Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award – GLOBAL EXCELLENCE AND STATURE 4.0
Distinguished Visiting Professor Department of Chemical Sciences
Prof Sabu Thomas is a distinguished figure in science and education, celebrated for his pioneering work in Polymer Science and Nanotechnology. His career spans research, administration, and education, shaping students’ academic journeys globally. He began his academic journey at Cochin University of Science and Technology, pursuing undergraduate studies in Polymer Science and Rubber Technology. Guided by Prof SK De, he earned a PhD at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. After the industrial experience, he returned to academia at Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kottayam and has since been appointed a Distinguished Visiting Professor at renowned international institutions, including the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Prof Thomas is currently the Director of the TrEST Research Park in Trivandrum, India. His previous roles include serving as Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University. During his time at MGU, he also served as Director of several schools – namely the School of Energy Materials, the School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and the International and Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Prof Thomas founded the School of Polymer Science and Technology at MGU. His impact on academia is evident through mentoring over 130 PhD candidates, earning him national and international recognition, including honorary doctorates from institutions such as the University of South Brittany (France), the University of Lorraine (France), and Siberian Federal University (Russia).
Prof Thomas has organised over 100 international conferences, fostering global collaboration. He has authored more than 1,400 research publications and 210 edited books, boasting an impressive Google Scholar h-index of 137 and over 91,000 citations. Beyond research, he has received recognition from the European Science Evaluation Centre, the C.N.R Rao Award Prize Lecture in Advanced Materials, and EurASc induction. His excellence was further affirmed by winning the “mega-grants” contest from the Russian Federation. Prof Thomas boasts an international collaboration network with researchers in over 50 reputable universities across Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Under his guidance, Mahatma Gandhi University achieved global recognition, securing a position among the top 400-500 universities in the world (2022) and 154th in Asia (2021) per TIMES. Prof Sabu Thomas’s unwavering commitment to academia and transformative leadership has elevated his stature and MGU’s on the global academic stage.
