Amit Kumar Shukla

Biography

Dr. Amit Kumar is a seasoned research scientist with over 14+ years of extensive research experience in Chemistry, Polymer Science, renewable energy, recycling, and sustainability. He is actively engaged in sustainability and ESG programmes. His career spans various prestigious national and international laboratories, contributing significantly to advancements in these fields. Dr. Kumar's expertise is underscored by his work with synthesis and characterization of small/polymer molecules, various polymerization processes and innovative development of materials for electro-catalytic hydrogen evolution and battery applications.

He is currently serving as the Senior Manager (Scientist Sustainability) at Jindal Poly Films Limited, New Delhi, since October 2023. In this role, he focuses on recycling postconsumer plastics such as (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) etc. via mechanical and chemical recycling process to reduce the plastic littering in the environment and landfill to sustain the environment. He is providing sustainable solution in development of new grade of poly films for packaging and renewable energy applications such as battery separators and dielectric capacitors. He is also instrumental in recycling complex waste packaging materials and lithium-ion batteries, adhering to stringent EFSA and US-FDA guidelines for producing food-grade recycled materials. His advisory role in business sustainability highlights his strategic importance in the company.

Prior to this, from June 2019 to September 2023, He was a Manager (Research Scientist) at the Polymer and Elastomer Group, Reliance Industries Limited. There, he demonstrated the development of various grade of rubber materials i.e. self-healing butyl rubber ionomers and advanced composite materials. He was serving as innovative solution provider for polymerization process for PBR, IIR/BIIR and SBR production plants at R&D level as well as scale up. His innovative approach led to significant process improvements and cost reductions in the production of various grade of products.

Dr. Kumar's postdoctoral journey includes a fellowship at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal (2018-2019), where he synthesized novel corrole molecules for electrocatalytic applications. Earlier, as a JSPS Post-Doctoral Fellow at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Osaka, Japan (2016-2018), he developed nanoparticle catalysts for hydrogen production, showcasing exceptional catalytic activity and durability.

Academically, Dr. Kumar holds a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, where he conducted significant research on transition metal complexes. He also holds an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Chemistry from CSJM University, Kanpur, India.

Dr. Kumar's technical proficiency is vast, encompassing the synthesis and characterization of polymers and nanomaterials, handling of high-pressure reactors, and various polymerization techniques. He is adept in several instrumental and software techniques crucial for structure determination and has authored numerous high-impact research publications and patents.

His contributions have been recognized through various honours, including the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship and Best Poster Award at the National Symposium on Chemistry. He is an active member of professional societies like the Chemical Research Society of India and the Society for Materials Chemistry.

Dr. Amit Kumar's career is a testament to his dedication and expertise in advancing polymer science and sustainability, driving innovation for a more sustainable future.