Elumalai Gnanamani | Chemistry | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Elumalai Gnanamani | Chemistry | Outstanding Scientist Award

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | India

Dr. E. Gnanamani is a distinguished Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, with an impactful career in chemistry marked by innovation in microdroplet chemistry and asymmetric catalysis. He is also an Associate Editor for Current Indian Sciences, reflecting his leadership in the academic community. His research bridges the frontiers of organic synthesis and mass spectrometry, contributing significantly to both fundamental and applied chemistry.

Author Profile👤

Google Scholar

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Pioneering Research in Microdroplet Chemistry
    Dr. Gnanamani has carved a niche in microdroplet chemistry, a cutting-edge domain that accelerates chemical reactions, enabling greener, faster, and novel synthetic transformations. His collaborations with Prof. Richard N. Zare (Stanford University), a global leader in the field, have resulted in high-impact publications in JACS, Angew. Chem., Chem. Sci., and Nature Catalysis.

  • Consistent High-Impact Publications
    With over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals with impact factors ranging from 3.4 to 42.8, his work is not only prolific but also highly influential. Several publications are highlighted in Chemistry World, Nature Partner Journals, and other prominent science media outlets.

  • Global Research Exposure & Leadership
    His international research fellowships and visiting positions at Stanford University, Fudan University, ICCAS (Beijing), and IIT-Kanpur demonstrate strong cross-institutional engagement and recognition. Notably, his Fulbright Fellowship, awarded to only one chemist across India in 2014, underscores his global merit.

  • Inventive Mindset with Patents
    Dr. Gnanamani holds multiple international patents (USA, Europe, Mexico, China) reflecting innovation in catalysis and chemical synthesis.

  • Academic Influence and Outreach
    As an Assistant Professor at IIT-Roorkee and Associate Editor for Current Indian Sciences, he plays an active role in mentoring, academic publishing, and scientific dissemination. His numerous invited talks at international conferences show leadership in his field.

🎓 Education

Dr. Gnanamani earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Pondicherry University (2007–2013), where he worked on the design, synthesis, and resolution of conformationally rigid chiral pyridine N-oxides under the supervision of Dr. C. R. Ramanathan. Prior to this, he completed an M.Phil. in Chemistry from Pondicherry University (2006–2007) and an M.Sc. in Chemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University (2004–2006), both with first-class honors, showcasing early academic excellence.

💼 Experience

Dr. Gnanamani has served as Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee since March 2020, specializing in microdroplet chemistry and analytical techniques. He has held several prestigious international positions, including Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University under Prof. Barry M. Trost and as a Visiting Faculty at Fudan University and IIT-Kanpur, collaborating with renowned chemists like Prof. Richard N. Zare and Prof. Vinod K. Singh. His career demonstrates an ongoing commitment to global scientific exchange and innovation.

🔬 Research Interests On Chemistry

Dr. Gnanamani’s research is pioneering in microdroplet chemistry, focusing on accelerating organic reactions and elucidating mechanisms via mass spectrometry. He designs novel chiral molecules for organometal and organocatalysis, engages in the total synthesis of bioactive natural products, and explores classical resolution techniques for determining absolute configuration. His work consistently merges synthetic elegance with practical application.

🏆 Awards

Dr. Gnanamani has received numerous accolades, including the ChemComm Emerging Investigator 2024, the Patent Innovator Award 2021 (PROFOPI, Mexico), and the Fulbright Award 2014 (the only chemist selected from India). Other honors include the Developing Country Fellowship (China), CSIR-SRF, UGC Meritorious Fellowship, and Best Oral Presentation Award at NCFAC, among others. His early success in GATE (2007) reflects a consistent trajectory of excellence.

📚 Publications

  • Can all bulk-phase reactions be accelerated in microdroplets?
    S. Banerjee, E. Gnanamani, X. Yan, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2017 Citations: 213

  • Direct enantio- and diastereoselective vinylogous addition of butenolides to chromones catalyzed by Zn-prophenol
    B. M. Trost, E. Gnanamani, C. A. Kalnmals, C. I. J. Hung, J. S. Tracy
    Year: 2019 Citations: 88

  • Chemoselective N-alkylation of indoles in aqueous microdroplets
    E. Gnanamani, X. Yan, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2020 Citations: 78

  • Branched aldehydes as linchpins for the enantioselective and stereodivergent synthesis of 1,3-aminoalcohols featuring a quaternary stereocentre
    B. M. Trost, C. I. Hung, T. Saget, E. Gnanamani
    Year: 2018 Citations: 62

  • Direct C(sp3)–N bond formation between toluene and amine in water microdroplets
    Y. Meng, E. Gnanamani, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2022 Citations: 58

