Nikhil Kumar | Energy Materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nikhil Kumar | Energy Materials | Best Researcher Award

Scientist at CSIR-NML Jamshedpur in India.

Dr. Nikhil Kumar 🌟 is a Scientist at CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, India 🧪. Holding a Ph.D. in Chemistry from NIT Kurukshetra, his research delves into perovskites, coordination polymers, electrocatalysis, and MOFs for sustainable energy and corrosion protection ⚡🔬. He has served as a postdoctoral fellow at KIST, South Korea 🇰🇷, and received multiple accolades, including the ACS Emerging Investigators Award 🏅. With 30+ publications, patents, and active research projects, Dr. Kumar is shaping the future of functional materials and green chemistry 🌍📘. He’s also a skilled instrumentalist and science communicator 🎤🧫.

Professional Profile

🔍 Summary of Suitability:

Dr. Nikhil Kumar exemplifies research excellence through his work in advanced materials, catalysis, and sustainable energy 🔬⚡. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry and postdoctoral experience at the prestigious KIST, South Korea 🇰🇷, he has demonstrated consistent innovation, productivity, and global engagement in cutting-edge science. He is currently serving as a Scientist at CSIR-NML, India – a hub of scientific innovation 🧪.

🎓 Education

  • 📘 Ph.D. in Chemistry (2018–2021) – NIT Kurukshetra, Haryana
    Research: Perovskites & Coordination Polymers for Catalysis and Water Splitting

  • 🧪 M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry (2016) – Central University of Haryana
    Graduated with 88.34% – First Class Honors

  • 🧫 B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry (2014) – Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi
    Graduated with 74.80% – First Class

  • 🏫 HSC (2011) – JNV, Chandpur, Bijnor, UP

  • 📚 SSLC (2009) – JNV, Chandpur, Bijnor, UP

💼 Experience

  • 🧪 Scientist (Sep 2022–Present) – CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur
    Functional Materials Group, Advanced Materials & Corrosion Division

  • 🇰🇷 Postdoctoral Scientist (Nov 2021–Aug 2022) – KIST, South Korea
    Sputtered perovskite electrodes, exsolved catalysts for ammonia synthesis

  • 🔬 Project Associate (Apr 2017–Mar 2021) – NIT Kurukshetra
    Worked on Ru-based perovskites, MOFs, and catalysis under UGC-DAE-CSR

  • 🧱 Summer Intern (Jun 2016) – IIT Ropar
    Research on MOF synthesis & applications

  • 🧾 M.Sc. Dissertation (Jan–May 2016) – Central University of Haryana
    Mechanochemical synthesis of MOFs

Professional Development 🚀📖

Dr. Nikhil Kumar has demonstrated outstanding professional development through global research exposure, innovative projects, and prestigious fellowships 🌍🔬. He enhanced his expertise during a postdoctoral stint at KIST, South Korea 🇰🇷, and was selected for the Excellence Fellowship in Israel 🇮🇱. His work spans advanced materials, electrocatalysis, and MOFs for energy and environmental applications ⚡🌱. As a scientist at CSIR-NML 🧪, he contributes to high-impact R&D projects and holds multiple patents and publications 📚🧠. He actively engages in conferences, lectures, and training programs, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing 🎤🏅.

Research Focus 🔍🤖

Dr. Nikhil Kumar’s research focuses on Materials Chemistry with a strong emphasis on Functional Materials for Energy and Environment 🔋🌿. His work explores perovskite oxides, coordination polymers, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for applications in heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis (OER, HER, ORR), water splitting, and corrosion protection ⚗️⚙️. He also investigates carbon quantum dots and their use in optical devices and sensors 💡🔬. With interdisciplinary skills in synthesis, characterization, and spectroscopy, his research contributes to the advancement of sustainable energy, green chemistry, and advanced materials for next-generation technologies 🌍🧪.

🏆 Awards & Honors

  • 🥇 Emerging Investigators Award (2021)ACS Crystal Growth & Design

  • 🎖️ Postdoctoral FellowshipKIST, South Korea

  • 🌟 Excellence Fellowship Program (2022–2024)Israel Academy of Sciences (Declined)

  • 🧠 Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship (2022)The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), Spain

  • 🧪 SCO-Young Scientist Conclave Selection (2023)DST India, JNCASR Bangalore

  • 🥈 Best Poster (Meghnad Saha) AwardResearch Conclave 2018, IIT Ropar

  • 📜 Multiple Certificates of Merit & DistinctionDelhi University & Central University of Haryana

