Prof. (Dr.) Reena Ittyachan (Sr. Irene) was born on December 29, 1971, in Mekkad, a small village in Nedumbassery Panchayat, Ernakulam District, Kerala. Her parents, Dr. K. C. Ittyachan Pattarumadom and Rosamma Ittyachan, encouraged her academic pursuits. She completed her schooling at Nirmala English Medium High School, Aluva, and her Pre-Degree at Sacred Heart College, Chalakudy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from M.G. University through Bharat Mata College, Kochi, and her Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Madras through Loyola College, Chennai. In 1999, after completing her religious training, she joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC), Alvernia Province, Irinjalakuda. She obtained her M.Phil. in Physics from Loyola College, University of Madras, in 2000, securing a Gold Medal. She later earned her Ph.D. from the University of Madras in 2004 through Loyola College, specializing in semiorganic nonlinear optical amino acid crystals with applications in laser technology and optoelectronics.
Dr. Sr. Irene has published 17 international research papers with strong impact factors and recently published two more in international journals. She has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences, including the European Conference on Crystal Growth in Bologna, Italy, for which she received an International Travel Grant from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
She has mentored many students in research activities and began her academic career as an Assistant Professor of Physics at Sacred Heart College, Chalakudy, in 2007. She also served as the College Hostel Warden for three years. Sr. Irene is a Life Member of the Academy of Physics Teachers, Kerala, and the Indian Association of Crystal Growth. She assumed charge as the Principal of the college in 2016 and was recognized as a Research Guide in Physics by the University of Calicut in 2020 through the Research Centre at the Department of Physics, Christ College, Irinjalakuda. In December 2023, she was promoted to the position of Professor.
Under her leadership, the college was awarded an A+ grade by NAAC in 2023 and granted Autonomous status by the UGC in April 2024. From 2019 to 2024, Sr. Irene served as a NAAC peer team member, evaluating colleges across various states. She also held the position of Regional President of the Xavier Board Kerala (North) Region.
Material Science – Crystal Growth
17. Substantial effect of Cr doping on the third-order nonlinear optical properties of ZnO nanostructures, Jincy Mathai, Ayona K Jose, M.P. Anjana, P.A. Aleena, Jibi Kunjumon, Reena Ittyachan, Sutheertha S.Nair, G. Vinitha, D. Sajan, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2023.114128 ( July 2023) (IF: 3.9)
16. Density functional theoretical study, spectroscopic characterization and molecular docking of the diuretic drug, spironolactone, adsorbed on AuNPs surface and in-vitro studies based on anticancer activity studies against A549 lung cancer cell line, V Shynia D.R.Leenaraj, Reena Ittyachan Rejeena, V.Rajand, G.J.Shyju. Lynnette Joseph. D.Sajan, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128255 (2022)
15. Spectroscopic studies, quantum chemical investigations, and in silico and in vitro scrutiny of the diuretic drug trichlormethiazide adsorbed on AuNPs, V. Shyni,D. R. Leenaraj, Reena Ittyachan, G. J. Shyju, Lynnette Joseph, D. Sajan Journal of Molecular Recognition, https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.2939 (2022)
14. Spectroscopic, density functional theoretical study, molecular docking, and in vitro studies based on anticancer activity studies against A549 lung cancer cell line of diphenyl hydantoin adsorbed on AuNPs surface Dr. Reena Ittyachan, V. Shyni, D. R. Leenaraj, Lynnette Joseph, D. Sajan, Physics Journal of Molecular Recognition, https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.2916 (2021)
