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

C-MET, Pune - India

Author Profile

🌱 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)

🎓 Early academic pursuits

oh Seok kwon embarked on his academic journey with a strong foundation in chemistry, earning his bachelor of science degree from yeungnam university in gyeongsan, south korea, in 2007. driven by a passion for chemical engineering and biosensors, he pursued further studies at seoul national university. here, he obtained his master of science in 2010, with a thesis focused on biosensor applications using polypyrrole nanotubes. his academic excellence continued as he completed his doctorate at the same institution in 2013, under the guidance of professor jyongsik jang. his dissertation on the fabrication of chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene and its flexible sensor applications laid the groundwork for his future research in nanotechnology.

💼 Professional endeavors

following his phd, dr. kwon gained valuable experience in some of the most prestigious research institutions in the world. he served as a postdoctoral researcher at yale university's department of chemical and environmental engineering, working under the mentorship of professor jaehong kim from september 2013 to may 2015. during this period, he also conducted research at the massachusetts institute of technology (mit) with professor jeremiah a. johnson. his expertise in nanotechnology led him to a senior researcher position at the infectious research center at the korea research institute of bioscience and biotechnology from may 2015 to february 2023. dr. kwon's career trajectory continued its upward momentum when he joined sungkyunkwan university as an associate professor in the skku advanced institute of nanotechnology & department of nano engineering in february 2023.

🔬 Contributions and research focus

dr. kwon's research has primarily focused on the development and application of nanomaterials in chemical and biological sensing. his work on the fabrication of graphene through chemical vapor deposition and its subsequent application in flexible sensors has made significant Interfacial chemistry contributions to the field. additionally, his research has explored biosensor applications using polypyrrole nanotubes, highlighting his versatility in utilizing different nanomaterials for sensor technologies. dr. kwon has also played a key role as a guest editor for the special issue "ultra-sensitive chem/bio sensors" in the mdpi journal sensors and serves on the editorial board of polymers, further demonstrating his influence in the scientific community.

🏅 Accolades and recognition

dr. kwon's contributions to nanotechnology and sensor development have earned him widespread recognition in the academic community. his role as an editorial board member for reputable journals like polymers and his position as a guest editor for special issues in sensors showcase his Interfacial chemistry standing as an expert in his field. his academic achievements and research excellence have positioned him as a leading figure in the development of ultra-sensitive chemical and biological sensors.

🌍 Impact and influence

through his groundbreaking research and innovative approaches to nanomaterials and sensors, dr. kwon has significantly impacted the fields of chemical and biological engineering. his work has advanced the understanding and application of graphene and polypyrrole nanotubes in flexible and biosensor technologies. dr. kwon's influence extends beyond his research; his editorial roles and involvement in special issues Interfacial chemistry highlight his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and supporting the dissemination of cutting-edge research in his areas of expertise.

🏆 Legacy and future contributions

as dr. kwon continues his academic career at sungkyunkwan university, his legacy in nanotechnology and sensor development is poised to grow. his research contributions have already paved the way for future advancements in ultra-sensitive sensors, and his ongoing work is expected to further enhance the capabilities of nanomaterials in various applications. dr. kwon's dedication to innovation and excellence will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers in the field of nanotechnology.