Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur alumnus Dr Rajeev Gautam has donated $250,000 to establish three endowed programs in his alma mater’s Department of Chemical Engineering.
The funds will be utilised to set up an Endowed Faculty Chair, a Faculty Fellowship and a Travel Grant program for students. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IITK, IIT Kanpur Foundation and Dr Gautam for this purpose.
Prof S Ganesh, IIT Kanpur Director, said it will enrich faculty and student endeavours by facilitating more robust research efforts, recognising young faculty talent, and providing global exposure opportunities to students.
“The Department of Chemical Engineering provided me with resources to set a strong technical foundation for my professional journey and success. I hope that the endowed programs empower the next generation of changemakers in the field of Chemical Engineering,” Dr Gautam noted.
Graduating in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 1974, he made a mark in pioneering solutions to meet industry demands. He played a key role in the creation and introduction of catalytic and separations applications for the refining, petrochemical, and gas processing sectors.
Spanning a four-decade-long stint with Honeywell, Dr Gautam retired as President Emeritus, Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies. Recognising his extensive work in the field, IIT Kanpur awarded him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2020.
IIT Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament.
It is known for the highest standard of education in science and engineering and for seminal R&D contributions over the years.
The Institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1,055 acres with a large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centres and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 570 full-time faculty members and approximately 9,000 students.