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Manjesh Kumar, Ph.D. 2121 El Paseo St, Houston, TX 77054 (832)-693-**** kr.manjesh@gmail.com India (Citizenship)

EDUCATION

University of Houston Houston, TX

Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Jan 2012-Aug 2016)

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur Kanpur, India

BTECH, Chemical Engineering (2004-2008)

SKILLS

Microscopy: Scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM, In situ technique to study nanoscale dynamics)

Spectroscopy: X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic and static light scattering (DLS and SLS)

Textural Analysis: Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), gas adsorption analysis (BET, t-plot, micropore and mesopores analysis)

Elemental Analysis: Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)

Industrial Equipment: Batch reactor (6.3 KL), cleanroom powder processing, hydrogenator, digital control system, solvent recovery

Software Platforms: Windows, Linux, SAP, FORTRAN programming, MATLAB, Mathematica, Aspen (Hysys), MS Office

Safety Guidelines: cGMP training (21 CFR FDA guidelines), HF handling, solvent management, waste segregation and handling

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Rational design of zeolites and understanding of crystal growth mechanisms (Advised by Dr. Jeffrey D. Rimer) (2012-16)

Developed a versatile technique to tailor crystal morphology through molecular design o Material synthesis and characterization: Synthesis of various zeolite frameworks under different growth conditions

and characterization of materials using SEM, XRD, AFM, DLS, SLS, TGA, EDX, and BET.

o Developed mini-library of zeolite growth modifiers (ZGMs) for zeolite L (LTL) synthesis and tested physicochemical

factors governing ZGM specificity and efficacy.

o Identified ZGMs for commercially-relevant zeolites, such as Zeolite L (LTL), mordenite (MOR) and SSZ-13 (CHA),

capable of altering crystal size over 3 orders of magnitude.

Established the role of amorphous precursor during SSZ-13 crystallization and deterministically controlled crystal size

o Ex-situ temporal analysis of morphology evolution using HRSEM and cryo-TEM confirmed the precursor attachment

and transformation to SSZ-13 crystals and provided an evidence for crystallization by particle attachment (CPA).

o Use of Modifiers and its synergistic effect helped to deterministically dial the crystal size from 100 nm to 20 m.

Investigation of zeolite surface growth and ZGM-crystal interactions using an in situ hydrothermal AFM technique o Developed a novel technique for in situ AFM imaging of zeolite growth under realistic synthesis conditions that is

capable of identifying mechanisms of crystallization and quantifying anisotropic rates of crystal growth.

o In situ AFM imaging of MFI nanosheets on silicon wafer to understand the mechanism of membrane growth tune

nanoscale growth in collaboration with Professor Michael Tsapatsis’ group at the University of Minnesota.

o Established the role and nature of liquid like amorphous precursors as function of supersaturation on crystal growth

pathways using In situ AFM on Zeolite A system in order to establish classical and non-classical growth regime.

Investigation of non-classical zeolite growth using time-elapsed analysis of heterogeneous growth solutions o Examined the nature of growth precursors in solutions using fractal dimensional analysis to reveal structural

transformations (this method has proven to be a robust technique for quantifying the induction period of nucleation).

o Tracked the physiochemical properties and evolution of bulk solid precursors to elucidate their role in crystal growth.

Simulation and multi-objective optimization of the oxidation of butane to maleic anhydride in catalytic reactor using a Guided

Genetic Algorithm (Advised by Dr. S.K. Gupta) (Aug-Dec 2007)

Modeled the multi-tubular catalytic reactor using mass, energy and momentum balance equations in FORTRAN.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2008-10 Project Manager at Pharmaceutical Industry (Ranbaxy Laboratory Ltd (RLL), India)

o Commissioned and validated Wurster coater granulation plant (worth $1.6 mil.)

o Managed green field project of new multi-purpose manufacturing plant as site manager (worth $12 mil.)

