Experience

HORIBA Scientific

• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Principal Engineer

  • Jan 2021 - Present



Honda/Wipro Technologies

• Sr. Engineer

  • Mar 2020 - Dec 2020

  Module development for Acura. Module development for Acura.



Nissan Motor Corporation

• Japan
• Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Scientist

  • Aug 2010 - Jun 2019

  Developed cutting-edge polymer materials, membranes, electrolytes, catalysts, and methods to advance the commercialization of Nissan’s zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and battery electric vehicles (EVs). Proposed a new water-based conductive polymer binder formulation and evaluated it in both coin cells and pouch cells to replace commonly-used NMP solvent and binders (CMC, PVDF) in Si-anode-based Li-ion batteries. Reviewed both bioethanol fuel industry and bioethanol-based Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) technology for application in direct propulsion and as a range-extender for EVs. Established collaboration among Nissan R & D Lab, national lab, and universities to develop SOFC technology for range-extended EVs. Produced 17 patents to save development cost of polymer membranes, fuel cells, and Li-ion battery for zero-emission EVs. Derived two new empirical correlations to predict and save lengthy evaluation times of chemical lifetime and mechanical lifetime of polymer membranes. Validated performance and durability protocols, and evaluated performance of electrocatalysts and membranes to advance commercialization of zero-emission FCEVs. Developed and validated new testing methods and protocols, and benchmarked 10 leading developmental polymer electrolyte membranes to select state-of-the-art membranes for next-generation hydrogen fuel cells. Led and contributed from start-to-finish to three US DOE-funded projects on advanced high temperature fuel cell membrane for application in FCEVs. Searched and selected leading materials and technology developers from industries, national labs, and universities, and successfully established collaboration with Nissan. Represented Nissan R & D Lab at various meetings and international conferences, prepared conference reports, and recommended leading-edge materials and technologies to advance the adoption of zero-emission vehicles. Show less



North Carolina State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Aug 2004 - May 2010

  Studied fluorinated and crosslinked polymer membranes, in collaboration with Dept. of Chemistry, UNC Chapel Hill and under US DOE-funded project. Synthesized new bifunctional styrene-based-fluorinated crosslinkable per fluoro polyether (PFPE) monomers and polymerized new PFPE polymers having six different molecular weights. Investigated structure-property relationships and crosslinking density to develop membranes with low-methanol permeability and high conductivity for early commercialization of portable power devices. Characterized new polymers and membranes using NMR, FTIR-ATR, DSC, TGA, DMA, stress-strain, solvent uptake, and dimensional change. Studied new crosslinked cation- and anion-exchange membranes for fuel cells and separation processes. Designed a diffusion cell and developed a method to measure methanol permeability of membranes by gas chromatography. Designed a six-conductivity-cell apparatus and used EIS technique to measure ionic conductivity of six different membranes simultaneously as a function of temperature and relative humidity. Show less



North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Aug 2001 - Dec 2003

  Developed a thermodynamic model for hydrogen-containing systems at infinite-dilution to predict hydrogen (H2) solubility in 51 hydrocarbons using FORTRAN programming. Designed a high-pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) system to measure enthalpy and density of supercritical fluids simultaneously. Studied incremental enthalpy and density of supercritical CO2-containing systems, under NSF’s Environmentally Sustainable and Benign Solvent Program. Developed a thermodynamic model for hydrogen-containing systems at infinite-dilution to predict hydrogen (H2) solubility in 51 hydrocarbons using FORTRAN programming. Designed a high-pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) system to measure enthalpy and density of supercritical fluids simultaneously. Studied incremental enthalpy and density of supercritical CO2-containing systems, under NSF’s Environmentally Sustainable and Benign Solvent Program.



Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL)

• Mangalore, India

• Production Supervisor and Process Engineer

  • Dec 1997 - Jul 2001

  Supervised five key refinery process units (crude distillation, vacuum distillation, ATF, visbreaker, ashphalt/bitumen/coke, liquefied gases), delivered certified petroleum products, and managed staff members. Maintained process units, distributed control system, critical equipment and instruments (tanks, pipes, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, blowers, furnaces, filters, separators, mixers, reactors), and led team members during normal and critical operations. Analyzed data of process units, prepared monthly and yearly reports, evaluated performance of process units, and led projects to increase throughput, and streamline refining operations and processes. Executed process modifications to blend byproduct to produce certified diesel product and enhance heat recovery. Show less