Prof Devendra Jalihal officially assumed the role of Director at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati-IITG today. He succeeds Prof Rajeev Ahuja, who had been holding the additional charge of Director since November 2023.
Before this appointment, Prof Jalihal was a distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras. He has an impressive academic background, having earned his BTech (Hons) from IIT Kharagpur in 1983 and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Duke University, Durham, USA, in 1992. His professional journey at IIT Madras began in 1994, where he notably served as the Head of the Department from 2016 to 2019.
Prof Jalihal has made significant contributions to various fields, including digital signal processing, wireless communication, real-time voice and video communication, and societal applications of wireless technologies. Some of his notable projects involve:
Low Bit-Rate Video Conferencing
Tactical Communication Systems
Disaster Management Communication Systems
Satellite Communication Networks
Additionally, Prof Jalihal has collaborated extensively with the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO on strategic communication challenges.
Prior to his new position at IIT Guwahati, Prof Jalihal chaired the Centre for Outreach and Digital Education at IIT Madras. In this role, he oversaw all educational outreach activities of the institute, further enhancing its impact on a broader scale.
Assam Higher Education, School Education, and Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu congratulated Prof Jalihal on his new role via X. “Heartiest congratulations to Prof Devendra Jalihal on assuming charge as Director of IIT Guwahati. Prior to his new role, Prof Jalihal served as a distinguished professor in the Dept of Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras. My best wishes for a fruitful tenure ahead,” he posted.
Vision for IIT Guwahati
As the new Director, Prof Jalihal is expected to lead IIT Guwahati towards further academic excellence and innovative research, continuing the institute’s legacy of contributing significantly to the fields of technology and education.
This leadership change marks a new chapter for IIT Guwahati, with high expectations for further advancements under Prof Jalihal’s guidance.
