IIT Delhi hosts the third edition of the transformative leadership in STEMM workshop for SC/ST PhD Scholars.

New Delhi, February 9, 2026: The IIT Delhi hosted the third edition of the national-level mentoring program, “Transformative Leadership in STEMM (TLS) workshop held from January 28 to 30, 2026.

The objective of the event was to encourage and empowere advanced-stage Ph. D. scholars from the SC/ST community to pursue faculty positions at IITs, NITs, and other higher education institutions (HEIs).

This year’s workshop focused on the disciplines of Chemical Engineering, Textile and Fibre Engineering, Atmospheric Science, and Materials Science & Engineering.

The workshop was jointly organized by IIT Delhi and ICE:

The workshop was jointly organized by the Initiative for Caste Equity (ICE), the office of Diversity & Inclusion, and the SC/ST Cell, IIT Delhi.

More than 150 candidates from across the country applied for the program.

A scientific advisory committee, chaired by Prof. Dhanya C. T., Dean (Academics), IIT Delhi, and comprising heads of departments and expert faculty members, selected 50 participants from various institutions nationwide.

The cohort also included ten candidates from previous TLS batches to ensure continued mentoring.

During the workshop, participants delivered research presentations and teaching demonstrations, which were evaluated by faculty members who provided detailed feedback for academic and pedagogical improvement.

The program featured multiple skill-building activities aimed at strengthening academic and professional competencies. A session on overcoming confidence barriers, ideas, and leadership of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar can help address self-doubt and build self-belief.

Other sessions focused on crafting research and teaching an independent research vision, departmental relevance, and a clearly articulated teaching philosophy.

Participants also took part in a hands-on module on written English communication in academic and institutional contexts.

A faculty-mentored, group-based research proposal exercise encouraged interdisciplinary thinking, peer learning, and the development of robust research applications.

Another session focused on faculty interview preparation, led by Prof. Siddarth Pandey, Dean (Faculty), IIT Delhi, who also addressed queries related to special recruitment drives.

Participation of experts:

Eminent academic leaders, including Prof. Samsher, Vice-Chancellor of Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, and Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Director of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, shared their professional journeys and insights with the participants.

Addressing the valedictory function, Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, said, “We initiated the TLS mentoring program to build socially inclusive academic leadership that can bring positive change in academia and society. It is encouraging to see the progress of the workshop in its third edition, and we hope many participants will join faculty positions in the coming years.”

Reflecting on the program’s impact, Prof. Yashpal Jogdand, Convener of TLS workshop for the past three years, noted that many participants have reported increased self-confidence, publication in top-tier journals, patent filings, and successful placements in postdoctoral positions at leading institutions. He added that the initiative plays a crucial role in bridging the social diversity gap in STEM fields.

Prof. Manojkumar Ramteke, Chairperson of the SC/ST Cell and TLS workshop co-convener, along with Prof. Pravin Ingole, co-convener, expressed gratitude to the IIT Delhi leadership, scientific advisory committee, faculty members, staff, and student volunteers for their support in making the workshop a success.

Also Read: IIT Delhi celebrates 68th foundation day, releases first-ever Alumni Impact Report.

EOM.