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Preeti Aghalayam: From IIT Madras Student to First Woman IIT Leader.
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News18•25-09-2026, 12:28
Preeti Aghalayam: From IIT Madras Student to First Woman IIT Leader.
- •Preeti Aghalayam joined IIT Madras as a student in 1995 and became the first woman IIT leader 28 years later.
- •She completed her BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras, then pursued her PhD in the US and gained research experience at MIT.
- •In 2023, she was appointed Director-in-Charge of IIT Madras Zanzibar, the first international campus of IIT Madras.
- •With this appointment, she became the first woman to lead an IIT, marking a significant milestone in her academic journey.
- •Preeti Aghalayam also served as a faculty member at IIT Bombay and IIT Madras, and is recognized for her contributions to increasing women's participation in STEM.
Key Questions Answered
In 2023, Preeti Aghalayam was appointed as the Director-in-Charge of IIT Madras Zanzibar, located in Tanzania, making her the first woman to lead an IIT.
Preeti Aghalayam earned her BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1995. She later completed her PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and gained research experience at MIT in the United States before serving as a faculty member at IIT Bombay and returning to IIT Madras in 2010.
Preeti Aghalayam was recognized among the 75 Women in STEM by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor. Her academic and professional work has also been honored with awards such as the Amar Dye Chem Award and the Young Achiever Award by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers.
