National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology
The National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Trivandrum) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR, India, engaged in research and development activities in the field of agroprocessing, chemical sciences, materials and minerals, biotechnology and process engineering and environmental science and technology. Around 100 scientists and 200 research fellows are working in various scientific disciplines in this institute. The programmes have a blend of basic research and technology development and commercialization; have specific thrusts on frontier areas of research, National Mission Projects, regional resource-based activities and R & D - Industry - Academia linkages. The laboratory has excellent collaborative programmes with major National & International agencies too.
Research divisions
The major research divisions in NIIST are,
1. Agroprocessing Division
2. Biotechnology Division
3. Chemical Sciences Division
- C-MARS
- Inorganic Materials
- Organic Chemistry
- Photosciences and Photonics
- Specialty Polymers
4. Materials Science and Technology Division (MSTD)
- Ceramics
- Electron Microscopy
Themes of Research<http://www.niist.res.in/english/research-areas/materials-and-minerals/electron-microscopy/highlights>
- Light Metals, Alloys and Composites
- Minerals
5. Process Engineering and Environmental Technology Division
- Chemical and Process Engineering
- Computational Modelling and Simulation
- Environmental Technology
The services provided by this institute to the general public, students, industrialists, entrepreneurs may be revealed through internet so that the above categories can make use of it.
Agroprocessing Division
This is the division in charge of undertaking research in developing technologies for processing agroproducts. The major research includes quality improvement of palm Oil, Ginger oil extraction, nutraceutical studies etc. Presently headed by Dr Sundaresan A, his team includes, Sreekumar, Venugopal, Dr Nisha, Reshma, Padmakumari Amma, Jayamoorthy and Nirmala Menon.