Jamia Professor assumes charge as IEEE Delhi Section Chair

Prof. Mini Shaji Thomas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia took over as the first woman Chairperson of 38 years old Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) Delhi Section which comprises of five  states of the country, namely Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is the largest technical professional body in the world, with 420,000 members in 160 countries around the world. Delhi section has currently 5600+ members and is involved in enhancing the technical, professional and educational needs of the members with the tag line, “advancing technology for humanity”. Prof. Mini’s  goals  for 2015 are  to bring in more benefits to members and to help the students and  faculty to excel with  industry participation.

Prof. Mini teaches in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and has 29 years of teaching and research experience in the field of Power Automation. Currently she is the Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University. She was the Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering from 2005-2008. Prof. Mini was a faculty member at Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi (now DTU), and at the Regional Engineering College (now NIT) Calicut, Kerala before joining Jamia. She graduated from University of Kerala (Gold Medalist), completed her M. Tech from IIT Madras (Gold Medalist, Siemen’s prize) & PhD from IIT Delhi, India, all in Electrical Engineering.

Prof. Mini has done extensive research work in the area of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Substation & Distribution Automation and Smart Grid. She has published over 100 research papers in International Journals and Conferences of repute, has successfully completed many research projects, and is the coordinator of the Special Assistance Program (SAP) on Power System Automation from UGC, Government of India. She is also a reviewer of reputed journals in her field.  Prof. Mini has set up the first of its kind SCADA laboratory and Substation Automation (SA) Laboratory at JMI, and as the founder coordinator, with industry participation,  has drafted the curriculum, and started a unique, first full-time, M Tech program in the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, JMI, in 2003 in Electrical Power System Management,  which has unique courses on power automation and  novel hands-on training.

Prof. Mini has worked continuously for Industry- Academia interaction; the M Tech program and the SCADA & SA Laboratories have been set up with industry collaboration.  She was instrumental in signing an MOU with Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), the transmission utility of India, for long term cooperation with JMI. She and her team regularly conducts training and certification programs for control center operators of PGCIL in ‘SCADA basics’.  Prof.Mini is a certified trainer for ‘Capacity building of Women managers in higher education’, by UGC and has conducted many training session for Women empowerment. She  initiated the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at JMI to promote innovation and business development for students and faculty members.

 

Prof. Mini received the ‘Career Award’ for young teachers, Govt. of India, and  has won the IEEE MGA Larry K Wilson Trans-national award, MGA Innovation award, Outstanding Volunteer award, Outstanding Branch counselor award and Power and Energy Society (PES) Outstanding Chapter Engineer award, to name a few.

Prof. Mini is very active in Professional societies and has served on the global boards of IEEE. She is currently a member of the PES LRP (Long Range Planning) committee. She was a board member of IEEE PSPB (Publication Services and Products Board), Educational Activities Board (EAB),  served as the vice chair of IEEE MGA (Member and Geographic Activities) Board and was the Asia Pacific student activities coordinator.  Prof. Mini has traveled extensively around the globe, delivered lectures in prestigious universities and has interacted with technical experts from all over the world.

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