Dr. Venkatesh Rao Aiyagari is an expert in Research Management, Science policy studies and planning and specializes in the areas of operations research, systems analysis and industrial engineering problems, research-academia-government networking, Human Resource Development, and coordination of national and international S & T programs
Dr Rao Aiyagari has served as the Scientific Adviser with the Ministry of Science and Technology for over 35 years. He has made significant and outstanding contributions towards the promotion of R&D in Frontier and Emerging areas of Science and Engineering through the Science and Engineering Research Council and in formulation of policy statements on science and technology. He has greatly contributed to the formulation of the science and technology policies and plans in the country and also has considerable international exposure to the issues connected with science policy and management of R&D.
In the Department of Science & Technology, he was handling one of the most important programs titled “Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC)” which is responsible for promoting R&D in newly emerging and frontier areas of science and engineering. The SERC has been making increasing efforts to promote basic research particularly in the universities and academic institutions and encouraging young scientists and engineers. Shri Rao Aiyagari has greatly contributed to the success of the SERC programs which involves intricate management and coordination skills involving scientists and engineers coming from various academic and scientific institutions , national laboratories and industry. SERC has done a yeoman service to the scientific community over the years which has helped them achieve outstanding research results.
He has also played an important and significant role in the Establishment of the New Autonomous Science and Engineering Research Board to provide greater thrust, autonomy and funding to promoting Basic research in the country.
He has been a member of number of expert committees at the National level for many Government agencies and in this capacity has been involved in making National policies on Research and Technology Development, formation of Networks between academic institutions, research institutions, and Science funding agencies and allocation of Research grants.
- PHFI
He has outstanding leadership qualities and has been leading a dedicated group of young scientific officers committed to their tasks. He is very well known in the scientific community and has established an excellent rapport with them. also made significant contributions to the programs of the Indo-US Forum on Science and Technology ,Indo –French Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, and the United Nations System in the field of Science & Technology.
At the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), he is a Senior Advisor (Science and Technology ) and is involved with strengthening the research agenda/efforts at PHFI, capacity building and training efforts and academic programs. In addition, he is assisting PHFI in specific activities related to the Welcome Trust Grant, Facilitating research grants from Science Agencies, developing PHFI as a University and as an Institute of National Importance, and mentoring the young faculty and research fellows. He has played a significant role in linking the Public Health agenda with the Science and Technology Sector. In specific, new initiatives launched include Public Health Research Initiative; Public Health Incubation and Innovation Centre; Women and Child health initiative focusing on Rural and Tribal population; INSPIRE Faculty positions; Collaborations with Academy of Science and Innovative Research and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology for Masters in Public Health and Post graduate programs in Health Informatics and Clinical Research.
He is also an Adjunct Faculty at the Centre for Knowledge, Culture and Innovation Studies (CKCIS), University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad and also a Distinguished Professor at Vellore Institute of Technology, and a Member of the Academic Council of SRM University, Chennai.
Dr. Rao Aiyagari holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT, Jamshedpur (India),1968 and a Master’s degree in Science (Operations Research) from Union College, New York (USA),1972. Dr. Rao Aiyagari was conferred a honorary doctorate in (Science Policy) from SriKrishna Devaraya University, Anantapur (India),2002. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. He is also a fellow of the Engineering Staff College of India
- Research/Grants Administration
- Technical Advisor
- Special Advisor