  • Zn-ProPhenol catalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective direct vinylogous Mannich reactions between α, β- and β, γ-butenolides and aldimines
    B. M. Trost, E. Gnanamani, J. S. Tracy, C. A. Kalnmals
    Year: 2017 Citations: 57

  • 1,4-Benzoquinone antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis derived from scorpion venom
    E. N. Carcamo-Noriega, S. Sathyamoorthi, S. Banerjee, E. Gnanamani, …
    Year: 2019 Citations: 54

  • Controlling regioselectivity in the enantioselective N-alkylation of indole analogues catalyzed by dinuclear zinc-ProPhenol
    B. M. Trost, E. Gnanamani, C. I. Hung
    Year: 2017 Citations: 53

  • One-step formation of pharmaceuticals having a phenylacetic acid core using water microdroplets
    Y. Meng, E. Gnanamani, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2023 Citations: 46

  • Catalyst-free decarboxylative amination of carboxylic acids in water microdroplets
    Y. Meng, E. Gnanamani, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2022 Citations: 46

  • Tuning the reactivity of ketones through unsaturation: Construction of cyclic and acyclic quaternary stereocenters via Zn-ProPhenol catalyzed Mannich reactions
    B. M. Trost, C. I. J. Hung, E. Gnanamani
    Year: 2019 Citations: 45

🧾 Conclusion

🌟 Dr. E. Gnanamani stands out as a visionary chemist whose groundbreaking research in microdroplet chemistry has redefined reaction paradigms and accelerated green and sustainable synthetic methodologies. His global collaborations, patent innovations, and high-impact publications make him a highly deserving candidate for any prestigious research award. With his unwavering commitment to chemical sciences and mentorship, Dr. Gnanamani continues to inspire the next generation of scientists.

Xiaoxuan Liu | Chemistry | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Prof. Xiaoxuan Liu | Chemistry | Outstanding Scientist Award

Professor | GDUT | China

Dr. Xiaoxuan Liu (刘晓暄), born in 1957 in Changchun, is a second-level professor and Ph.D. supervisor at the School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology. A foreign academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences, he leads the provincial key discipline “Materials Science and Engineering” under the Peak Plan, with a specific focus on polymer materials. He currently serves as Director of the Guangdong Photocuring Advanced Materials Engineering Technology Research Center and has held multiple leadership positions in academia and professional societies worldwide.

Professional profile👤

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Distinguished Academic and Professional Standing

    • Second-level professor and PhD supervisor at Guangdong University of Technology.

    • Elected Foreign Academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences (2024).

    • Recognized internationally with multiple prestigious honors including the Euler Medal (2024) and IAAM Scientist Award Medal (2022).

  • Leadership & Institutional Contribution

    • Leads the Key Discipline of Polymer Materials under the provincial “Pinnacle Plan”.

    • Director of the Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocurable Advanced Materials.

    • Played pivotal roles in talent training and academic administration, including serving as a former department head and leading innovation teams.

  • Research Excellence

    • Over 1300 million CNY in research funding in the past five years.

    • Directed numerous national and provincial-level major scientific projects.

    • Published 273 research papers (89 SCI-indexed, H-index: 47, over 9300 citations) in top-tier journals like Prog Polym Sci, ACS Macro Letters, J. Mater. Chem., etc.

  • Technological Innovation and Industrial Impact

    • 60 invention patents filed, with 40 granted – indicating strong technology transfer and innovation capabilities.

    • Extensive collaborative projects under industry-university-research integration.

🎓 Education

Dr. Liu earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Polymer Chemical Engineering from Dalian University of Technology in January 1982. Later, in December 2001, he completed his Ph.D. in Science at Sun Yat-sen University. His academic training laid a solid foundation in polymer chemistry and advanced materials engineering.

💼 Experience

Since June 2006, Dr. Liu has served as a professor in Polymer Materials and Engineering at Guangdong University of Technology. He was promoted to Ph.D. supervisor in the same year and chaired the department from 2010 to 2015. He is an active member of several prestigious societies including the Chinese Chemical Society and RadTech North America. His collaborative work spans academia, industry, and international research communities, making him a globally influential materials scientist.

🔬 Research Interests On Chemistry

Dr. Liu focuses on polymer photochemistry and photocuring technology, specializing in high-performance materials for coatings, membranes, and composites. His research integrates fundamental science and applied engineering, contributing to green manufacturing, photoinitiated polymerization, and advanced functional materials. Over the years, he has led more than 20 national, provincial, and enterprise-academic collaborative research projects, with research funding exceeding ¥13 million in the past five years alone.

