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Dr. Rajan Kumar
(Ph.D., DST-IFF, FMASS, FMERU & FMERC)

Dr. Kumar is an experienced Faculty Fellow with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry, skilled in Polymer Chemistry, Click Chemistry, and Supramolecular Chemistry. Dr. Kumar is a strong Education and Research professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) focused in Click Polymerization and Environmental Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research Kolkata (IISER Kolkata). Dr. Kumar worked as Research Associate at IISER Kolkata (2020-2021). Dr. Kumar served as an Assistant Professor at Assam Royal Global University (2021-2023).  Dr. Kumar is serving as DST INSPIRE Faculty Fellow (DST-IFF) at IIT Guwahati (2023 onwards). Dr. Kumar has also qualified NET and SLET. Dr. Kumar is fellow member of Assam Science Society (FMASS) and Eudoxia Research Center/University (FMERC & FMERCU).

 

Research

The core research is Polymer synthesis via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP),  ring-opening polymerization (ROP), and Click polymerization​ for applications such as purifiers, sensors, nano-carriers, and optical devices.

​

Experience

2023-                INSPIRE Faculty Fellow (IFF)

2021-23            Assistant Professor, The Assam Royal Global University (ARGU), Guwahati, Assam

2020-21            Research Associate, IISER Kolkata, West Bengal

2020-21            Guest Lecturer, B.Borooah College, Ulubari, Assam 

2015                 Project Assistant, Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (IACS), West Bengal 

2014                 Project Assistant, Gauhati University (GU), Guwahati, Assam

Education

2015-2021

Ph.D.
IISER Kolkata

2012-2014

M.Sc.
Gauhati University

2009-2012

B.Sc.
Gauhati University

Specialization: Polymer Chemistry

Thesis Title: Design, Synthesis and Application Demonstration of 3D Crosslinked Polymer Network

Specialization: Organic Chemistry

Thesis Title: Effect of β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) Complexation on the Fluorescence Emission Characteristics of Water-Soluble  Naphthalimide Derivatives.

Specialization: Chemistry

1st class 1st with Distinction

​

Awards/Honors

2023    Selected for oral presentation on "Efficient Optically Tunable Photoluminescent Polymeric Membrane" at SPSI-MACRO-2023

2023    Invitation to deliver a lecture in the "Symposium on Polymer Science 2023" at IISER Kolkata  organized by the Society for Polymer Science,              India (SPSI)

2023    Selected for INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship by DST-INSPIRE, India

2022    Invitation for presentation on "Engineering Polymer Self Assembly Shows Potential for Myriad Applications" 

            ARGU & ICT, Mumbai

2022    Invitation for Seminar on "Polymer for Waste Management", Polymer Research Center, IISER Kolkata

2020    Best Poster Presentation (SSD-2020)

2018    Best Performing Scholar of the Year 2018 (DCS IISER KOLKATA)​

2018    Swach Bharat Award (3rd prize)

2018    Senior Research Fellow (SRF)

2015    Junior Research Fellow (JRF)

2015    SLET/SET for Lectureship (Rank 7)

2014    NET- LS (Rank 44) organized jointly by CSIR-UGC

2013    Summer Research Fellowship, 2012-2013, awarded by INSA, India

2012    National UGC Fellowship for post-graduation, 2012-2014

2012    Co-Editor of Departmental half-yearly magazine “The Chemical Axis”

2012    1st class 1st with Distinction (UG)

2007    Anandaram Barooah Award​

​

Publications (* represents corresponding author)

2024

24. R. Kumar*, D. Choudhury, Bijor S. Goswami, R. Shunmugam*. Norbornene Derived Crosslinked Polyionic Material Showing Efficient Removal of Corrosive Fluoride, 2024 (under preparation)

23. N. Kumar, N. Ghosh, R. Shunmugam, R. Kumar*. Polarization  Probing and Fluorescence Tuning for PAH embedded Photoluminescent Material, 2024 (submitted)

22. R. Kumar*, P. Kumar, N. Lakshminarasimhan, R. Shunmugam. Urea Functionalized Crosslinked Polymer showing Efficient Response to Organo-Amphiphilic Waste, 2024. (Submitted)

21. A. Haque, P. Sarmah*, R. Kumar*. DFT Investigation of Functional Polymer Interaction with Chiral/achiral Pharmaceutical Metabolites. 2024 (Submitted)

