Dr. Suma Divakar is an accomplished academician, researcher, and extension specialist in the field of Food Science, Nutrition, and Community Science, with over 34 years of professional experience, including 29 years as a faculty member at Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) and 5 years as a Subject Matter Specialist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Mithranikethan. Since joining KAU in 1997, she has been actively engaged in teaching undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students in Foods and Nutrition, Food Science, and allied disciplines. She has also held several key academic leadership positions, including Head of the Department of Community Science, Project Coordinator, Programme-in-Charge of the IGNOU Study Centre, and member of various Boards of Studies and institutional committees.

Research Contributions

Dr. Divakar has made significant contributions to food science and nutrition research, particularly in value addition of jackfruit and functional food development. She has successfully completed nine externally funded research projects supported by agencies such as the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), State Horticulture Mission, Department of Women and Child Development, and Kerala Agricultural University. She has supervised 5 PhDs from Kerala Agricultural University, Total PG student projects at Kerala Agricultural University is 16, and 170 IGNOU postgraduate projects, while currently mentoring additional doctoral and master's candidates. Her scholarly output includes more than 94 peer-reviewed research publications, reflecting her sustained research excellence and also she has completed 11 External aided projects (Research and Extension).

Teaching & Mentorship

A dedicated educator, Dr. Divakar has taught Foods and Nutrition to undergraduate students and Food Science courses to postgraduate and doctoral scholars for over two decades. She is widely recognized for mentoring high-quality research, with several of her Ph.D. students receiving prestigious awards for outstanding theses and best oral presentations at national and international conferences. Her mentorship has contributed significantly to the development of young researchers in agricultural and nutritional sciences.

Extension & Outreach Activities

Dr. Divakar has played a pivotal role in community development through extensive extension activities. She has organized sponsored training programmes for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in food processing, promoted entrepreneurship in value-added food products, and supervised Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) and Experiential Learning Programmes. She has also served as a resource person in seminars, radio talks, and television programmes, disseminating scientific knowledge to farming communities and the general public. Additionally, she has authored two books and regularly contributes articles to books, magazines, and the Malayalam agricultural magazine Karshakasree.

Academic Achievements & Awards

Dr. Divakar has consistently demonstrated academic excellence throughout her career. She was the University Topper in both B.Sc. and M.Sc. programmes at Kerala University and received the Best Outgoing Student Award. She earned her Ph.D. as a UGC Fellow and was awarded the Gold Medal for Ph.D. by Kerala University. Her doctoral research was recognized by the Swadeshi Science Congress. She later obtained a second Master's degree in Dietetics and Food Service Management from IGNOU. Her innovative technology on Instant Jackfruit Mixes was approved for technology transfer by Kerala Agricultural University in 2022. She also received the Best Senior Faculty Award (2022) from the DK International Research Foundation.

Professional Leadership & Memberships

Throughout her career, Dr. Divakar has provided exemplary academic leadership by serving as Head of the Department, Principal Investigator of commercialization projects, Subject Expert on the Ethics Committee, Convenor of the Internal Complaints Committee, and member of Boards of Studies at Kerala Agricultural University, CMS College, and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. She is a life member of the Home Science Association of India, the Indian Academy of Social Sciences, and the Nutrition Society of India, reflecting her active engagement with the professional scientific community.

Research Interests

Her primary research interests include:

• Food Science and Nutrition
• Value Addition of Jackfruit and Underutilized Crops
• Functional Foods and Food Processing
• Community Nutrition
• Entrepreneurship Development through Food Processing
• Food Product Commercialization

Eligibility for the Distinguished Researcher Award

Dr. Suma Divakar is highly eligible for the Distinguished Researcher Award in Scientific Laurels in recognition of her distinguished career spanning more than three decades in higher education, research, extension, and academic leadership. Her outstanding accomplishments include successfully leading externally funded research projects, publishing over 72 peer-reviewed research papers, supervising numerous Ph.D. and postgraduate scholars, developing commercially viable food technologies, mentoring award-winning researchers, and making significant contributions to food science, nutrition, and community development. Her sustained excellence in teaching, impactful research, technology transfer, and professional service makes her a deserving recipient of the Distinguished Researcher Award in Scientific Laurels.