multiproduct semibatch polymerization reactor case study. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems

Dr. Tarun Khanna | Solid Earth | Best Researcher Award

CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute | India

Dr. Tarun Khanna is a distinguished geologist and geochemist whose research has significantly advanced the understanding of Earth’s crust–mantle interactions and magmatic processes. He earned his B.Sc. from Bhavans New Science College, Hyderabad, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Geology from Osmania University, India, and pursued postdoctoral research at the University of South Carolina, USA. His career at CSIR-NGRI has spanned over two decades, progressing from Junior Scientist to Principal Scientist, while also serving as Associate Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). Dr. Khanna specializes in radiogenic isotope geochemistry (Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf), subduction and plume magmatism, and the geochronology of greenstone terrains, supracrustal belts, and the Deccan Volcanic Province. He has conducted extensive fieldwork across the Dharwar and Bastar cratons, contributing key insights into crustal evolution and mantle dynamics. Widely recognized for his contributions, he has received prestigious honors including the BOYSCAST Fellowship, Krishnan Gold Medal, Raman Research Fellowship, and Khem Raj Gupta Gold Medal. A Fellow of the Geological Society of India and member of IAVCEI and IGU, Dr. Khanna has also mentored young researchers through training programs. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing geoscience research and inspiring future generations of earth scientists.

Featured Publications

Boninites from the Neoarchaean Gadwal greenstone belt, Eastern Dharwar Craton, India: implications for Archaean subduction processes

Enriched and depleted arc basalts, with Mg-andesites and adakites: A potential paired arc–back-arc of the 2.6 Ga Hutti greenstone terrane, India

Rapid quantitative determination of major and trace elements in silicate rocks and soils employing fused glass discs using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Crustal growth processes as illustrated by the Neoarchaean intraoceanic magmatism from Gadwal greenstone belt, Eastern Dharwar Craton, India

Hafnium–neodymium isotope systematics of the 2.7 Ga Gadwal greenstone terrane, Eastern Dharwar craton, India: implications for the evolution of the Archean depleted mantle