George Thomas is a professor and J C Bose National Fellow at the School of Chemistry of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram. He received his PhD degree in Chemistry from the University of Kerala and afterwards worked as senior scientist in the Photosciences & Photonics Section of the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology from July 1994 to April 2010.

In May 2010, he accepted an invitation from the newly established Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram and joined as a Professor. Twenty students completed their doctoral degree under his supervision now occupying important positions as faculty members in prestigious Indian and foreign Universities.

​He served as the founding Dean (Academics and Faculty Affairs) of IISER Thiruvananthapuram (2010-2015) and now serving as Dean (Faculty Affairs) since March 2020. He is instrumental in building IISER Thiruvananthapuram in various capacities. He also served as the Director (additional charge) of IISER Thiruvananthapuram during June 07 2013 – Feb. 13, 2014

He is currently the President of the Asian and Oceanian Photochemistry Association (APA) and was the member of editorial advisory committee of the Journal of Physical Chemistry of the American Chemical Society during the period 2012–2015.

​George Thomas is a recipient of several awards and distinctions: most significant ones are the J C Bose National Fellowship (2014-2019 and 2019-2024), one of the highest national research fellowships with a research grant  and the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Chemical Sciences (2006), the highest annual science award given for a researcher below the age of 45 years. 

He is an elected fellow of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi (2015) and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (2007) (two national science academies of India) and Honorary Professor of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.

Professional Experience 

1. Junior Research Fellow (1985-1987) and Senior Research Fellow (1987–1989) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

2. Research Associate (1989-1994) at the Photoscience and Photonics of the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology, Trivandrum, 695 019 

3. Senior Scientist, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (July 1994–May 2010) 

4. Visiting Scientist, Radiation laboratory, University of Notre Dame, USA, Jan-Nov 1999; May-July 2003 and Aug-Sept 2004: Nov 2005. (Radiation laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 USA). 

5. INSA-JSPS exchange fellow at Kyushu University, Japan (June–Sept 2001). 

Academic Background

   B. Sc. 1981, Kerala University (first class)

   M. Sc. 1983, Poona University (first class)

   Ph. D. 1990, Kerala University

Present Administrative Positions

• Dean of Faculty Affairs of IISER-TVM (March 2020–to date)

• President of the Asian and Oceanian Photochemistry Association (2018–2021)

• Member of several confidential decision-making bodies of Government of India

Other Important Positions Occupied

• Member of the editorial advisory committee of the Journal of Physical Chemistry of the American Chemical Society during the period 2012–2015

• Vice President of the Asian and Oceanian Photochemistry Association (2014–2016, 2016–2018)

• Director (additional charge) of IISER-TVM, June 07, 2013 – Feb. 13, 2014

• Dean of Academics and Faculty Affairs of IISER-TVM (2010–2015)

• Coordinator School of Chemistry (2010–2015)