Dr. Milind Kulkarni – Chemistry – Excellence in Scientific Innovation Award

Dr. Milind Kulkarni - Chemistry - Excellence in Scientific Innovation Award

C-MET, Pune - India 

Author Profile 

SCOPUS 

🌱 Early academic pursuits

Dr. Milind v. Kulkarni began his academic journey with excellence, earning an m.sc. in polymer chemistry from shivaji university, kolhapur, in 1996, securing the first rank. he went on to complete his ph.d. in 2002 from the university of pune, focusing on “conducting polymer based sensors.” his formative years laid a strong foundation in material chemistry, polymers, and their electronic applications, which later extended to interdisciplinary domains including power electronics and smart materials.

👨‍🔬 Professional endeavors

Dr. Kulkarni started his career as a scientist-b at the centre for materials for electronics technology (c-met), pune, under the ministry of electronics and information technology (meity), govt. of india. currently serving as centre head, he has led several pioneering projects. his role spans advanced materials development, applied research, institutional collaborations, and national-level innovation programs. he also serves in academic bodies such as the board of studies of symbiosis international university, fergusson college, d.y. patil university, and mit-wpu. he has also been appointed as adjunct faculty at coep and expert member at technovuus, arai, advancing r&d integration in power electronics and material sciences.

🧪 Contributions and research focus

Dr. Kulkarni's research focuses on the development of active materials for li-ion and na-ion batteries, solid-state and flexible batteries, and next-gen systems like li-s and li-air batteries targeting hybrid electric vehicles. he has engineered polyaniline-based thin, flexible, and cost-effective batteries and developed e-textiles using polyaniline-cnt nanocomposites. his expertise extends to Chemistry inkjet-printed, flexible electronics, and multifunctional nanomaterials for power electronics and biomedical applications. notably, he successfully demonstrated a lead-free x-ray attenuation apron and fabricated polymer nanocomposites for biosensing, including e-nose and e-tongue devices. the cross-application of his work bridges chemical sensing, energy storage, and next-gen power electronics.

🌍 Impact and influence

Dr. Kulkarni’s innovations, including india’s first indigenous low-cost polymer swab for covid-19 diagnostics, have had a significant societal and industrial impact. his active engagement with the automotive sector through arai and technovuus highlights his contribution to applied research in power electronics and energy storage. he is a member of prestigious organizations such as the Chemistry electrochemical society (usa), electrochemical society of india, materials research society of india, and society for polymer science (india). as a fellow of the royal society of chemistry (frsc, london) and maharashtra academy of sciences, his expertise is globally recognized.

📚 Academic cites

Dr. Kulkarni has published over 115 peer-reviewed research papers in reputed international journals. with a google scholar h-index of 36, more than 4322 citations, and i10-index of 85, his scholarly contributions underscore the relevance and quality of his work. he has also presented 130+ conference papers and delivered over 50 invited lectures, reflecting his status as a Chemistry thought leader in nanotechnology and energy materials. his 25+ patents, including those granted in the us, canada, germany, and a pct filing, highlight his innovative capacity.

🎓 Legacy and future contributions

Dr. Kulkarni has mentored 5 ph.d. scholars, with 5 more currently under guidance, in addition to supervising m.phil., m.tech., b.e., and m.sc. students. his dedication to nurturing young researchers ensures the continuity of research excellence in polymer nanocomposites, smart materials, and power electronics. looking ahead, his work promises breakthroughs in bio-integrated sensors, wearable batteries, and sustainable energy solutions, further driving india’s capabilities in strategic materials and green technologies.

Notable Publications 

  • Title: Distorted 2H/1T MoS₂ nanostructures with improved field emission and sodium-ion battery performance
    Author(s): Ujjwala P. Chothe, Priyanka R. Sumbe, Mahendra A. More, Milind V. Kulkarni, Bharat Bhanudas Kale
    Journal: Nanoscale Advances (2025)

  • Title: Self-Standing vanadium oxide pillared carbon microfiber film as an excellent anode for lithium & sodium ion batteries
    Author(s): Sayali B. Kale, Ujjwala P. Chothe, Kaustav Bhattacharjee, Aakira Fujishima, Suresh W. Gosavi
    Journal: Inorganic Chemistry Communications (2024)

  • Title: Imidazolium Functionalized Copolymer Supported Solvate Ionic Liquid Based Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium Ion Batteries
    Author(s): Sahebrao S. More, Rushikesh B. Kale, Poorva J. Ambekar, Milind V. Kulkarni, Bharat Bhanudas Kale
    Journal: ACS Applied Polymer Materials (2024)

  • Title: Interfacial engineering of ZnO–ZnS/rGO nano heterostructures: An efficient photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell
    Author(s): Ranjit S. Kate, Ratna Chauhan, Ujjwala P. Chothe, Bharat Bhanudas Kale, Sanjay Krishnaji Apte
    Journal: Materials Chemistry and Physics (2024)

