Dr Shekhar Mande’s scientific journey had
a humble, yet promising, beginning as BSc
and MSc graduate from Nagpur University.
He pursued his PhD at the Indian Institute of
Science in the area of molecular biophysics.
Later, he obtained doctoral degree in 1991
and soon set on a career of research that saw
him become a post-doctoral fellow at the Rijks
Universitet in Groningen, the Netherlands,
and a senior fellow of the University of
Washington.
At the Institute of Microbial Technology,
Chandigarh, his research contributions
earned him the BM Birla Young Scientist
award in 1999.
He then moved to the Centre for DNA
Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD),
Hyderabad, in 2001 and continued to
demonstrate excellence for the next decade
through his extraordinary brilliance and
hard work. While at CDFD in 2005, he was
the recipient of the top researcher award of
the country – the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar
award in Biological sciences. He was also a
Wellcome Trust International Senior Research
Fellow between 2003 and 2008.
His research skills and administrative
capabilities were evident as the Director of
the National Centre for Cell Science in Pune
for seven years which took the institute several
notches higher for research excellence.
With such an illustrious career, it was no
wonder when he was appointed as Director
General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR in October
2018. The past year of his leadership has
seen streamlining of many processes at these
premier institutions and launching of several
ambitious programs of national relevance.
He is also the vice president of Vijnana
Bharati, a large voluntary science movement
in India.
Ladies and gentlemen, Prof Shekhar C
Mande is married to Dr Sharmila Mande
with a son. He is a man of extraordinary
administrative skills, deep scientific expertise
and more importantly, a friend of Manipal.
On behalf of our esteemed Pro-Chancellor,
Vice Chancellor and honourable dignitaries,
I kindly request him to deliver the convocation
address.
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