The University of Kerala established the Department of Optoelectronics in 1995 in the Karyavattom Campus, with a focus on research in the field of Photonics, Optoelectronics and Optical communication. Prof. V Unnikrishnan Nair was the founder head of the department (1995-2001). Prof. V P Mahadevan Pillai, who was the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala, was the head from 2001 to 2017 and after that Prof. K G Gopchandran became the head from 2017 to 2020 and Prof. S. Sankararaman from 2020 to 2023. Presently Prof. Sam Solomon is officiating as the head since 2023. Now we have four permanent faculties, three contract faculties, three office staff, one librarian, four technicians and two casual labourers. With the wholehearted active involvement of all staff and students, the department is functioning well.
Today, the department has emerged as a centre of excellence, making significant contributions in various fields of Photonics. The department offers M.Sc. Electronics (specialization in Optoelectronics), M.Sc. Electronics (specialization in Artificial intelligence), AICTE-approved M.Tech. Electronics and Communication (specialization in Optoelectronics and Optical communication) and PhD programmes. The department has well-equipped laboratories and a library to carry out research in various fields of Photonics. The infrastructure facilities and student amenities in the department are commendable. Now, several internationally reputed professors from research institutions have come forward to collaborate with us as visiting faculties. The department has established research collaborations with foreign universities and institutions, which resulted in several joint research publications. The research output of the department includes more than 700 international journal papers, more than 500 conference papers and 51 Ph.Ds. Out of the five 5 patent applications filed, the department received one patent in October 2022. The department has an h-index of 40 and 6642 total citations on 09 May 2023(Scopus).
When the world stood helpless before the pandemic COVID 19, scientists worldwide started working in various fields like detection, prevention and mitigation. The department also joined hands with the global scientific community. Twelve of our publications related to COPD and pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis were enlisted on the website of the World Health Organisation. One publication in the field of Biomedical signal processing was selected as one of the best papers in 2022 and as a feature article by the Journal of Applied Physics of American Institute of Physics, and a figure in it was used in the journal cover page. Another recognition to the department is the admission of Prof. K G Gopchandran as the Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2021.
The Opto Gyan, Opto-Sanjeevani, and Opto solutions initiatives of the department reveal its commitment to co-curricular, extension and outreach activities. Now the department has joined hands with industries by signing MoUs for promoting industry-related research and campus recruitment. The department also receives excellent support from its alumni association (OPTAAK). The department has instituted the following awards to the students.
➢Dr. V R Ravindran Memorial Award for Best Research Student
➢Dr. V Unnikrishnan Nayar Endowment Award for M.Tech. Topper
➢Dr. V P Mahadevan Pillai Endowment Award for M.Sc. Toppers
In total, the department maintains an excellent conducive ambience for academics and research.
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