Sunil Kumar | Energy and Environment | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Sunil Kumar | Energy and Environment | Young Scientist Award

National Institution for Transforming India Aayog | India

Dr. Sunil Kumar is a distinguished energy and climate change expert with over 12 years of experience in sustainable energy, green transition, and climate policy. Currently serving as a Consultant at NITI Aayog, Government of India, he specializes in net-zero transitions, sustainable cooling, building energy research, and clean energy adoption. Dr. Kumar holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Environment from Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, where his research focused on quantifying occupant adaptive actions to improve indoor environmental quality. He also earned an M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, and a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. A Certified Energy Manager and LEED Green Associate, Dr. Kumar has made significant contributions to national energy policy, including developing India’s net-zero roadmap for buildings and promoting sustainable cooling technologies. He has held key roles at TERI, Design2Occupancy Services LLP, and other organizations, leading projects on energy efficiency, climate-responsive cooling, and building energy standards. He has authored numerous high-impact publications in journals like Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews and Journal of Building Engineering, and has contributed to multiple books and policy guides on energy efficiency and sustainable development. Recognized globally, Dr. Kumar ranks among the top of scientists worldwide and has received awards such as Young Energy Professional of the Year and nominations for the Energy Heroes Innovator Award. His expertise spans data analysis, energy modeling, and technology-driven solutions for low-emission, sustainable practices. Fluent in English and Hindi, proficient in Python, SPSS, Tableau, and building simulation tools, he actively contributes as an editor, reviewer, and speaker in international forums. Dr. Kumar’s career reflects a deep commitment to advancing sustainable energy practices, climate resilience, and policy innovation to drive India’s green transition and global sustainability goals

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Gonzalez-Lezcano, R. A., & Sansaniwal, S. K. (2024). Efficient installation strategies that guarantee comfort, well-being, and health in interior spaces. In Design strategies for efficient and sustainable building facilities (Vol. 1, pp. 402–424).

  • Sansaniwal, S. K., & Gupta, G. (2024). Enhancing building energy efficiency assessment through benchmarking techniques. In Design strategies for efficient and sustainable building facilities (Vol. 1, pp. 324–349).

  • Sansaniwal, S. K., & Gonzalez-Lezcano, R. A. (2024). Towards integrating occupant behavioral modeling with building performance simulation. In Design strategies for efficient and sustainable building facilities (Vol. 1, pp. 305–323).

  • Bhutani, V., Bahadur, P. S., Sansaniwal, S. K., & Bais, P. (2024). Youth studies in the AI era: Navigating uncharted territory. In Exploring youth studies in the age of AI (Vol. 1, pp. 393–413).

 

ASMITA MISHRA | Energy | Young Scientist Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. ASMITA MISHRA | Energy | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Asmita Mishra, a dynamic chemical and bioprocess engineering academician from Odisha, India, specializes in pyrolysis technology, waste-to-energy, carbon capture, and hydrogen storage; she blends deep research with practical innovation to address sustainable energy challenges through advanced modeling and optimization techniques. Currently serving as Assistant Professor (Senior) at VIT Vellore, she has taught at VSSUT Burla and PMEC Berhampur, guided numerous projects, and published widely in top-tier journals.  Her passion lies in converting waste into wealth using eco-friendly, data-driven approaches and ASPEN simulations for biofuel production. Her multidisciplinary knowledge, MHRD fellowship, and international presentations in the US affirm her leadership in sustainable chemical engineering.

Profile

🎓 Education

Dr. Asmita Mishra completed her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in 2023, earning a CGPA of 8.86 and specializing in waste motor oil pyrolysis and sustainable fuel generation. She holds a Master of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering from Jadavpur University, where she secured a first rank with a CGPA of 9.49 and received the University Gold Medal in 2018. Her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering was obtained from Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology Sarang in 2016, where she ranked third in her class with a CGPA of 8.74. She completed her 10+2 and 10th education at D.A.V. Public School, Burla, achieving 73% and 93.1% respectively. Her academic excellence was consistently recognized with state government scholarships, national-level competitive exam achievements like GATE, and research fellowships, establishing a strong academic foundation for her career in chemical engineering and sustainability research.

