Dr. Hemavathi Sugumar is a Senior Scientist (Scientist D) in Electrochemical Power Sources Division at CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute and Assistant Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). She specializes in battery engineering, energy storage, and electric vehicle (EV) technologies. She holds a PhD in engineering sciences from AcSIR and an ME in power system engineering.
Dr. Sugumar’s research focuses on AI-enabled battery management systems (BMS), electro-thermal diagnostics, battery thermal management, and safety architectures for lithium-ion energy storage systems used in electric mobility and grid applications. She has led nationally relevant CSIR, DST and industry-funded projects on smart BMS development and thermal safety enhancement for mission-critical battery packs. She is a member of more than 20 national and international professional societies and multiple honors, including the IEI Young Engineers Award, INYAS & INAE Member, IEEE Senior Member, and Women in Energy Leadership Recognition (IESW 2025). Through her work, Dr. Sugumar continues to drive innovation in sustainable battery technologies and clean energy transition for India’s e-mobility future.
As a Fulbright-Nehru scholar, Dr. Sugumar is focusing on developing an advanced immersion cooling system for lithium-ion battery packs to improve thermal uniformity, reduce safety risks, and enhance lifecycle management under demanding operating conditions. Through this fellowship, she seeks to develop collaborative modeling and experimental frameworks, publish high-quality research outcomes, and build long-term Indo-U.S. partnerships in battery thermal management, sustainable energy systems, and safer electric-mobility technologies.