2023 â€‹

20. R. Kumar*, E. Davis, N. Kalita, D. Choudhury, R. Shunmugam*. 4-Vinylpyridine Derived Physically Crosslinked Hydrogel as Efficient Mercury Indicator. Polymer Engineering & Science, 2023 (doi: 10.1002/pen.26512) (IF: 3.2)

19. R. Kumar*,  N. Kumar,  S. Chandel, A. Tiwari, A. Bag, P. K. Ghorai, N. Ghosh*, R. Shunmugam*. Functional Polymer Material with Efficient Optical Tunability. ChemistrySelect, 2023 (IF: 2.1)

​18. R. Kumar*,  N. Kumar, S. Chandel, A. Tiwari, N. Ghosh*, R. Shunmugam*. Optically Tunable Engineered Macromolecular Fluorescent Material Analyzed using Optical Parameters.  Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 2023, 34, 1307-1314. (IF: 3.4)

2022

17. R. Kumar*, P. Kumar, S. Panigrahi, N. Lakshminarasimhan, R. Shunmugam. Efficient removal of rhodamine B and methylene blue from water using polyurethane based porous material. Polymer  Engineering & Science (PES), 2022, 62, 4082-4089. (IF: 3.2)

16. R. Kumar, R. Dey, T. Kalita, S. Pariyal, B. S. Goswami, J. Haldar, R. Shunmugam. Engineering Unique Multi-tasking Polymer that Specifically Prevents Rhodamine B, Fluoride Ion, and Anti-bacterial Toxicity. European Polymer Journal, 2022, 176, 111401 (Invited Article) (IF: 6.0)

15. R. Kumar, E. Davis, P. Mazumdar, D. Choudhury, R. Shunmugam. Engineering Spherically Super-Structured Polyamides for the Sustainable Water Remediation. ACS Mater. Au 2022, 2, 2, 117–123. (IF: -.--)

 2021​

14. P. Kumar, M. N. Ganivada, P. Kanjilal, R. Kumar*, R. Shunmugam*. An Efficient Clicked Degradable Template Model Responsive to Encapsulation and Release of Fluorescent Dye. Journal of Molecular and Engineering Materials (JMEM), 2021, 9, 2 & 3, 2140003 (IF: 1.5)

13. P. Venu, T-N Le, P. Kumar, D. Patra, R. Kumar, C-K Lee, V. Rao, R. Shunmugam. Efficient Design to Monitor the Site-specific Sustained Release of Non-Emissive Anti-Cancer Drug. Chemistry An Asian Journal, 2021, 16, 2552-2558. (IF: 4.568)

12. P.Venu, R. Kumar, R. John, R. Shunmugam. Designing amphiphilic branched polymers for supramolecular self-assembly. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part A: Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2021, 58, 594-599. (IF: 2.1)​

During PhD

2020

11. R. Kumar, S. Mukherjee, N. Lakshminarasimhan, R. Shunmugam. Unique Methodology to Grow Magnetizable Cobalt Domains via Photon triggered Thiolation. European Polymer Journal, 2020, 140, 110022. (IF: 6.0)

10. S. S. Prasath, J. Brijitta, R. Kumar, J. John, P. Holmqvist, R. Shunmugam, Chemically crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-block-4-vinylpyridine) organogel with myriad applications. Materials Letters, 2020, 272, 127854. (IF: 3.0)

9. R. Kumar, R. Shunmugam. An overview on recent advances to wastewater management using polymer magnetic composites. The Chemical Axis. 2020 (ISSN 2249 8842), 19, 1-4.

8. R. Kumar, A. Rajpoot, A. Roy, R. Shunmugam. Engineering Biodegradable Polymeric Network for the Efficient Removal of Organo-amphiphilic Toxicants. Polym. Adv. Technol, 2020, 31, 957-966.​ (IF: 3.4)

2019​

7. R. Kumar, S. K. Ray, S. Mukherjee, S. Saha, A. Bag, P. K. Ghorai, N. Ghosh, R. Shunmugam. "Dial-In” Emission from Unique Flexible Material with Polarization Tuneable Spectral Intensity. Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 13514 -13522. (Accepted for frontispiece) (IF: 5.236)

6. R. Kumar, R. Shunmugam. Light Triggering Photocatalysis to Water Detoxification. The Chemical Axis (ISSN 2249 8842), 2019, 18 (2), 25-27.

