Dr. Preeti Aghalayam, a distinguished IIT alumni and former MIT researcher, makes history as the first woman director of an IIT campus
Taking on the role of Director-in-charge, she leads the groundbreaking IIT Madras Zanzibar campus
Dr. Aghalayam’s appointment marks a significant milestone in promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in the field of education and research
With an illustrious career, she currently serves as a Professor in the Chemical Engineering department at IIT Madras
The IIT Madras Zanzibar campus is an innovative educational partnership between India and Zanzibar-Tanzania
Driven by a deep sense of honor, Dr. Aghalayam expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to her alma mater and the nation
Her educational journey includes a BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras, an MS from the University of Rochester, and a PhD from the University of Massachusetts
Prior to her directorial role, she gained valuable experience as a postdoctoral researcher at MIT and as faculty at IIT Bomba
Beyond academia, Dr. Aghalayam is an accomplished marathon runner, an avid blogger, and has been recognized as one of the 75 Women in STEM by the Principal Scientific Advisor’s office