Mini Shaji Thomas. Mini Shaji Thomas has been the Former Director of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (NIT Trichy) from 2016-2021. Thomas was the first female and 8th director of the Institute since it was founded in 1964. Currently, she is the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Education 
Thomas graduated from the University of Kerala in Electrical Engineering in 1984, where she was a gold medalist in her batch. She completed her M.Tech in Electrical Engineering (Energy Systems) in 1986 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, where again she was a gold medalist and also won the Siemen Prize. She received her PhD. in Electrical Engineering (Power systems) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 1991.

Career 
Thomas, as the Dean of Faculty of Engineering & Technology at Jamia Millia Islamia, has introduced three new B.Tech programs in the faculty in upcoming, job oriented fields and got the curriculum revised, with the introduction of minor and honors options, as per the National Education Policy 2020, bringing in flexibility. Thomas was the founding director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Jamia Millia Islamia and is currently a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology. She was the Central Public Information Officer from 2008-2014 and the Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering from 2005-2008. Thomas was a faculty member at Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi, and the National Institute of Technology, Calicut before joining Jamia.

At NIT Trichy, Thomas and her team, with the inputs from all stakeholders, developed the strategic plan for the institute, which aims to propel the institute to be among the top technical institutes in the world. Inching towards this goal, the position of the institute improved to 9th from 12th in ‘Engineering’ and to 24th from 34th in ‘overall’ position in the NIRF India rankings over the last 3 years.  With her keen interest, able guidance, and leadership, NIT Trichy has set up the first of its kind Centre for Excellence in manufacturing in 2018 at an investment of Rs. 190 crore in collaboration with Siemens Industry Software for Research and Training and Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Machines. The research publications, projects, and consultancy at the Institute have improved substantially with consistent encouragement and recognition of excellence in multiple ways.

Thomas is currently on the Board of Directors of the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF)  and was the President of Shastri-Indo Canadian Institute (SICI) for 2020-21, a binational organization supported by Ministry of Education, Government of India, that promotes understanding between India and Canada through academic activities and exchanges. Dr. Thomas was the Mentor Director of the Indian Institute of Information Technology Tiruchirappalli for 3 years.

Research contributions 

Thomas has done extensive research work in the areas of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Substation & Distribution Automation, and Smart Grid. She has published over 150 research papers  inintnernationaljouornals andconoferences of repute, supervised 16 PhDs, successfully completed many research project, and is the coordinator of the Special Assistance Program (SAP) on Power System Automation from UGC, Government of India. She is also a reviewer of reputed journals in her field.

Thomas has set up the first of its kind SCADA laboratory and Substation Automation (SA) Laboratory at JMI, with industry involvement, which is bringing laurels to the University in terms of research publications, MOUs, and training opportunities, and more importantly, an enhanced image among the world power engineering fraternity. She, as the founder coordinator, drafted the curriculum and started a unique, first full-time MTech program in the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, JMI, in 2003 in Electrical Power System Management, with industry participation, which has courses on power automation and novel hands-on training. For these contributions, Thomas won the IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB) Meritorious Achievement Award 2015 for "Design and Development of Curriculum and Laboratory Facilities for Professionals and Students in the Electricity Industry." She is the author of the textbook 'Power System SCADA and Smart Grids'  by CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, USA, and a book chapter in the McGraw-Hill Standard Handbook of Electrical Engineers, 17th edition, 2018. She has authored a chapter in the book 'Women in Power: Research and Development Advances in Electric Power Systems' in the Women in Engineering & Science series by Springer, 2023. She is a 'Distinguished Lecturer' of IEEE Power & Energy Society.

Thomas has been involved in professional societies and serves on the global boards of IEEE, representing the Asia-Pacific region. With over a decade of experience on international boards and committees, Thomas has delivered lectures at universities worldwide and engaged with technical experts globally.

Awards 
 Recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award (DAA) of IIT Madras 2022.
 Best Teacher Award by IEEE Kerala Section in 2019.
 IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Continuing Education for "Design and development of curriculum and laboratory facilities for professionals and Students in the Electric Utility Industry" by IEEE Educational Activities Board, USA in 2015.
 Larry K Wilson Trans-National Award by IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Board, USA in 2013.
 Outstanding Power and Energy Chapter Chair by IEEE Power and Energy Society, USA in 2012.
 Outstanding Power Engineer award by IEEE Power and Energy Society Delhi in 2008.
 MGA Innovation Award by IEEE Member and Geographic activities Board, USA in 2008.

In addition, Thomas received the ‘Career Award’ for young teachers, Govt. of India, won the IEEE Power and Energy Society Outstanding Chapter Chair award 2013, IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Innovation award 2008, IEEE Outstanding Volunteer award 2005, IEEE Outstanding Branch counselor award 2002, and PtheP ower and Energy Society (PES) Outstanding Chapter Engineer award. She is a certified trainer for ‘CapacityBuBilding of Women Managers in Higher Education by UGC and has conducted many training sessions for women's empowerment.

References

External links 
 

Academic staff of Jamia Millia Islamia
People from Kerala
1962 births
Living people
Academic staff of National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli
IIT Madras alumni