Prof. Suman Chakraborty

Director, IIT Kharagpur
and
Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
IIT Kharagpur

Professor Suman Chakraborty serves as the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur since June 2025. He earned his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University, followed by an M.Engg. (Gold Medalist) and Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, in 2002—where his doctoral work received both national and international acclaim.
Joining IIT Kharagpur in 2002 as an Assistant Professor, he has since held several key leadership positions, including Dean (Research & Development), Head of the School of Medical Science & Technology, and Institute Chair Professor. He is a Sir J. C. Bose National Fellow and recipient of the Institute Chair Professorship, reflecting his sustained contributions to research and academic leadership.
Prof. Chakraborty’s scholarship explores the frontiers of micro- and nano-scale fluid dynamics, with particular focus on interfacial physics, electro-hydrodynamics, and biomimetic systems. He is internationally recognized for pioneering “paper-and-pencil microfluidics”, a breakthrough that has enabled ultra-low-cost diagnostic platforms and point-of-care tools, particularly for resource-limited settings. His innovations—ranging from portable blood-testing discs and pain-free sampling techniques to low-cost kits for anaemia, infection, and drug-resistance detection; are supported by more than 500+ publications, 25+ patents, successful technology transfers (including COVIRAP, PrePAPQR, HemoQR, and Oro-Screen), and the mentorship of over 55+ doctoral researchers.
His work has been honoured with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (2013), the Infosys Prize in Engineering and Computer Science (2022), the National Award for Teachers from the President of India (2023), and the TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences from UNESCO (2026). He is also an elected Fellow of several distinguished academies and societies, including the American Physical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Indian National Science Academy, Indian National Academy of Engineering, and the Indian Academy of Sciences. A central theme of his career has been the translation of advanced scientific research into accessible technologies with direct societal impact.
As Director, Prof. Chakraborty is shaping a renewed vision for IIT Kharagpur’s academic and cultural landscape. He has placed student welfare and mental health at the forefront, advocating for a more empathetic and humane approach to education while upholding academic rigor. He has also fostered open dialogue and transparency across the campus community, strengthened bonds with alumni, and encouraged cultural inclusivity—introducing a tri-lingual campus identity in Bengali, Hindi, and English. Equally important, he has emphasized student safety and well-being, instituting proactive measures to prevent campus tragedies and nurture a sense of belonging.