Dr. A. K. Tyagi joined Chemistry Division, BARC in 1986 through 29th batch of BARC Training School and received PhD degree in 1992. He did postdoctoral research at Max-Planck Institute, Stuttgart, Germany (1995-96). He occupied various positions at BARC such as Director, Chemistry Group, BARC and Director, Bio-Science Group. He was a Distinguished Scientist, DAE. Presently, he is Dean, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai and honorary Professor at JNCASR, Bengaluru. His research interests are in the field of nanomaterials, functional materials, nuclear materials, metastable materials and Hybrid materials.

He has been conferred with a number of awards such as such as DAE-Homi Bhabha Science and Technology Award, DAE-SRC Outstanding Researcher Award, MRSI Medal; MRSI-ICSC Materials Science Senior Award; MRSI-CNR Rao Prize in Advanced Materials; MRSI Distinguished Materials Scientist of the year award ; CRSI Bronze Medal; CRSI-CNR Rao National Prize in Chemical Sciences; CRSI-Silver Medal; Rajib Goyal Prize in Chemical Sciences; Metallurgist of the Year award from Ministry of Steel, GoI; National Prize in Solid State and Materials Chemistry; ISCA Acharya PC Ray Memorial Award; NETZSCH – ITAS Award by Indian Thermal Analysis Society, DN Agarwal Memorial Award from Indian Ceramics Society, Gold medal of Chirantan Rasayan Sanstha.

He is a Fellow of several national and international science academies such as National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc); Indian Academy of Sciences (FASc); Indian National Academy of Engineering (FNAE), Indian National Science Academy (FNA), Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and The World Academy of Sciences (FTWAS).