Nallathamby Kalaiselvi (born 5 February 1967) is an Indian electrochemical scientist and administrator who is currently serving as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). She is the first woman scientist to head CSIR.
Kalaiselvi completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in chemistry at the Rani Anna Government College for Women and the Government Arts College, Coimbatore. She later earned a PhD in electrochemistry from Annamalai University.
Kalaiselvi began her career as a scientist at the CSIRâÂÂCentral Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi, where her research mainly focused on battery materials, electrolytes and electrochemical energy-storage technologies.
In February 2019, she was appointed as the Director of CSIRâÂÂCECRI, becoming the first woman director of the institute In August 2022, she was appointed as the Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR.
As the head of CSIR, she oversees the organisation's network of laboratories and programmes in basic and applied research, innovation and technology transfer.
In July 2024, the Government of India extended her tenure for a further two years.
Her research areas includes lithium-ion and lithiumâÂÂsulfur battery systems, electrode materials, electrolyte development and multifunctional energy-storage devices. She has also led the national projects in advanced battery technologies.
Profiles and media reports highlight her contributions to electrochemical research and various leadership roles in CSIR.