John Pucadyil: Plasma Physicist, Institution Builder, Professor and Author

Prof. John Pucadyil is a distinguished plasma physicist, institution builder, professor and Padma Shri awardee whose career spans more than five decades in research, development and teaching. Based in Kottayam, Kerala, he has contributed to India’s plasma and fusion research while also working as an author, poet and mentor.
on Sep 16, 2026

Prof. John Pucadyil is a distinguished plasma physicist, institution builder, professor and author whose professional career spans more than five decades across research, development and teaching. Hailing from Kottayam, Kerala, he earned his Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University in 1969, after initiating plasma experiments using self-assembled equipment.

He joined the Physical Research Laboratory in 1972, where he played a role in the resurgence of experimental plasma physics in India. Prof. John contributed to the development of India’s fusion research and helped establish the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR). He was also part of the team behind ADITYA, India’s first indigenous tokamak reactor. His work in industrial plasma applications led to the establishment of the Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technologies (FCIPT).

At the international level, Prof. John served as Head of the Physics Division at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), coordinating international cooperation in plasma physics and thermonuclear fusion research. He was also part of the team that initiated technical negotiations for India’s partnership in the global ITER fusion project.

Beyond research, he has mentored generations of scientists through the Satellite Research Projects and the National Fusion Programme. He is a Professor of Practice at Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, where he mentors young entrepreneurs through the MG University Innovation Foundation.

Prof. John is also an oil painter and poet and writes about life, science, technology and society. He is the author of Plasma Sciences and the Creation of Wealth, Plasma Processes for Energy and Environment, and the memoir Experiments with Plasmas. His books bring complex plasma dynamics, technological innovation and scientific history to readers worldwide.

His books are available on Amazon