2009-11 Production Manager at Pharmaceutical Industry (Ranbaxy Laboratory Ltd, India)

o Supervised production plant of 44 staff members and interacted with worker’s union.

o Developed new granulation technique with annual saving of $1 million.

o Commissioned and validated critical systems, such as DCS, DI water system, 44 batch reactors,

Hydrogenator, and recovery unit for solvent extraction.

o Successful technology transfer of active pharmaceutical molecules such as valsartan and fitment of new

molecules such as Irbesartan and Olmesartan in new plant.

2007 Located clean development mechanism (CDM) potential in pharmaceutical industry and estimated Carbon

Emission Reduction (CER: approx. 8x106 ton/year) using methods prescribed under Kyoto Protocol.

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HONORS AND AWARDS

2015 Best Oral Talk for 30th

Organization for Chemical Engineering Graduate Students (2015 OChEGS) Symposium.

2015 Selected for oral talk at 2015 Nanoporous Material GRC meeting based on research quality of poster.

2015 Kokes Award for the 24th

North American Catalysis Society (NACS) meeting in Pittsburgh, PA.

2014 Best Poster Award for the 2014 Southwest Catalyst Society symposium (SWCS) at University of Houston.

2013 Travel Grant Award for Annual AICHE Meeting in Catalysis and Reaction Engineering division.

2011-12 Houston Endowment Award from University of Houston contingent upon performance in Ph.D.

2010 Certificate of Appreciation for Commissioning, Qualification and Validation of multipurpose manufacturing

facility for commercial production of Valsartan (Capacity: 60 TPA, CAPEX: $ 12 mil.).

2009 Spot Recognition Award for exemplifying performance in solving technical complexity at RLL.

2009 Certificate of Appreciation for Annual Savings of $1 million for the development of a new process of Carbomer

manufacturing from Clarithromycin and thereby reducing cycle time and overhead while increasing yield.

2005-06 Certificate of Merit for Academic Excellence in the undergraduate program, IIT Kanpur.

2005-08 Merit-Cum-Means Award for the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur undergraduate program.

2004 Ranked among top 0.3% of 350,000+ students in nation-wide IIT entrance examination, 2004

PUBLICATIONS

o Shete, M., Kumar, M., Kim, D., Rangnekar, N., Xu, D., Topuz, B., Agrawal, K.V., Karapetrova, E., Stottrup, B., Al-Thabaiti,

S., Basahel, S. Narasimharao, K., Rimer, J.D., Tsapatsis, M.; Nanoscale Control of Homoepitaxial Growth on a 2-Dimensional

Zeolite, Angew. Chemie. Int. Ed. (in print, Dec 2016), Selected as VIP article, Artwork selected for front cover.

o Hwang, l check A., M., Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D., Bhan, A.; Implications of methanol disproportionation on catalyst lifetime for

methanol-to-olefins conversion by HSSZ-13, J. Catal. (Accepted, Dec 2016)

o Kumar, M., Li, R., Rimer, J.D., Assembly and Evolution of Amorphous Precursors in Zeolite L Crystallization, Chem.

Mater., 28 ( 2016) 1714–1727

o Kumar, M., Luo, H., Román-Leshkov, Y., Rimer, J.D., SSZ-13 Crystallization by Particle Attachment and Deterministic

Pathways to Crystal Size Control, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 137 (2015) 13007-13017

o Lupulescu, A.I., Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D.,A Facile Strategy to Design Zeolite L Crystals with Tunable Morphology and Surface

Architecture, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135 (2013) 6608-6617

o Rimer, J.D., Kumar, M., Li, R., Lupulescu, A.I., Olesiak, M.D., Tailoring the Physicochemical Properties of Zeolite Catalysts,

Catal. Sci. Technol., 4 (2014) 3762-3771

o Kumar, M,Choudhary, M., Lupulescu, A.I., and Rimer, J.D., Time-Resolved In Situ AFM Measurements of MFI (010) Surface