2018

​5. R. Kumar, R. Shunmugam. Toxicity Monitorable Polymeric Materials for Chronic Elements in Aqueous Environment. The Chemical Axis (ISSN 2249 8842), 2018, 17(2), 35-37.

4. R. Kumar, R. Shunmugam. Uprise in Photochemistry towards Global Application. The Chemical Axis (ISSN 2249 8842), 2018, 17(1), 70-73.

 2017

​3. R. Kumar, R. Shunmugam. Unique Design of Porous Organic Framework Showing Efficiency Towards Removal of Toxicants. ACS Omega, 2017, 2, 4100-4107. (IF: 3.512)​

2. M. Mukherjee, S. Mukherjee, R. Kumar, R. Shunmugam. Improved thermal and mechanical properties of polynorbornene upon covalent attachment with graphene sheets. Polymer, 2017, 123, 321-333. (IF: 4.430)

2014​

1. D. Basak, R. Kumar, S. Ghosh. Telechelic Poly(disulfide)s and Related Block Copolymers. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2014, 35, 1340-1344. (      appeared as back cover). (IF: 5.734)

Book Chapter

3. Chapter X:  Achiral/chiral polymeric membranes with improved water flux invoked for wastewater treatment.  Wiley Scrivener, 2023, R. Kumar. (Submitted)

2. Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials Based Polymer Nanocomposites: Processing, Properties and Applications, Chapter 3: Spectroscopic and Microscopic Investigations of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials.  Wiley Scrivener, 2023, R. Kumar, D. Sahu. (Accepted)

1. Advanced Topics in Chemistry (Volume 1), 2021. ISBN: 978-93-91403-16-4, Chapter 3: Recent Advances in Engineering Crosslinked Polymeric Material and their Utility as Water Remediator, R. Kumar.

Patent

​1. S. Pariyal, R. Kumar, T. Samanta, P. Kumar, R. Shunmugam. As Sensor and trapper, TEMP/E-1/46586/2018-KOL (2019) (Indian Patent)

 

 

 

 

Collaboration

  • IISER Kolkata/ B. Borooah College

News

  • Shrutimala Pathak and Prity Bhuyan are selected for the six-month Student Project Fellowship, 2022. Congrats to both of you!

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Alumni

  • Bhargav Sarma (2023)                              Preparation of Activated Charcoal from Jute and Its Application in Waste Management

  • Lalrochana Chawmgthu (2023)                Sugarcane Derived Activated Charcoal for the Treatment of Wastewater

  • Gajiur Rahman (2023)                               Betel Nut Derived Activated Charcoal for Treatment of Wastewater

  • Shrutimala Pathak (2023)                          Engineering of Crosslinked Polymeric Material and Their Application in Organic Waste Management

  • Prity Bhuyan (2023)                                  Synthesis and Characterization of Crosslinked Degradable Poly(alcohol) via Free Radical                                                                                           Polymerization

  • Shweta Sen (2022)                                     Materials Derived from Natural Resources for Management of Amphiphilic Wastes

  • Almina Khatun (2022)                               Betel Nut Derived Resources for Management of Amphiphilic Waste

  • Janardan Phukan (2022)                             Engineering Polymeric Material for Adsorption of Synthetic Dye from Dye-Treated Waste

  • Taslima Khatun (2022)                               Sugarcane Charcoal- An Efficient Adsorbent for the Amphiphilic Organic Dyes

  • Shashanka Saikia (2022)                            Analysis of Water Quality Parameter from Flood Affected Ponds and Rivers of Guwahati Region

  • Jerina N. Lasman (2022)                            Tomato Powder- A Tool for Management of Organic Dye

  • Nishan Paul (2022)                                     Self-Assembly- A Driving Force to Property Tunability of Material 

  • Latifa Khatun (2022)                                  Self Assembly of Fluorescent Monomer and Ionic Polymer Embedded in a Polystyrene Film

  • Ibakorlang Lapasam (2021)                        Estimation of Essential Parameters for Aquatic Ecosystem

  • Nuruj Zaman (2021)                                   Determination & Characterization  of Caffeine in Tea Powder of  Different Brands Found in the                                                                                   Market by UV-Visible Spectrometer 

  • Sohaib Islam (2021)                                    Determination & Characterization  of Caffeine in Tea Powder in Different Solvents by UV-Visible                                                                             Spectrometer 

 

"Interested Students can communicate for possible opportunities."

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