Prof. Dr. Oommen Tharakan Kuttiyil Thomas

Prof. Dr. Oommen Tharakan Kuttiyil Thomas (born May 30, 1963) is a distinguished Indian scientist, academician, and author, recognized for his 38-year career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He currently serves as the Professor, Dean of Research & Development (R&D), and Head of the Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) Department at Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology (MBCET) in Peermade, Idukki.

Known in national media as the "Rocket Man of Idukki," Dr. Thomas is a pioneer in bridging high-reliability space technology with undergraduate engineering education and precision agriculture.

Academic Qualifications

Dr. Thomas holds advanced degrees from India's premier technical institutions:

• Ph.D. in Microelectronics and VLSI Design from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB).
• Master of Engineering (M.E.) from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
• B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET).

Professional Career

ISRO Tenure (1985–2023)

Dr. Thomas served for nearly four decades at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). He retired as a Senior Scientist (Scientist 'H') and held the position of Group Director in the Avionics Entity. His contributions were vital to the development of indigenous electronic packages and "Zero-Defect" production standards for the PSLV and GSLV launch vehicle programs.

Academic Leadership at MBCET

Since joining MBCET Peermade, Dr. Thomas has focused on fostering an ecosystem of "Aatmanirbhar" (self-reliant) innovation. As Dean (R&D), he mentors a multidisciplinary team of over 100 students in aerospace and IoT-based social engineering projects.

Key Projects and Innovations

BASILIAN-01 Rocket Mission

Dr. Thomas served as the Chief Architect and Mentor for the BASILIAN-01 technology demonstrator rocket. Launched on December 18, 2025, it was the first rocket in Kerala to be entirely designed and fabricated within a collegiate environment. The project demonstrated the feasibility of sub-orbital flight using indigenous materials.

BEEMARK-I Precision Apiculture

Under his guidance, students developed the BEEMARK-I smart beehive monitoring system. Integrating IoT and sensor technology, the system optimizes honey production and colony health. It was formally handed over to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, for extensive field trials in early 2026.

Publications: The "Defect Bible"

In 2022, Dr. Thomas co-authored the definitive technical monograph, Electronics Production Defects and Analysis, published by Springer Nature. Within the electronics manufacturing industry, the work is widely referred to as the "Defect Bible" for its exhaustive pictorial documentation of fabrication anomalies aimed at achieving zero-defect production.

Professional Identifiers

• HandWiki Profile: Bio: Oommen Tharakan
• ORCID: 0000-0002-3423-2753
• VIDWAN ID: 436243
• Scientific Impact: Google Scholar Profile

External links

• Official Springer Nature Book Page
• Faculty Page at MBCET Peermade