  • 🎖️ College Colour AwardZakir Husain Delhi College, DU

  • 🏅 NCC & March Past AwardsUniversity of Delhi Events

Publications & Citations 📚

📘 Design, synthesis, biological activity… hybrid molecules59 citations (2020) 🧬💊
Multifunctionality Exploration of Ca2FeRuO6… electrocatalyst53 citations (2021) ⚙️🔋💧
🔍 Multianalytes sensing probe… Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions49 citations (2021) 📱🧪🌈
⚗️ Investigation of CaLaScRuO6+δ… bifunctional electrocatalyst47 citations (2020) 🌊🔌🧪
🧱 Transition metal ions… coordination polymers28 citations (2020) 🧩⚛️
🔶 Triggering Lewis acidic nature… Cd-centers in 2D-CPs27 citations (2020) 🧬🧲
💡 Solid-state fluorescence… CQDs@bioplastic composites26 citations (2023) 🌈💡📦
🌿 Cellulose‐Supported CuI… Triazoles for DFT study25 citations (2019) ♻️⚗️🧪
🔬 Design, synthesis… diorganotin(IV) complexes22 citations (2021) 🧫🧬☠️

🔍 Conclusion:

Dr. Nikhil Kumar’s research is deeply impactful, interdisciplinary, and globally recognized. His contributions to sustainable chemistry, material science, and clean energy solutions reflect a visionary approach to modern scientific challenges. He not only excels in innovation but also in scientific leadership and outreach, making him an ideal recipient of the Best Researcher Award 🥇🌟.

 

Shyamapada Nandi | Porous materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr.Shyamapada Nandi | Porous materials | Best Researcher Award

Asst. Professor at Vellore Institute of Technology Chennai at India.

Dr. Shyamapada Nandi is an Assistant Professor at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Chennai, India. He is an esteemed researcher in the field of porous materials, focusing on their design, synthesis, and applications in various industries. With significant contributions to materials science, Dr. Nandi has earned recognition for his innovative research and impactful work. His dedication to advancing knowledge in the field has led to him receiving the Best Researcher Award, underscoring his excellence in both academic and practical advancements.

 

Publication Profile:

Dr. Shyamapada Nandi earned his PhD in Materials Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune in 2018, where he focused on the design of ultra-microporous Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for selective CO2 capture. Prior to that, he completed his MSc in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, graduating with top honors in 2012. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya under the University of Burdwan, West Bengal.

Work Experience 💼.

Dr. Nandi is currently an Assistant Professor at the Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, India. He has extensive postdoctoral research experience, having worked at prestigious institutions such as the University of Ottawa, University of Montpellier, and the Institute of Porous Materials (IMAP) in Paris. As a CNRS Research Engineer, he worked on European projects including ‘MOF4AIR’ and collaborated with TOTAL Energy for the development of MOFs for clean and sustainable energy applications.

Research Focus 🧪🔬

Dr. Nandi’s research expertise is centered on the synthesis and application of porous materials, including Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), and Porous Organic Polymers (POPs). His work focuses on gas separation, water purification, catalysis, and electrocatalysis, with particular attention to CO2 capture, air purification, and sustainable energy applications. He has contributed significantly to the scale-up of MOFs and their integration into industrial applications.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Dr. Nandi has received several prestigious awards and scholarships throughout his academic career, including the INSPIRE Scholarship, ONGC Scholarship, and the Prime Minister Fellowship for Doctoral Studies. He has also been honored with the best research awards in recognition of his contributions to the field of materials science.

Skills 🛠️

Dr. Nandi is highly skilled in various characterization and analytical techniques including Single Crystal and Powder X-ray Diffraction (SCXRD/PXRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), surface area and porosity analysis, electrochemical studies, and electron microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM, AFM). He is also experienced in advanced computational techniques for simulating material properties using software like Materials Studio and Gaussian. His proficiency extends to the design and optimization of MOFs and COFs for diverse applications, particularly in catalysis and energy storage.

