Eminent physicist & dynamic academic administrator Prof. Poonam Tandon assumed charge as Vice Chancellor of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, the first state university set up in Uttar Pradesh after independence on 4th September 2023. Prof. Poonam Tandon became the second women Vice Chancellor of NAAC A++ (CGPA 3.78) accredited DDU Gorakhpur University.

Recognizing her incredible academic & administrative journey, the Honourable Chancellor appointed Prof Poonam Tandon to lead DDU Gorakhpur University which has been a torchbearer of academic excellence in the Poorvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. She brought knowledge & wisdom to the University through her long & rich teaching, research, & academic administrative career spanning more than three & half decades.

Prior to the current assignment, she held several key academic & administrative positions at the University of Lucknow. To name a few, she was Dean of Students’ welfare, Dean of Academics, & Head of the Department of Physics where she played an instrumental role in infusing reforms in academics keeping students' interests paramount.

Prof. Poonam Tandon has held key positions in national & state-level committees set up to suggest reforms in academics & execution of the National Education Policy, 2020.

She was also the first Director General of the Uttar Pradesh Centre for Ranking, Accreditation & Mentoring (UPCRAM) established to devise methods & policies to support the State Universities of Uttar Pradesh to emerge as frontrunners in the National & International ranking & accreditation frameworks.

As a physicist, Prof. Tandon is an authority in the field of spectroscopy & has completed several sponsored research projects with national & international collaboration. She has published more than 32 Book Chapters & 250 research papers with more than 4000 citations & an H-index of 32. She has supervised more than 30 Ph.D. scholars, 8 M.Phil students, & several post-doctoral researchers.

She has been awarded several prestigious national & international fellowships & awards including the Fulbright Nehru Academic & Professional Excellence Fellowship, Research (Flex Award) by the United States-India Educational Foundation & Fulbright Commission in India, Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship, Germany, Nature Publishing Group Award, USA, Regular Associates, International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy, JSPS Fellowship, Japan, CNRS Fellowship, France, MRSI - Medal, Materials Research Society of India, Biotechnology National Associateship, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

She is also the recipient of the UGC Research Award, Government of India, UGC Mid-Career Award, Government of India, Usha-Vijay Sodha Prize for Scientific Research, University of Lucknow, Young Scientist Award, Council of Science & Technology, Government of UP, Centre of Excellence, Government of UP for setting up a Materials Science Lab & Shikshak Sree Samman by Government of UP.

As envisaged in the vision & mission of DDU Gorakhpur University, she is working tirelessly to develop the University as an institution of academic excellence that generates knowledge through research by integrating local wisdom with global expertise, nurtures talent, & promotes intellectual growth & above all to provide the students with an academically congenial & safe environment conducive for their holistic development. She strongly believes students must be at the Centre of the academic ecosystem in higher education institutions. She is working towards the implementation of NEP-2020 reforms in letter & spirit to strengthen the student support system in the University.

Prof. Poonam Tandon is committed to building a student-friendly academic environment on campus. Her 'mantra’ is access, equity, & inclusion through a range of student-centric initiatives, including scholarships & financial support, mentoring & counselling, & Health & hygiene aimed at providing better learning & academic experiences to students on the campus.