Growth in the Presence of Zeolite Growth Modifiers, (in preparation; anticipated submission in March 2017)

o Kumar, M, Hsieh, M.F., Berkson, Z., Zheng, H., Palmer, J., Chmelka, B., and Rimer, J.D., Synthesis of Ultrathin Mordenite

Nanosheets by Cooperative Organic Structure-Directing Agents, (in preparation; anticipated submission in Feb 2017)

o Kumar, M, Choudhary, M., and Rimer, J.D., In-situ Evidence of Zeolite A Crystallization by a Nonclassical Mechanism, (in

preparation; anticipated submission in Jan 2017)

PATENTS

o Rimer, J.D., Lupulescu, A.I., and Kumar, M. (contributor), Zeolite compositions and methods for tailoring zeolite crystal

habits with growth modifiers, University of Houston, US/2012/0202006 and WO/2012/106675; Continuation: Methods for

tailoring zeolite SSZ-13 crystal size and habit (US/2015/0360964, Published 12/17/2015)

CONFERENCES (SELECTED PRESENTATIONS)

o AICHE Annual Conference: Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D., Identifying the Mechanism of SSZ-13 Crystallization and Methods to

Tailor Material Properties (oral presentation) 2015 Salt Lake City, Utah

o 2015 GRC, Nanoporous Materials & Their Applications: Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D., Non-classical Crystallization Pathways:

Mechanisms of Nanoporous Materials Nucleation and Growth (poster presentation) August 2015 Holderness, NH

o 24th

NACS Meeting: Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D., Tailoring the Physicochemical Properties of Zeolite Catalysts through Molecular

Design (oral presentation) June 2015 Pittsburgh, PA

o MRS Fall Meeting: Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D.,In Situ Imaging of Zeolite Surface Growth by Atomic Force Microscopy (oral

presentation) 2014 Boston, MA

o AICHE Annual Conference: Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D., Tailoring the Physicochemical Properties of Zeolite Catalysts through

Molecular Design (oral presentation) 2014 Atlanta, GA

o AICHE Annual Conference: Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D., Controlling Zeolite Synthesis with Molecular Modifiers: A Versatile

Approach to Design Catalysts (poster presentation) 2014 Atlanta, GA

o Southwest Catalysis Society symposium: Kumar, M., Rimer, J.D., Tuning the Physicochemical Properties of Zeolite Catalysts

through Molecular Design (poster presentation) 2014 Houston, TX

o AICHE Annual Conference: Kumar, M., Lupulescu, A.I., Rimer, J.D., Tuning the Physicochemical Properties of Growth

Modifiers to Optimize Zeolite Catalysts (oral presentation) 2013 San Francisco, CA

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o ACS 245th

National Meeting and Exposition: Kumar, M., Lupulescu, A.I., Rimer, J.D., Tuning Physicochemical Properties of

Growth Modifiers to Regulate Zeolite Crystallization (poster presentation) 2013 New Orleans, LA

o Southwest Catalysis Society symposium: Kumar, M., Lupulescu, A.I., Rimer, J.D., Tuning Physicochemical Properties of

Growth Modifiers to Regulate Zeolite Crystallization (poster presentation) 2013 Houston, TX

LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

Guided and mentored undergraduate students to understand the course material better for Numerical methods, Advanced

chemical process economics and Fluid mechanics as a teaching assistant (TA, 2012-2014).

Mentored two undergraduate and two graduate students for zeolite synthesis and characterization leading to independent

research maintaining safety standard and training.

Vice President of the Organization of Chemical Engineering Graduate Students (OChEGS); organized a symposium for

graduate students with widespread representation from local industry.

Board Member of IITAGH, a non-profit group that serves the community through mentoring, education, and networking.

Co-ordinated activities for IIT 2013 Global Conference for Networking and Outreach Team and managed smooth

functioning of registration for more than 1500 attendees.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Chemical Society (ACS Catalysis Science and Technology Division)

Southwest Catalysis Society (SWCS)

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE Environmental Division, Sustainable Energy Forum, and Catalysis and

Reaction Engineering Division)

OChEGS (Organization of Chemical Engineering Graduate Students)