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Highlights
- TCS Research scientist Dr. Beena Rai is among 40 INAE Fellows elected in 2022. INAE Fellows are honored for their achievements of exceptional merit and eminence in the field of technology.
- Dr. Rai has received various honors and awards for her contribution to the field of technology, including those for her efforts as an active mentor to women scientists and engineers.
- Her research has contributed to the development of solutions across industries from pharma, oil and gas, and energy storage to automotive.
In this article
INAE Fellow
TCS Research scientist Dr. Beena Rai has been elected a 2022 Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineers (INAE), making her one among a distinguished group of 40 individuals globally to receive the honor. “I am elated to know INAE has recognized my work...I look forward to make meaningful contributions in INAE’s mission to build a buzzing network of professionals, and to energize and harness the knowledge of engineering, particularly among young girls,” Dr. Rai says of the honor.
The distinction also means that the recognition continues for TCS. In 2021, TCS’ Dr. Gautam Shroff and Dr. Lipika Dey were elected INAE Fellows under the Engineering Section-II (Computer Engineering and Information Technology).
Dr. Rai received the INAE Fellowship under the Engineering Section-X (Interdisciplinary and Special Engineering Fields and Leadership in Academia, R&D and Industry). The fellowship takes effect from November 1, 2022.
A pathfinder
Dr. Rai received her Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences from National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), University of Pune, India, in 1995. She joined TCS in 1997, and now leads the physical sciences research team at TCS Research. In 2017, NCL honored Dr. Rai with the Distinguished Alumni award. Her research in computational material science and engineering, leveraging physics-based models and data analytics tools led to 150 research papers, with about 100 patent applications and grants.
For her contribution to the field, Dr. Rai was conferred the Indian Institute of Mineral Engineers (IIME) Mineral/Coal Beneficiation Award – R&D/Academic in 2017. She has also received accolades and recognitions for her efforts as an active mentor for women scientists and engineers.
Curiosity and invention
Recalling her early days, Dr. Rai says, “I have a curious and restless mind which needs to be fed with dynamic challenges, and I found research to be the best playing field for that. As a school kid, I was excited to see test-tubestest tubes filled with colorful liquids, fumes emerging from flasks, and always wondered how exciting it would be to create such magical experiments. This was the germination point for my interest in the chemical sciences.”
Dr. Rai likes to experiment with molecular modelling to design and develop performance chemicals for applications in minerals and material processing. Her research has contributed to the development of various novel solutions for industries—ranging from pharma, oil and gas, energy storage to automotive.
She has led and been part of teams that have contributed to prominent inventions, among these include the digital twin of human skin as an alternative for animal testing in cosmetics and pharma industries, greener chemicals to mitigate corrosion in oil and gas pipelines, affordable catalysts for harnessing greener energy, and novel battery materials.
About the INAE Fellowship
INAE is an apex body that promotes the practice of engineering and technology, and allied sciences for their application in solving problems of national importance.
The fellowships are awarded in various streams of engineering, classified under 10 sections. No more than 50 fellows from academia, research and development (R&D), and industry may be elected each year through nominations received from fellows of INAE affiliated to the sections.
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