13. Anticancer activity of indapamide adsorbed on gold nanoparticles: DFT, in-silico, and in-vitro analysis Dr. Reena Ittyachan, V. Shyni,D . R. Leenaraj, Lynnette Joseph,D. Sajan Physics Journal of Molecular Recognition, https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.2920 (2021)
12. Growth, Z-scan and density functional theoretical study for investigating the nonlinear optical properties of guanidinium l -glutamate for optical limiting applications, Dr. Reena Ittyachan, RejeenaV.Rajan, Merin Georgea, D.R.Leenaraj, D. SajanaG.Vinitha, Physics Journal of Molecular Structure 1222, 128937 (2020)
11. Experimental and theoretical studies on the bifurcated hydrogen bonded NLO active material of pure and crystal violet dye-doped L-argininium bis dihydrogen phosphate Dr. Reena Ittyachan, Jesby George, Ligi Cherian, Lynnette Joseph, D.Sajan, G.Vinitha Physics Optical Materials, 92, 111-124 (2019)
10. Bulk crystals of L-Histidinium dihydrogen phosphate orthophosphoric acid grown by Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy method, Dr. Reena Ittyachan, A.Arunkumar, Journal of Crystal Growth, 457, 104-106(2017)
9. Crystal structure of bis(2-aminoanilinium) hydrogenphosphate, Reena Ittyachan, MelesuparambilSundaramAhigna and RajamonyJagan, ActaCryst. E72, 530–533(2016)
8. Crystalline perfection and optical studies of L-Histidiniumdihydrogen phosphate orthophosphoric acid (LHDP) single crystals, R Ittyachan, A Arunkumar, G Bhagavannarayana, Optical Materials 48, 156-159(2015)
7. l-Argininium bis (dihydrogen phosphate), R Ittyachan, P Sagayaraj, B Kothandapani, ActaCrystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online 59 (6), 0886-0888(2003) citation-5
6. Growth and thermal studies of non-linear optical L-argininiumdiiodate L-argininiumdinitrate and L-argininium hydrochloride bromide single crystals, PC Thomas, S Aruna, J Madhavan, R Ittyachan, JA Pragasam, Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Physics 45 (7), 591-595 (2007) citation-5
5. Growth and characterization of semiorganic non-linear optical LHB single crystal R Ittyachan, PC Thomas, DP Anand, M Palanichamy, P Sagayaraj, Materials chemistry and physics 93 (2), 272-276 (2005) citation-15
4. Crystallization and characterization of l-histidinium perchlorate single crystal, R Ittyachan, SXJ Raja, SA Rajasekar, P Sagayaraj, Materials chemistry and physics 90 (1), 10-15(2005) citation-20
3. Growth and characterization of a new nonlinear optical L-histidine diphosphate single crystal, R Ittyachan, P Sagayaraj, Journal of Crystal Growth 249 (3), 553-556 (2003)citation-25
2. Growth and characterisation of L-arginine diphosphate crystal, R Ittyachan, P Sagayaraj, Journal of crystal growth 243 (2), 356-360(2002) citation-45
1. Growth and characterization of a new promising NLO L-histidine bromide crystal, R Ittyachan, P Sagayaraj, Journal of Crystal Growth 249 (3), 557-560(2003) citation-65
5. Presented a paper in the 26th Annual Meeting of German Crystallographic Society(DGK) at Essen, Germany on 5-8 March 2018
4. BULK CRYSTALS OF L-HISTIDINIUM DIHYDROGEN PHOSPHATE ORTHOPHOSPHORIC ACID GROWN BY SANKARANARAYANAN – RAMASAMY METHOD, Fifth European Conference on Crystal Growth(ECCG5) on 9-11 September 2015, at Bologna, Italy
3. GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF L-HISTIDINE DIPHOSPHATE SINGLE CRYSTAL UGC Sponsored National Seminar, Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur (17-18 October 2014)
2. GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF L-ARGININE DIPHOSPHATE SINGLE CRYSTAL UGC Sponsored National Seminar, St. Joseph College For Women, Alapuzha (4-5 December 2014)
1. GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NONLINEAR OPTICAL L-HISTIDINE TRIFLUOROACETATE SINGLE CRYSTAL UGC Sponsored National Seminar, CMS College, Kottayam (15- 16 January 2015)
Inauguration of Science Exhibition of the Carmel Academy, ICSE School, Chalakudy on 31st October, 2014.
