# Mini Shaji Thomas > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mini_Shaji_Thomas > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mini_Shaji_Thomas.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Shaji_Thomas > Source revision: 1353533094 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Director at NIT Trichy 2016 - 2021}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mini Shaji Thomas | title3 = | alma_mater = [University of Kerala](/source/University_of_Kerala)
[Indian Institute of Technology, Madras](/source/Indian_Institute_of_Technology%2C_Madras)
[Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi](/source/Indian_Institute_of_Technology%2C_Delhi) | death_place = | death_date = | birth_place = [Kerala](/source/Kerala), [India](/source/India) | birth_date = 1962 (age 63 years) | successor3 = | predecessor3 = | president3 = | term_end3 = | term_start3 = | order3 = | image = Prof. Mini Thomas.jpg | successor2 = | predecessor2 = | term_end2 = | term_start2 = | order2 = | title2 = | predecessor = | term_end = 2021 | term_start = 2016 | order = | title = 8th Director of the [National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli](/source/National_Institute_of_Technology%2C_Tiruchirappalli) | awards = | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20171020024926/https://www.jmi.ac.in/electrical/faculty-members/Dr_Mini_Shaji_Thomas-1954] }} '''Mini Shaji Thomas''' (born 1962) is an [India](/source/India)n [electrical engineer](/source/Electrical_engineering) who served as the director of the [National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli](/source/National_Institute_of_Technology%2C_Tiruchirappalli) from 2016 to 2021. She was the eighth director and first female director of the institute since its founding in 1964.{{Cite web|title=NIT-T gets 1st woman director in five decades|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2016/nov/25/nit-t-gets-1st-woman-director-in-five-decades-1542432.html|access-date=2021-04-21|website=The New Indian Express|date=25 November 2016 }}{{Cite web |title=National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli {{!}} Principals/Directors |url=https://www.nitt.edu/home/administration/director/All-Principals-Directors-v4.pdf |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=NIT Tiruchirappalli}} She was the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at [Jamia Millia Islamia](/source/Jamia_Millia_Islamia) in New Delhi and currently Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering.{{Cite web |title=Faculty Of Engineering And Technology - Jamia |url=https://jmi.ac.in/fet |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=jmi.ac.in}} == Education == Thomas graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the [University of Kerala](/source/University_of_Kerala) in 1984, where she was awarded a gold medal for academic performance.{{Cite web |title=Department Of Electrical Engineering - Jamia |url=https://www.jmi.ac.in/ACADEMICS/Departments/Department-Of-Electrical-Engineering/Staff/Faculty-Members/1954/Mini_Shaji_Thomas |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.jmi.ac.in}} She then completed [M.Tech](/source/M.Tech) in [Electrical Engineering](/source/Electrical_engineering) (energy systems) from [IIT Madras](/source/IIT_Madras) in 1986, where she again received a gold medal and was awarded the Siemens Prize.{{Cite web |last=archive |first=From our online |date=2016-11-25 |title=NIT-T gets 1st woman director in five decades |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2016/Nov/25/nit-t-gets-1st-woman-director-in-five-decades-1542432.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=theokhlatimes |date=2025-03-10 |title=Jamia Professor Mini Thomas in list of 100 most influential women of 2025 by business magazine - The Okhla Times |url=https://www.theokhlatimes.com/min-thomas/ |access-date=2025-07-03 |language=en-US}} In 1991, she earned her [PhD](/source/PhD) in Electrical Engineering (power systems) from [IIT Delhi](/source/Indian_Institute_of_Technology%2C_Delhi).{{Cite web |title=NIT Trichy - Director |url=https://www.nitt.edu/home/administration/director/all_principals_directors/ |website=www.nitt.edu}}{{Cite web |title=Mini Shaji Thomas |url=https://www.jmi.ac.in/upload/employeeresume/mthomas.pdf |access-date=2021-04-29 |website=Jamia Millia Islamia}} == Career == As Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at [Jamia Millia Islamia](/source/Jamia_Millia_Islamia), Thomas oversaw the introduction of three B.Tech programs in new fields and revisions to the curriculum aligned with the [National Education Policy 2020](/source/National_Education_Policy_2020). She was the founding director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Jamia Millia Islamia and is a professor in the Department of [Electrical Engineering](/source/Electrical_Engineering), Faculty of Engineering and Technology. Thomas served as the Central Public Information Officer from 2008 to 2014 and as Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering from 2005 to 2008.{{Cite web| title=JMI faculty is first woman Director of National Institute of Technology, Trichy | url=https://www.jmi.ac.in/upload/publication/pr1_english_2016november23.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608175656/https://www.jmi.ac.in/upload/publication/pr1_english_2016november23.pdf | archive-date=2021-06-08}} Before joining Jamia, she was a faculty member at [Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi](/source/Delhi_College_of_Engineering%2C_Delhi) and the [National Institute of Technology, Calicut](/source/National_Institute_of_Technology%2C_Calicut).