Dr. Chitra Rajagopal completed her PhD from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in the area of Heat Transfer, after obtaining her Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Punjab University, Chandigarh for which she was awarded University and Arun Modi gold medals.
Dr. Chitra Rajagopal, Distinguished Scientist and Director General (SAM), was appointed as Chief Controller (R&D) Systems Analysis and Modelling from 14 Dec. 2016, subsequently re-designated as Director General (SAM). Prior to this, she held the position of Outstanding Scientist & Director CFEES. She concurrently holds the post of the First Appellate Authority (FAA), DRDO as per RTI Act 2005 also.
Her research areas are Process Safety, Environment Safety, Explosive Safety and Heat Transfer. For addressing the stakeholders’ needs for reduced land area, enhanced safety of explosives/munitions storage/handling and ensuring safety and serviceability of military munitions, innovative solutions for explosive store houses have been provided. Other completed projects are Design and Development of Heat Transfer Equipment and Combustors for MOD Applications; Integrated Software Package for Risk and Hazard analysis (RHA) and Disaster Management; Development of Ecofriendly Treatment Technologies for Hazardous Waste; Design and Modelling of treatment systems for contaminated effluents from DRDO Labs/Ordnance Factories; Application of Risk Assessment Techniques to Defence; Development of Photodegradable Polymers for Packaging Applications; Bio fuel Reformer for generation of Hydrogen.