Publications 📚

  • Efficient iodine sequestration by chemically robust CC bonded hyper-crosslinked porous organic polymers
    Authors: G. Mayakannan, R. Karthikkumar, H.D. Singh, D. Chakraborty, S. Nandi
    Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal Advances
    Citation: 100700
    Year: 2025
  • Selective electroreduction of CO2 to value-added C1 and C2 products using MOF and COF-based catalysts
    Authors: H.D. Singh, R. Misra, S. Sarkar, D. Chakraborty, S. Nandi
    Journal: Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
    Citation: 7(6), 209
    Year: 2024
  • A Scalable Robust Microporous Al‐MOF for Post‐Combustion Carbon Capture
    Authors: B. Chen, D. Fan, R.V. Pinto, I. Dovgaliuk, S. Nandi, D. Chakraborty, …
    Journal: Advanced Science
    Citation: 2401070
    Year: 2024
  • When Polymorphism in Metal–Organic Frameworks Enables Water Sorption Profile Tunability for Enhancing Heat Allocation and Water Harvesting Performance
    Authors: T.J. Matemb Ma Ntep, M. Wahiduzzaman, E. Laurenz, I. Cornu, …
    Journal: Advanced Materials
    Citation: 36(12), 2211302
    Year: 2024
  • An intrinsically zwitter-ionic COF: a carboxylic acid and pseudo-tetrahedral sp3 nitrogen functionalized covalent organic framework with potential for humidity sensing
    Authors: S. Nandi, H.D. Singh, P. Shekhar, D. Chakraborty, R. Kushwaha, …
    Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry A
    Citation: 12(5), 2839-2847
    Year: 2024
  • Peptide hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks
    Authors: T. Vijayakanth, S. Dasgupta, P. Ganatra, S. Rencus-Lazar, A.V. Desai, …
    Journal: Chemical Society Reviews
    Year: 2024
  • Metal-driven folding and assembly of a minimal β-sheet into a 3D-porous honeycomb framework
    Authors: N. Bajpayee, S. Pophali, T. Vijayakanth, S. Nandi, A.V. Desai, V. Kumar, …
    Journal: Chemical Communications
    Citation: 60(19), 2621-2624
    Year: 2024
  • A robust ultra-microporous cationic aluminum-based metal-organic framework with a flexible tetra-carboxylate linker
    Authors: S. Nandi, A. Mansouri, I. Dovgaliuk, P. Boullay, G. Patriarche, I. Cornu, …
    Journal: Communications Chemistry
    Citation: 6(1), 144
    Year: 2023
  • MOFs with open metal (III) sites for the environmental capture of polar volatile organic compounds
    Authors: M.I. Severino, A. Al Mohtar, C. Vieira Soares, C. Freitas, N. Sadovnik, S. Nandi, …
    Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
    Citation: 62(6), e202211583
    Year: 2023
  • Simulations on Industrial Scale CO2 Capture Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption using MIL-160 (Al)
    Authors: A. Henrotin, N. Heymans, S. Nandi, F. Nouar, G. Mouchaham, C. Serre, …
    Journal: Proceedings of the 16th Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies Conference (GHGT)
    Year: 2022
  • Integrated process for structuring and functionalizing ordered mesoporous silica to achieve superprotonic conductivity
    Authors: J. Richard, A. Phimphachanh, J. Schneider, S. Nandi, E. Laurent, …
    Journal: Chemistry of Materials
    Citation: 34(17), 7828-7836
    Year: 2022
  • Coordination Flexibility Aided CO2‐specific Gating in an Iron Isonicotinate MOF
    Authors: H.D. Singh, S. Nandi, D. Chakraborty, K. Singh, C.P. Vinod, R. Vaidhyanathan
    Journal: Chemistry–An Asian Journal
    Citation: 17(4), e202101305
    Year: 2022
  • Viologen functionalized CC bonded cationic polymers for oxo-anion pollutant removal from aqueous medium
    Authors: D. Chakraborty, S. Nandi, R. Kushwaha, D. Kaleeswaran, R. Vaidhyanathan
    Journal: Materials Research Bulletin
    Citation: 146, 111614
    Year: 2022
  • Deciphering the Weak CO2···Framework Interactions in Microporous MOFs Functionalized with Strong Adsorption Sites—A Ubiquitous Observation
    Authors: S. Nandi, H.D. Singh, D. Chakraborty, R. Maity, R. Vaidhyanathan
    Journal: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
    Citation: 13(21), 24976-24983
    Year: 2021
  • Multivariate Sulfonic-Based Titanium Metal–Organic Frameworks as Super-protonic Conductors
    Authors: S. Nandi, S. Wang, M. Wahiduzzaman, V. Yadav, K. Taksande, G. Maurin, …
    Journal: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
    Citation: 13(17), 20194-20200
    Year: 2021
  • An Ultra‐Microporous Metal–Organic Framework with Exceptional Xe Capacity
    Authors: D. Chakraborty, S. Nandi, R. Maity, R.K. Motkuri, K.S. Han, S. Collins, …
    Journal: Chemistry–A European Journal
    Citation: 26(55), 12544-12548
    Year: 2020
  • Superionic conduction in a zirconium-formate molecular solid
    Authors: M. Wahiduzzaman, S. Nandi, V. Yadav, K. Taksande, G. Maurin, H. Chun, …
    Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry A
    Citation: 8(35), 17951-17955
    Year: 2020
  • Carbon Derived from Soft Pyrolysis of a Covalent Organic Framework as a Support for Small-Sized RuO2 Showing Exceptionally Low Overpotential for Oxygen
    Authors: D. Chakraborty, S. Nandi, R. Illathvalappil, D. Mullangi, R. Maity, S.K. Singh, …
    Journal: ACS Omega
    Citation: 4(8), 13465-13473
    Year: 2019
  • Aqueous-Phase Differentiation and Speciation of Fe3+ and Fe2+ Using Water-Stable Photoluminescent Lanthanide-Based Metal–Organic Framework
    Authors: R. Maity, D. Chakraborty, S. Nandi, A.K. Yadav, D. Mullangi, C.P. Vinod, …
    Journal: ACS Applied Nano Materials
    Citation: 2(8), 5169-5178
    Year: 2019.

Conclusion ✨ 

Dr. Shyamapada Nandi’s research achievements, coupled with his outstanding technical expertise, make him an excellent candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His consistent contributions to the development of cutting-edge materials and their applications in addressing global challenges, such as climate change and energy transition, set him apart as a leader in his field. While there are areas for further diversification and leadership development, his scientific accomplishments and potential for future breakthroughs make him highly deserving of this recognition.