Meet our core team

Suja Kunnath (Director In-charge CATI)
Dr Suja. K. Kunnath

Director (In-charge), Center for Assistive Technology and Innovation

Dr Suja. K. Kunnath serves as Associate Professor and Head at the Department of Neurodevelopemtnal Sciences, NISH. She joined NISH on 10-6-2010. She received her PhD Degree in Speech Language Pathology from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 2006. She completed MSc in Speech and Hearing from All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysore  in 1999. She has more than 18 years of teaching, research and clinical experience. Her current responsibility includes teaching postgraduate students of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. Her clinical interests include Autism Spectrum Disorders, Language and Learning, and Global Developmental Delay. Currently she heads the Center for Assistive Technology and Innovation at NISH, as its Director (In-charge).

Dr. Akila Surendran
Dr. Akila Surendran

Senior Engineer, Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation

Akila Surendran, Ph.D. is a senior engineer in the Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation (CATI) at the National Institute for Speech & Hearing (NISH), Trivandrum, Kerala, India. She completed her B.Tech in Industrial Biotechnology in Anna University and Ph.D. in Computational and Systems Biology from the Singapore-MIT Alliance programme in NUS. She has been in CATI from its inception in 2015 and played an important role in expanding the functions of the centre in different areas to encourage the Assistive Technology (AT) ecosystem in India. As an AT specialist, she works directly with persons with disabilities along with an interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals at NISH to identify the most suitable technology for the person and implement it.

Kshitij Singh
Mr Kshitij Singh

Coordinator (Outreach and Partnerships)- Consultant for CATI

Kshitij Singh, Coordinator (Outreach and Partnerships) in the Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation (CATI) at the National Institute for Speech & Hearing (NISH), Trivandrum, Kerala, India. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Power Systems. He was the first paid intern at CATI, during his college. He has earlier served as Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research, Bhopal. Currently he  leads the CATI’s collaboration with external stakeholders including students, colleges, start-ups, for developing AT solutions, courses, workshops, campaigns and awareness sessions.

Subir Bhaduri
Dr Subir Bhaduri

AT Implementation Consultant for CATI

Subir Bhaduri, AT Implementation Consultant in the Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation (CATI) at the National Institute for Speech & Hearing (NISH), Trivandrum, Kerala, India. He is a prototype maker from Pune with interests in serving the technological R&D needs of the social sector as well as startups. His interests are in mechanics, electronics and physics along with how our society works and issues within them. He has a graduation in physics, masters in atmospheric science and a PhD in internal combustion engines. At CATI, he serve as a part-time AT implementation consultant.

Amritha RS
Ms Amritha RS

AT Implementation Consultant for CATI

Amritha RS, AT Implementation Consultant in the Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation (CATI) at the National Institute for Speech & Hearing (NISH), Trivandrum, Kerala, India. She holds a post-graduate diploma in lifestyle product designing from the Kerala State Institute of Design (KSID). She follows a passion for creativity, innovation and uniqueness. She has a keen interest  in special needs product and lifestyle design.

Swati Ramtilak, Intern at CATI
Ms Swati Ramtilak

Intern at CATI

Swati Ramtilak, is pursuing her under-graduation in Bioengineering. She has a passion for affordable and accessible healthcare devices. Chess and Music are an integral part of her life. She assists in creating accessible documents, media and other related projects at CATI.