Thirumalachari Ramasami is the Indian Science and Technology Secretary. He assumed charge in May 2006. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Director of the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, India. He is a distinguished researcher and leather scientist. He was awarded India's National Civilian Honour the Padma Shri for excellence in Science and Engineering in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. He was born on April 15, 1948 in Kolkata. Thirumalachari Ramasami obtained his BTech and MTech degrees from University of Madras, and PhD from University of Leeds, UK for his work on the chemistry of chromium. He worked at the Ames Laboratory and Wayne State University and University of NewCastle upon Tyne, on research areas relating to homogenous catalysis, electron transport phenomena and bioinorganic chemistry, respectively. Thereafter, he joined the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai (1984), worked as its Director (1996-2006), and is presently Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science and Technology (DST) (2006- ). He held additional charges as the Director General, CSIR and Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Dr Ramasami made substantial contributions to the resurgence of CLRI as a global leader in leather research. His contributions to the solution of environmental problems in leather sector in Tamil Nadu resulted in saving 2,50,000 jobs and an annual industrial turnover of Rs 6000 crores. In recognition of his contributions to leather research, he was invited to deliver the Arthur Wilson Memorial Lecture. As the Secretary DST, he has initiated policies, programmes and schemes with potentials for long-term impact. He is currently connecting causes of science with resources and public policy support.