{{Cite web |title=Proff Mini Shaji Thomas PDF {{!}} PDF {{!}} Smart Grid {{!}} Electrical Grid |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/326603387/proff-mini-shaji-thomas-pdf |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=Scribd |language=en}} At the [National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli](/source/National_Institute_of_Technology%2C_Tiruchirappalli), Thomas and her team developed a strategic plan for the institute that included input from multiple stakeholders.{{Cite news |date=2021-11-27 |title=NIT Trichy director Mini Shaji Thomas completes term, to rejoin Jamia Millia Islamia |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/nit-trichy-director-mini-shaji-thomas-completes-full-term-to-rejoin-jamia-millia-islamia/articleshow/87950765.cms |access-date=2025-07-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} In 2018, NIT Trichy established a Centre for Excellence in Manufacturing, with an investment of ₹190 crore in collaboration with Siemens Industry Software, to support research and training. The institute also set up a Centre of Excellence in [Artificial Intelligence](/source/Artificial_intelligence) and Intelligent Machines.{{Cite news |date=5 October 2018 |title=NIT Trichy gets Rs 190crore facility which 'even IITs don't have' - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/nit-trichy-gets-rs-190crore-facility-which-even-iits-dont-have/articleshow/66088862.cms |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=The Times of India}} Thomas serves on the Board of Directors of the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF).{{Cite web|title=Board of Directors IUSSTF|url=https://www.iusstf.org/board-members|website=www.iusstf.org|access-date=9 June 2021|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429165322/https://www.iusstf.org/board-members|url-status=dead}} She was President of the [Shastri-Indo Canadian Institute](/source/Shastri_Indo-Canadian_Institute) (SICI) from 2020 to 2021, a binational organization supported by the [Ministry of Education](/source/Ministry_of_Education_(India)), [Government of India](/source/Government_of_India), which promotes academic exchange between India and Canada.{{Cite web|title= Past Presidents of SICI {{!}} SHASTRI INDO CANADIAN INSTITUTE|url=https://www.shastriinstitute.org/presidents-bi-national2005|access-date=2021-04-29|website=www.shastriinstitute.org}} She also served as the Mentor Director of the [Indian Institute of Information Technology, Tiruchirappalli](/source/Indian_Institute_of_Information_Technology%2C_Tiruchirappalli) for three years.{{Cite news|title= Mentor Director IIIT Srirangam|url= https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/new-iiit-director-takes-charge/article26547690.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date= 15 March 2019}} == Research contributions == Thomas's research interests include [Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition](/source/SCADA) systems, substation and distribution automation, and smart grids. She has published more than 150 research papers{{Cite web|date=2021-06-09|title=Google scholar profile of Dr. Mini Shaji Thomas|url=https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=ysoKbMAAAAAJ&hl=en|website=GoogleScholar|language=en-US}} in international journals and conferences, supervised 18 doctoral students,{{Cite web |last=theokhlatimes |date=2025-03-10 |title=Jamia Professor Mini Thomas in list of 100 most influential women of 2025 by business magazine - The Okhla Times |url=https://www.theokhlatimes.com/min-thomas/ |access-date=2025-07-03 |language=en-US}} and coordinated research projects, including the Special Assistance Program (SAP) on Power System Automation supported by the UGC, Government of India. She also serves as a reviewer for academic journals in her field.{{Cite web |title=PRESIDENTS SINCE BI-NATIONAL, 2005 {{!}} SHASTRI INDO CANADIAN INSTITUTE |url=https://www.shastriinstitute.org/presidents-bi-national2005 |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=www.shastriinstitute.org}} She established laboratories for SCADA and [Substation Automation](/source/Substation_automation) at Jamia Millia Islamia, with industry collaboration.{{Cite web |title=PRESIDENTS SINCE BI-NATIONAL, 2005 {{!}} SHASTRI INDO CANADIAN INSTITUTE |url=https://www.shastriinstitute.org/presidents-bi-national2005 |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=www.shastriinstitute.org}} In 2003, she drafted the curriculum and launched a full-time M.Tech program in Electrical Power System Management at the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, which incorporated industry participation and practical training.{{Cite web |title=Brief Profile: Prof. (Mrs.) Mini Shaji Thomas |url=https://jmi.ac.in/upload/employeeresume/mthomas.pdf |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=Jamia Millia Islamia}} Thomas received the [IEEE](/source/Institute_of_Electrical_and_Electronics_Engineers) Educational Activities Board (EAB) Meritorious Achievement Award in 2015 for contributions to curriculum and laboratory development in the electricity sector. She is the author of ''Power System SCADA and Smart Grids''{{Cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=Mini S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wnN3CAAAQBAJ&q=info:TBjYIU5KiuMJ:scholar.google.com&pg=PP1|title=Power System SCADA and Smart Grids|last2=McDonald|first2=John Douglas|date=2017-12-19|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4822-2675-1|language=en}} (CRC Press, 2017), and contributed a chapter to the ''McGraw-Hill Standard Handbook of Electrical Engineers'', 17th edition (2018). She has also authored a chapter in ''Women in Power: Research and Development Advances in Electric Power Systems'' (Springer, 2023).