P. A. Venkatachalam

Paruvachi Ammasai Venkatachalam is an Indian academic.

Venkatachalam joined the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering of College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University as a faculty member in 1973 and served as the Professor and Head of that department from 1978-1987. During this period, he introduced a number of Bachelor's and Master's courses and, in 1978, founded the Department of Computer Science. He was the Professor and Head of that department until 1986. He introduced Master of Computer Applications (MCA) degree in Tamil Nadu State. He then founded the School of Computer Science and Engineering, of which he was the first Director and Professor until 1988. He then moved to be Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia until 2000.

Venkatachalam served as Senior Professor of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia between 2001-2009.

In 1986, Venkatachalam was seconded by the Government of India to serve as a visiting faculty to Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand where he helped Asian Institute of Technology, with setting up the Computer Science Program. He serves as fellow of many professional organisations including Computer Society of India, IETE, Indian Academy of Sciences, IEEE, and others. He has written many books on electrical, electronics and computer science which are used as text books in engineering colleges. Venkatachalam has served as member of several committees of universities and engineering colleges in India, as committee member for industries such as ITI, and as committee member for Research Organisations such as the Indian Space Research Organisation. He has also served as member of many educational and industry committees of Tamil Nadu State and Central governments. He sits in many international and national conference program and advisory committees.

Venkatachalam has won numerous awards for his research work. Notable awards include:

• 2007: he won a record four gold medals at INPEX 2007 for his work in the field of medical science and engineering.
• 2007: he won two gold medals for his research work and invention in the field of medical science and engineering at INNOVA EUREKHA.
• 2008: he won two gold and two silver medals for his research work and invention in the field of medical science and engineering at INPEX 2008, when he was also given a lifetime achievement award.
• He has won many awards and recognitions at the International Invention and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) Conference, including in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
• 2009: Both his research and inventions in the field of biomedical engineering and electrical engineering won gold medals at ITEX 2009 Conference and gold and bronze medals at the IENA Conference.

• InventHelp Presents INPEX - The Invention & New Product Exposition
• http://www.utp.edu.my/news/Innova-2007.php
• BERNAMA - UTP Emerges Tops Among 13 Malaysian Universities At INPEX 2008
• Malaysian Invention & Design Society
• http://www.minds.org.my/News/ITEX06-WINNERS%20BY%20MEDALS.xls.pdf
• http://www.utp.edu.my/news/ITEX2008.php
• http://www.utp.edu.my/news/IENA2009.php

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India
• Master of Technology (MTech) in Control Systems Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
• Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Alagappa College of Engineering, Karaikudi, India