💼 Experience

Dr. Asmita Mishra is currently employed as Assistant Professor (Senior) at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, where she has been teaching undergraduate courses and guiding students in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering since April 2025. Before this, she served as Assistant Professor (Contractual) at Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur, from February 2024 to February 2025, and at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, from August 2023 to December 2023. Her roles included mentoring undergraduate students and supervising B.Tech projects. From January 2019 to January 2023, she was a Teaching Assistant at IIT Kharagpur, where she contributed to hazardous waste management, industrial pollution control, and laboratory instruction. Her academic experience spans curriculum delivery, practical lab design, research facilitation, and student mentoring. She is known for integrating research with pedagogy, encouraging interdisciplinary learning, and contributing actively to departmental activities, workshops, and technical events throughout her academic journey.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Asmita Mishra has received several prestigious awards and recognitions throughout her academic career. She was awarded the Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award by the Lovraj Kumar Memorial Trust in 2024. She received the University Gold Medal from Jadavpur University in 2018 for securing the first rank in her master’s program. In 2024, she was granted an international travel grant by SERB to attend the ACS Fall Meeting in Denver, USA, and earlier received a travel grant to attend the AIChE Spring Meeting in Houston, USA in 2023. She has been an invited speaker at SOA Bhubaneswar and has received the MHRD Fellowship during her doctoral research. Dr. Mishra qualified the GATE examination in 2018 with a score of 512 and received the Odisha State Government’s Meritorious Scholarship during her undergraduate studies. In 2011, she secured second place in a state-level debate competition organized by the Odisha Environment Congress.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Asmita Mishra’s research is centered on sustainable chemical processes with a particular focus on waste-to-energy conversion, pyrolysis of waste motor oil, and co-pyrolysis of biomass and industrial waste. Her work includes extensive thermokinetic modeling, fixed-bed reactor experimentation, and optimization using response surface methodology and artificial neural networks. She has designed and developed laboratory-scale pyrolysis setups and conducted detailed thermogravimetric studies. Her research extends to carbon dioxide capture, hydrogen energy storage, and the use of simulation tools like ASPEN and COMSOL to enhance energy efficiency. She has authored over 15 high-impact SCI-indexed journal articles and contributed chapters to international books. Her interdisciplinary approach combines chemical engineering fundamentals with computational modeling and environmental safety analysis. She actively collaborates with academic peers and industry professionals to promote cleaner fuel technologies and mitigate the environmental impact of hydrocarbon waste, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and circular economy practices in chemical engineering.

 Conclusion

Dr. Asmita Mishra stands out as a highly deserving candidate for the Young Scientist Award, showcasing excellence in research, teaching, publication, and innovation. Her work in sustainable energy and pyrolysis-based waste valorization is not only scientifically rigorous but also socially and environmentally impactful. With an impressive academic track, leadership roles, and international exposure, she represents the next generation of researchers driving sustainable chemical engineering forward. Continued emphasis on global collaboration, funding leadership, and technology commercialization would further solidify her as a future thought leader.

Publication

  1. Title: Effective defluoridation of industrial wastewater by using acid modified alumina in fixed-bed adsorption column: experimental and breakthrough curves analysis
    Year: 2021
    Authors: U. Kumari, A. Mishra, H. Siddiqi, B.C. Meikap
    Citations: 131

  2. Title: Pyrolysis of waste lubricating oil/waste motor oil to generate high-grade fuel oil: A comprehensive review
    Year: 2021
    Authors: A. Mishra, H. Siddiqi, U. Kumari, I.D. Behera, S. Mukherjee, B.C. Meikap
    Citations: 115

  3. Title: A synergistic study of reaction kinetics and heat transfer with multi-component modelling approach for the pyrolysis of biomass waste
    Year: 2020
    Authors: H. Siddiqi, U. Kumari, S. Biswas, A. Mishra, B.C. Meikap
    Citations: 67

  4. Title: Extensive thermogravimetric and thermo-kinetic study of waste motor oil based on iso-conversional methods
    Year: 2020
    Authors: A. Mishra, U. Kumari, V.Y. Turlapati, H. Siddiqi, B.C. Meikap
    Citations: 59

  5. Title: Strategic implementation of integrated bioaugmentation and biostimulation for efficient mitigation of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants from terrestrial and aquatic environment
    Year: 2022
    Authors: I.D. Behera, M. Nayak, A. Mishra, B.C. Meikap, R. Sen
    Citations: 57

  6. Title: Present cum future of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its associated control of virus-laden air pollutants leading to potential environmental threat–a global review
    Year: 2021
    Authors: S. Mukherjee, S. Boral, H. Siddiqi, A. Mishra, B.C. Meikap
    Citations: 34

  7. Title: In-situ synthesis of efficient ZnCl2 doped pyrolyzed biochar for adsorptive remediation of organic dyes: performance evaluation, mass transfer and mechanism
    Year: 2024
    Authors: P. Maiti, M. Mangsatabam, A. Chatterjee, H. Siddiqi, A. Mishra, B.C. Meikap
    Citations: 20

  8. Title: Utilizing agricultural residue for the cleaner biofuel production and simultaneous air pollution mitigation due to stubble burning: A net energy balance and total emission
    Year: 2021
    Authors: H. Siddiqi, A. Mishra, U. Kumari, P. Maiti, B.C. Meikap
    Citations: 19