{{Cite journal |title=Substation Automation {{!}} springerprofessional.de |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-29724-3_14 |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=link.springer.com |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-29724-3_14 |language=de|url-access=subscription }} Thomas is a ''Distinguished Lecturer'' of the IEEE Power & Energy Society.{{Cite web |title=Mini Shaji Thomas |url=https://ieee-pes.org/profile/mini-shaji-thomas/ |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=IEEE Power & Energy Society |language=en-US}} She has served on the global boards of IEEE, representing the Asia-Pacific region, and has delivered lectures at universities internationally.{{Cite web|title=Mini Shaji Thomas IEEE profile|url=https://ieee-collabratec.ieee.org/app/p/minishajithomas|website=IEEE Collobratec}} == Awards == * Distinguished Alumnus Award of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) 2022 [33] * Outstanding Power Engineer award by IEEE Power and Energy Society Delhi in 2008. * MGA Innovation Award by IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Board, USA in 2008. * Outstanding Power and Energy Chapter Chair by IEEE Power and Energy Society, USA in 2012.{{Cite journal|date=2016-02-01|title=2015 IEEE educational activities board awards|journal=IEEE Transactions on Education|volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=69–74 |doi=10.1109/TE.2015.2510281 |bibcode=2016ITEdu..59...69. |language=en-US}} * Larry K Wilson Trans-National Award by IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Board, USA in 2013.{{Cite web|date=2013-12-03|title=Jamia faculty wins IEEE MGA Larry K Wilson Translational Award 2013|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/22555/Jamia+faculty+wins+IEEE+MGA+Larry+K+Wilson+transnational+award+for+2013|website=MEA|language=en-US}} * IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Continuing Education for "Design and development of curriculum and laboratory facilities for professionals and Students in the Electric Utility Industry" by IEEE Educational Activities Board, USA in 2015.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-23|title=Jamia Professor wins IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement in Continuing Education Award 2015|url=https://indiaeducationdiary.in/jamia-professor-wins-ieee-eab-meritorious-achievement-in-continuing-education-award-2015|website=IndiaEducationDiary|language=en-US}} * Best Teacher Award by IEEE Kerala Section in 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-13|title=NIT Trichy Director Mini Shaji Thomas gets best teacher award from IEEE Kerala section|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/nit-trichy-director-mini-shaji-thomas-gets-best-teacher-award-from-ieee-kerala-section/articleshow/67513575.cms|website=ToI|language=en-US}} * Recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award (DAA) of IIT Madras 2022.{{cite web | url=https://acr.iitm.ac.in/distinguished-alumnus-awardees/?var1=2022 | title=Office of Alumni & Corporate Relations }} In addition, Thomas received the 'Career Award' for young teachers from the Government of India, the IEEE Power and Energy Society Outstanding Chapter Chair Award 2013, the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Innovation Award 2008,{{Cite web |title=IEEE Member and Geographic Activities {{!}} Recipients of MGA Awards and Recognition Program |url=https://mga.ieee.org/awards/recipients |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=mga.ieee.org |language=en-gb}} the IEEE Outstanding Volunteer Award 2005,{{Cite web |title=Dr. (Mrs) Mini Shaji Thomas |url=https://www.shastriinstitute.org/sites/default/files/Dr-Mini-Shaji-Thomas.pdf |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI)}} the IEEE Outstanding Branch counselor Award 2002, and the Power and Energy Society (PES) Outstanding Chapter Engineer Award. She is a certified trainer for the Capacity Building of Women Managers in Higher Education by UGC and has conducted training sessions for women's empowerment.{{Cite web|date=2016-11-29|title= Mini first women director of NIT Trichy|url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/city/mini-first-woman-director-of-nittiruchy-takes-charge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824081042/http://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2016/11/28234314/1022467/Mini-first-woman-director-of-NITTiruchy-takes-charge.vpf|url-status=live|archive-date=24 August 2017|website=dtnext|language=en-US}} == References == [33] https://acr.iitm.ac.in/latestdaas/prof-mini-shaji-thomas/ {{Reflist}} == External links == * {{google scholar id|ysoKbMAAAAAJ}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Mini Shaji}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Academic staff of Jamia Millia Islamia Category:Academic staff of National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli Category:IIT Madras alumni Category:People from Kerala --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mini Shaji Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Shaji_Thomas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Shaji_Thomas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.