Engineering Futures and Purpose with Dr G Uma

In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri Kalyanaraman speaks with Dr. G Uma, Professor in the Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering and Dean of Institutional Development & Alumni Relations at NIT Trichy. An alumna herself, Dr. Uma reflects on her 27-year journey in academia, her pioneering work in MEMS technology, and her deep commitment to guiding future engineers.From humble beginnings as the first faculty in a rural college to shaping NIT Trichy’s international profile, Dr. Uma’s career blends research excellence, institution building, and mentorship. She shares candid stories of early struggles, the leap into doctoral research, building one of South India’s first MEMS Design Centers, and balancing administrative leadership with a hands-on teaching approach.Listeners will also hear her grounded advice on health, career focus, networking, and completing what you start—whether that’s a degree or a passion project. She speaks openly about the challenges of motivating today’s students in a world of distractions and the importance of developing both technical skills and professional ethics. Key Takeaways:Passion for Teaching – How a rural college role ignited her lifelong love for education.MEMS Pioneer – Building a MEMS Design Center in 2004, ahead of its time in India.Doctorate with Purpose – Why PhDs are about philosophy, not just a title.Mentoring Future Engineers – Using societal problem-solving and teamwork to develop leadership in students.Advice for Students – Stay clear on your goals, master your core field, network widely, and prioritize health.Institutional Vision – Balancing global branding for NIT Trichy with deep alumni engagement. Notable Quotes:“Only when we are able to do what we are doing at present best, can we achieve our passion.” “PhD is not just another degree — it’s a philosophy in research.” “Health is the most important thing in the world; without it, everything else is zero.” Perfect for:Students seeking clarity on career paths in engineering.Academics balancing research, teaching, and administration.Alumni curious about NIT Trichy’s vision and outreach.Anyone inspired by stories of perseverance, innovation, and mentorship.Dr. Uma started her academic career in 1992 and joined the Department of ICE, NIT, Tiruchirappalli, in 1999. She is currently serving as a Professor and Dean of the Institutional Development & Alumni Relations. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held several significant leadership roles, including Coordinator of the ISRO- STIC (Space Technology Incubation Centre), ICC Presiding Officer, Additional Chief Warden, Head of Instrumentation and Control Engineering Department, Faculty Advisor of the International Society for Automation (ISA) at NITT, Ladies HostelWarden and Associate Dean.Dr. Uma has made substantial contributions to her field, having authored over 90 research papers in reputed international journals and presented more than 60 papers at conferences. She has also contributed to two book chapters and served as one of the editors of a monograph on Nuclear Instrumentation and Control. Furthermore, she holds three granted Indian patents, demonstrating her innovative work in the field. She has been the principal investigator for several sponsored research projects and has guided over ten research scholars and more than 50 postgraduate students, nurturing the next generation of engineers and researchers. Dr. Uma also played a pivotal role in two national programs on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), namely NPSM and NPMASS, further advancing the research and development of MEMS technologies in India.Dr. Uma has been recognized with the Young Scientist Fellowship from the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) and was recently honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) from MIT, Anna University. Her research interests encompass the design of sensors and actuators, Micro- Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), biomedical instrumentation, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing biomedical technologiesDr. G. Uma, a native of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, completed her Bachelor of Engineering in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, Master of Engineering in Instrumentation Engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University, Chennai and Ph.D. in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.