Recognizing the importance of basic research, the Chemical Laboratory was one of the first laboratories to commence activities when the institute was established. Since then, the laboratory has served as the backbone of chemistry research at the institute. Through the years, the laboratory came to be globally reckoned for its contributions to chromium chemistry, understanding of the metal – protein, metal – DNA interactions through both experimental and theoretical routes and translating this understanding into applied research leading to technologies.

The laboratory through the years has seen many stalwarts in the field of science. The history of the laboratory takes back to Dr D Ramaswamy, the first Head of the Department. The followers of Dr DR led this laboratory to carry out high quality research in frontier areas of inorganic and physical chemistry which provided the foundation for the institute to gain national and international visibility.

Our students today occupy important positions in science and industry. The predominant research focus of the laboratory is to understand metal-protein or metal – DNA interactions and thus progress to the development of synthetic tanning agents with and without metal ions, smart chemicals that can provide customer desired features and usher in sustainability in leather processing. This has also helped us understand the likely toxicity of leather auxiliaries. The expertise gained in the last two decades enabled us to undertake research in the new areas of science such as nanomaterials, green chemistry and nanomaterial – biomaterial interface.

Dr D Ramaswamy 1950s to 1987
Dr T Ramasami 1987 to 1996
Dr AB Mandal 1996 to 2006
Dr BU Nair 2006 to 2013
Dr J R Rao 2013 to 2021
Dr V Subramanian 2021 onwards