Kuruvilla Joseph appointed as pro vice-chancellor of IIST

Thiruvananthapuram: Kuruvilla Joseph was appointed as the first pro vice-chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram. IIST, an autonomous institution under the department of space, govt of India, holds the unique distinction of being Asia's first institute dedicated exclusively to education and research in space science and technology.

A distinguished scientist and academician, Joseph has served IIST in several pivotal administrative roles, including registrar and dean (academics), contributing significantly to its growth and academic excellence. He is widely acclaimed for his outstanding research contributions, with more than 250 research papers in leading international journals, nine books and several patents to his credit.

Joseph's work has earned him international recognition, including his inclusion in Stanford/Elsevier list of the world's top 2% scientists for five consecutive years (2020–2025). In addition to his academic and research achievements, he served on several high-level committees at national and international fora, bringing his expertise to bear on shaping science and education policies.