Research Areas
• Microwave Engineering
• Antenna Design and Engineering
• Electromagnetic Theory and Applications
• Radio and Electronics Engineering
• Dielectric and Dielectric-Loaded Antennas
• Microwave Technology for Communication Systems

Biography
Rajeshwari Chatterjee (24 January 1922 – 3 September 2010) was an Indian scientist, academic, and the first woman engineer from Karnataka. She made significant contributions to microwave engineering, antenna technology, electromagnetic theory, and communication systems. She served as a professor and later as the chair of the ECE departemnt, IISc from 1979 to 1981.

Early Life and Education
Rajeshwari Chatterjee was born in Nanjangud, Karnataka, into a progressive family that valued women’s education. She attended the Special English School founded by her grandmother, Kamalamma Dasappa, a social reformer dedicated to women’s empowerment. She completed her B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. degrees in Mathematics and Physics at Central College, Bangalore, graduating with first rank from Mysore University in 1942.

In 1943, she joined IISc as a research student in the Electrical Technology Department under the directorship of Sir C. V. Raman. After India gained independence, she received a government scholarship to pursue higher studies in the United States. She earned her master’s degree in electrical engineering and later completed her Ph.D. in 1953 at the University of Michigan, under Professor William Gould Dow.

Career and Contributions
After returning to India, Prof. Chatterjee joined the Department of Electrical Communication Engineering at IISc as a faculty member. Together with her husband, Sisir Kumar Chatterjee, she established India's first microwave research laboratory.

During her distinguished career, she supervised 20 Ph.D. students, published more than 100 research papers, and authored seven technical books covering microwave engineering, antenna theory, electromagnetic applications, and dielectric-loaded antennas. She served as the chair of the ECE departemnt, IISc from 1979 to 1981. As the chair of the department, she played a crucial role in advancing electronics and communication engineering education in India.

Even after retiring in 1982, she remained active in social causes, advocating against gender discrimination and working with the Indian Association for Women’s Studies. Her life and legacy continue to inspire women in engineering and academia across India.

Awards and Honors
• Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar Award for securing first rank in B.Sc.
• Mountbatten Prize, Institute of Electrical and Radio Engineering (UK)
• J. C. Bose Memorial Prize, Institution of Engineers
• Ramlal Wadhwa Award, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers
• Recognized posthumously in 2017 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development as one of India’s “First Women Achievers”