Author Archive

Reaction Chemistry & Engineering Emerging Investigator- Kumud Malika Tripathi

Dr. Kumud Malika Tripathi is a Ramalingaswami faculty/Assistant Professor in the
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Visakhapatnam India. She received her PhD in Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 2013. Before joining IIPE, she held several positions including Assistant Professor in Gachon University, South Korea; postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Brittany, Lorient, France, IIT Kanpur, India, and Gachon University. Dr. Kumud has published more than 60 publications in highly reputed journals, which have been cited over 3300 times with an H-index of 38. She has five successful grants. She received the prestigious Ramalingaswai Re-entry Fellowship and award. Her research activities include the green synthesis of multifunctional nanomaterials for energy, healthcare and environmental applications. Kumud works at the interface of chemistry, material science and biology, exploring nanomaterial based new strategies for environmental monitoring and remediation, self-recharge power unit, energy storage devices, CO2 capture and conversion, flexible electronics and photocatalytic water splitting for green hydrogen production. She is also focusing on fabrication of nanomaterials based sensors for non-invasive disease diagnosis.

Read Kumud’s Emerging Investigator Article: ‘Structural Control in Nano-assembly of Tungsten and Molybdenum Dithiolene Complex Analog’, DOI: 10.1039/D2RE00205A

How do you feel about RCE as a place to publish research on this topic?

Inter and multidisciplinary approach for research is the present need of time. That can provide the solutions to present and coming scientific challenges. I did my Ph.D. in chemistry and postdoc research in chemical engineering. As an academician, publishing papers in peer-reviewed-reputed journals is quite important. In RCE, publishing is recommendable as it adheres to the engineering aspects to scale up the processes.

Further, it has a rigorously peer-reviewed RCE, an interdisciplinary journal that merges the broad areas of chemical technology with chemical science to derive solutions for societal issues. Performing the experiments in laboratories is entirely different from the industrial scale. So, it’s a suitable place for researchers like me, those working in a multidisciplinary approach and interface of science and technology.

 

What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment and what do you find most challenging about your research?

As a young researcher training undergraduate and graduate minds is the most exciting and interesting aspect of my work at the movement. I am stressing about how I can make my research useful for a common person.

 

In your opinion, what are the most important questions to be asked/answered in this field of research?

During a social gathering or interacting with common peoples including my relatives. The most common interactive question is, “what is your research about?”. To explain the research to a common person and make them understand the research topic is a fundamental question, as per my opinion. If I can explain my research output to a common man and if they find it interesting and valuable, it is the most relaxing thought for me.

 

Can you share one piece of career-related advice or wisdom with other early career scientists?

Everyone must be open to new learning skills, gaining experiences from students, colleagues, and co-workers, and growing their academic circle and collaborations. The road for the scientists is quite bumpy but it is worth the journey.

Follow Kumud and her research group on these social media;

Facebook

Linkedin

Researchgate

 

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Reaction Chemistry & Engineering Emerging investigator – Nicholas Warren

 

Professor Nicholas Warren graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield in 2012 specialising in Polymer synthesis and self-assembly under the supervision Prof Steve Armes and Prof Beppe Battaglia. He continued as a post-doc in Sheffield where he worked with Prof Steve Armes to develop new block copolymer materials using polymerisation-induced self-assembly, with a particular focus on hydrogels for stem-cell storage. In 2016 he was appointed as a University Academic Fellow at the University of Leeds and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. His research group focusses on enhancing precision of controlled polymer synthesis through the application of new ‘enabling’ technologies, including flow-reactors, online monitoring and artificial intelligence. His contribution to this field resulted in him being awarded the Macro Group UK Young Researchers Medal in 2022.

 

Read Nick’s Emerging Investigator article,Continuous synthesis of block copolymer nanoparticles via telescoped RAFT solution and dispersion polymerisation in a miniature CSTR cascade‘, DOI: 10.1039/D2RE00475E

 

How do you feel about RCE as a place to publish research on this topic?

Within our group we are striving to develop technologies which can accelerate R&D in polymer science, but many aspects are highly transferrable across the chemical sciences. In this context, publication of RCE enables us to disseminate our work to this broader audience in the hope that it will enhance impact across the discipline.

What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment and what do you find most challenging about your research?

Within science and engineering, advanced technologies such as automation and AI are having a huge impact. We are really excited to be able to apply these for developing the next generation of polymer materials and to encourage uptake across the discipline. As a chemist by trade, there is a steep learning curve in the context of automation, and from a physical aspect there are many challenges associated with dealing with polymer materials such as mixing, flowing and separation.

In your opinion, what are the most important questions to be asked/answered in this field of research?

The major question in the field is whether it is possible to generate new polymers which can be sustainable, affordable and provide the performance beyond that of current materials. Current R&D approaches are not sufficient to provide these materials on reasonable timescales, so it needs to be determined whether developing new technologies can do so.

Can you share one piece of career-related advice or wisdom with other early career scientists?

Until now, my strategy has consisted of leveraging my existing knowledge and combining it with novel and unfamiliar concepts that I believe can make a significant difference in areas I am passionate about. To do this effectively, my advice is to establish an interdisciplinary network comprising individuals from both industry and academia across all career stages, recognising that these relationships will continue to be valuable for the rest of your career.

Find out more about Nick’s research on his website

Follow Nick and his research group on these social media:

Twitter: @njwarren1, @CpegLeeds1

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