  • Title: Microstructure tuned Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃@C electrodes toward ultra-long-life sodium-ion batteries
    Author(s): Ranjit S. Kate, Kaustav Bhattacharjee, Milind V. Kulkarni, Ramesh J. Deokate, Ramchandra S. Kalubarme
    Journal: RSC Advances (2024)

Mr. Vikas Rawat – Atmospheric physics – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Vikas Rawat - Atmospheric physics - Best Researcher Award

Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences - India 

AUTHOR PROFILE 

SCOPUS 

🌟 EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Vikas Rawat and nurtured a passion for physics and atmospheric science from an early age. He pursued his Bachelor of Science with honors in Physics from Shyam Lal College, University of Delhi, graduating with first-class distinction in 2016. His academic journey continued with a Master of Science in Physics from Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, where he specialized in electronics and explored atmospheric science through his dissertation. These formative years laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors in environmental physics and atmospheric research.

🌍 PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Vikas began his professional journey as a summer intern at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in 2018. He later contributed as a Project Assistant under the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology from 2019 to 2021, where he gained valuable experience in meteorological research. His commitment to atmospheric studies culminated in his current role as a Senior Research Fellow at ARIES, where he is pursuing his doctoral research under the aegis of the University of Delhi. His work aligns with international collaborations, including a project supported by RIHN, Japan.

🌫️ CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS

Vikas has dedicated his research to unraveling the complexities of atmospheric phenomena. His doctoral thesis, supervised by Dr. Narendra Singh and Prof. S. K. Dhaka, focuses on the measurement and modeling of pollutants in the Himalayan region and adjacent plains. His expertise spans diverse areas such as particulate matter analysis, boundary layer meteorology, forest fire emissions, and aerosol optical properties. Employing cutting-edge techniques like WRF-Chem, CMAQ, and machine learning methods, Vikas's research addresses critical Atmospheric physics environmental challenges, emphasizing pollutant transport and meteorological modeling.

🏆 ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION

Throughout his academic and professional career, Vikas has received notable accolades. In 2024, he secured financial support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Atmospheric physics Government of India, to attend a prestigious conference in Greece. His research excellence earned him the Second Best Poster Award during ARIES's annual meet in 2023. He has also been a recipient of competitive fellowships, including the RIHN Research Fellowship from Japan and the UCOST Project Fellowship. These recognitions highlight his commitment and contributions to atmospheric science.

🌟 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Vikas’s research holds significant implications for understanding environmental processes in mountainous regions. His studies on pollutant dynamics in the Himalayas and adjacent plains Atmospheric physics contribute to policy development for mitigating air quality challenges. His work on aerosol profiling, forest fire emissions, and remote sensing advances the scientific community's capacity to address climate-related concerns. By combining ground-based observations with advanced modeling, Vikas’s research bridges gaps in atmospheric science knowledge and fosters international collaboration.

🌟 LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

As a rising researcher, Vikas aims to leave a lasting legacy in atmospheric and environmental science. He envisions developing comprehensive models for pollutant dispersion and exploring the nexus between natural hazards and meteorological phenomena in mountain ecosystems. With a dedication to innovation and sustainability, his work promises to shape future strategies for environmental preservation and inspire upcoming generations of scientists to address global climate challenges.

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS 

  1. Title: Decoding temporal patterns and trends of PM10 pollution over Delhi: a multi-year analysis (2015–2022)
    Authors: Chetna, Dhaka, S.K., Walker, S.-E., Rawat, V., Singh, N.
    Journal: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2024, 196(6), 500
  2. Title: Long-term meteorology-adjusted and unadjusted trends of PM2.5 using the AirGAM model over Delhi, 2007–2022
    Authors: Chetna, Dhaka, S.K., Walker, S.-E., Rawat, V., Singh, N.
    Journal: Atmospheric Environment: X, 2024, 22, 100255
  3. Title: Assembling a High Energy Pulse Lidar (HEPL) System: Preliminary Results from an Astronomical Site in the Central Himalayan Region
    Authors: Singh, N., Prakash, C., Kumar, A., Singh, J., Rawat, V.
    Journal: Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Physics, 2024, 62(3), pp. 238–244
  4. Title: Exploring Aerosol Dynamics in Central Himalaya during North Indian Biomass Burning Event-2022
    Authors: Rawat, V., Singh, N., Dhaka, S.K., Nakayama, T., Hayashida, S.
    Journal: International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), 2024, pp. 573–576
  5. Title: Selecting the Suitable Landfill Location for Efficient Waste Management in Udham Singh Nagar District, Uttarakhand: A Geospatial and Multi-Criteria Approach
    Authors: Yadav, J., Rawat, V., Bisht, K.S.
    Journal: Papers in Applied Geography, 2024