Prof. Kuldeep Kumar Raina joined RUAS as Vice Chancellor in April 2021.
Prior to joining RUAS, Professor Raina, well known for his scientific acumen and leadership has served as the Vice Chancellor, DIT University, Dehradun for over 6 years. He has also worked in Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala for about 28 years. At Thapar, he has held several responsible administrative and academic positions like Director (Acting), Deputy Director, Dean of Faculty, Dean, Resource Planning and Generation, Dean Research and Sponsored Projects and Head, School of Physics & Materials Science.
Professor Raina did M.Sc and Ph.D in Solid State Materials and then post-doctorate research work from University of Manchester (UK). His contributions to the teaching and research have brought him recognition nationally and internationally through various awards and fellowships. He became full Professor of Materials Science in 1999 and Distinguished Professor in 2008. Professor Raina’s research achievements are known through his innovative practices and creative thinking approach. He has published over 250 research papers in peer review International journals and delivered about 60 Invited lectures in International conferences. He has attracted considerable research funding from different agencies like DST, DRDO, UGC, CSIR, AICTE etc.
Prof Raina is Fellow, Punjab Academy of Sciences (FPAS) and Materials Medalist 2012 by MRS India. He is awarded by PSC S&T for significant contributions in the area of materials science Teaching & Research. He was invited to deliver Platinum Jubilee Lecture in 101th Indian Science Congress (2014). He delivered prestigious Prof J S Dave Memorial Lecture in MS University, Baroda. He is member of about a dozen scientific Societies and reviewer of many European and Physical Society journals.
Professor Raina has supervised post Doc work, 33 Ph.D theses and 40 PG thesis. At Thapar University, he established Materials Research Laboratory, which caters to the wide research interests like liquid crystal materials and devices, electro-ceramics, polymers, self-assembled thin film systems and nano-composites. His works led to the better understanding of the opto-electronic properties of polymer-liquid crystal dispersed composite systems for smart switchable windows and faster responses ferroelectric materials. His works are well cited and has been awarded by many societies in India and abroad through Best paper awards.
Indian National Science Academy (INSA) nominated him to several foreign academies like Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest (1997−98), Royal Society, London (2004−05), National Science Foundation (NSF) South Korea 2007-08 and the Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic (2010−2011) under bilateral exchange programme of scientists programme. He presented research findings (as Invited speaker) in many international forums conferences in USA, Japan, Italy, Singapore, S Korea, Canada, UK, Germany and others. He has active collaboration with Ludwig Maximilians University at Munich (Germany), Technical University, Darmstadt (Germany) through German Science Foundation grants, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, University of Manchester (UK), University of Bordeaux, France, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, Solid State Physics Laboratory, New Delhi, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi and others.
Professor Raina served as Vice-President of Electron Microscope Society of India and a member of several international and national scientific societies.