The faculty at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) plays a pivotal role in maintaining its reputation as a leading space research university. Because of its specialized mission under the Department of Space (Government of India), the faculty structure is designed for high-impact research, small class sizes, and direct collaboration with ISRO.
Chancellor: Dr. B. N. Suresh (Founding Director of IIST and former Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre).
Vice-Chancellor / Director: Prof. Dipankar Banerjee (Senior astrophysicist and former Director of ARIES).
Pro Vice-Chancellor: Prof. Kuruvilla Joseph.
Dean (Academics): Prof. Anandmayee Tej
Hands-on Hardware/Software Development: Rather than relying solely on lecture-based instruction, faculty emphasize learning by doing.
Real-World Space Projects: Students work on actual student-led satellite projects (such as the INSPIRESat series), sounding rocket payloads, and autonomous rovers as part of their coursework and electives.
Co-Guided Thesis & Projects: Final-year B.Tech and postgraduate research projects are frequently co-supervised by IIST faculty members and senior ISRO scientists from centers like VSSC, LPSC, and SAC.
Internships & Lab Access: Coursework is aligned with mandatory summer/winter internships at ISRO centers, where students apply classroom concepts directly to live mission infrastructure.
Specialized Domain Labs: Practical sessions utilize high-end infrastructure, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD) suites, cleanrooms, propulsion test beds, VLSI design tools, and an on-campus astronomical observatory.
Simulation-Driven Instruction: Complex mathematical and physical models (e.g., trajectory optimization, orbital mechanics, signal processing) are taught using industry-standard tools like MATLAB, ANSYS, and CAD packages.
Space engineering requires cross-domain knowledge. Faculty integrate principles across Aerospace, Avionics, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, encouraging students to approach challenges (such as satellite thermal control or launch vehicle guidance) from multi-disciplinary perspectives.
Lovely Professional University (LPU)
Jalandhar, Punjab
Type: Private University
IBS Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Telangana
Type: Private
Chandigarh University
Mohali, Punjab
Chandigarh University, Lucknow
Unnao, Uttar Pradesh
RV University
Bangalore, Karnataka
Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE)
ICFAI University (IFHE)
Type: Deemed to be University
KL University
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
GITAM Deemed to be University
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad Business School, GITAM University
Medak, Telangana
MIT WPU
Pune, Maharashtra
KLH Hyderabad
MIT VPU
Solapur, Maharashtra
Universal AI University
Raigad, Maharashtra
Maharishi Markandeshwar University
Ambala, Haryana
DOMS - Nalsar University
Type: Public
DIT University
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
MBU Tirupati
Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh
SRM University, AP
MNR University
Medchal, Telangana
VIT-AP University
VIT Vellore
Vellore, Tamil Nadu
SRM University - SRMIST Chennai
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka
Woxsen University
Christ University
Reva University
Sathyabama University, Chennai