🏆 Awards

Dr. Liu’s exceptional contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including:

  • 🎖️ IAAM Medal (2017) and IAAM Scientist Award (2022) by the International Association of Advanced Materials

  • 🏅 Euler Medal (2024) and induction as a Foreign Academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences

  • 🥇 Outstanding Contribution Award from RadTech China (2023)

  • 🏆 Second Prize of Guangdong Science and Technology Progress Award (2022)

  • 🌟 Gold Award for Industry-University-Research Innovation from the China Association for Industry-University-Research Cooperation (2023)

  • 🧑‍🏫 Twice awarded the First Prize for Teaching Excellence by Guangdong University of Technology

  • 📰 Featured in Science and Technology Daily (July 25, 2016)

📚 Publications

Dr. Liu has published 273 academic papers, including 89 SCI-indexed and 48 EI-indexed articles, with over 9,311 citations and an H-index of 47. His most notable works include publications in:

1. Enhanced Silicone Coatings via Rapid Photocatalytic Hydrosilylation Using a Platinum Complex and ITX Photosensitizer

  • Authors: Yushu Zhang, Shufang Wu, Wenqiang Ma, Zhiquan Li, Xiaoxuan Liu

  • Year: 2025

  • Journal: Molecular Catalysis

  • DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2025.114993

2. Photocatalytic Hydrosilylation over Pt@UiO‐66‐NH₂: Enhanced Activity and Polymerization Kinetics

  • Authors: Yushu Zhang, Shufang Wu, Wenqiang Ma, Xiaoxuan Liu, Zhiquan Li

  • Year: 2024

  • Journal: Macromolecular Rapid Communications

  • DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400241

  • Citation Count: 1 citation

3. Metal-Free ATRP with Oligopyrene as a Photocatalyst under LED Irradiation

  • Authors: Shufang Wu, Yushu Zhang, Zhiquan Li, Xiaoxuan Liu, Yusuf Yagci

  • Year: 2024

  • Journal: European Polymer Journal

  • DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.112802

4. Photobase-Catalysed Anionic Thiol-Epoxy Click Photopolymerization under NIR Irradiation: From Deep Curing to Shape Memory

  • Authors: Yaoxin Huang, Longji Li, Xiaoxuan Liu, Zhiquan Li

  • Year: 2022

  • Journal: Polymer Chemistry

  • DOI: 10.1039/D2PY00144F

  • Citation Count: 17 citations

5. Upconversion Nanoparticle-Assisted Cationic and Radical/Cationic Hybrid Photopolymerization Using Sulfonium Salts

  • Authors: Xiaoyan Meng, Longji Li, Yaoxin Huang, Xin Deng, Xiaoxuan Liu, Zhiquan Li

  • Year: 2021

  • Journal: Polymer Chemistry

  • DOI: 10.1039/D1PY01455B

6. Synthesis and Properties of CO₂ Copolymer-Based Waterborne Polyurethane with High Solid Content

  • Authors: Wenqi Xian, Jie Yuan, Zhengbin Xie, Wei Ou, Xiaoxuan Liu, Baohua Liu

  • Year: 2021

  • Journal: Journal of Polymer Research

  • DOI: 10.1007/s10965-021-02616-9

  • Citation Count: 12 citations ​

7. A Healable Waterborne Polyurethane Synergistically Cross-Linked by Hydrogen Bonds and Covalent Bonds for Composite Conductors

  • Authors: Yan Yang, Zushan Ye, Xiaoxuan Liu, Jiahui Su

  • Year: 2020

  • Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry C

  • DOI: 10.1039/D0TC00551G

8. Fabricated of Superhydrophobic Silanized Melamine Sponge with Photochromic Properties for Efficiency Oil/Water Separation

  • Authors: Peng Hong, Zhu Liu, Yang Gao, Yubin Chen, Mingxun Zhuang, Lijuan Chen, Xiaoxuan Liu, Hongping Xiang

  • Year: 2019

  • Journal: Advances in Polymer Technology

  • DOI: 10.1155/2019/9536320

9. Facile TEMPO Immobilization onto Poly(acrylic acid)-Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles: Preparation and Property

  • Authors: Guohui Huang, Xiaoxuan Liu, Yiling Bei, Huiqing Ma

  • Year: 2017

  • Journal: International Journal of Polymer Science

  • DOI: 10.1155/2017/9621635

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Xiaoxuan Liu is a pioneering figure in polymer materials and photochemistry. His interdisciplinary research, significant publication record, and global recognition position him as a key innovator in sustainable materials science. From developing next-gen photoinitiated systems to mentoring future researchers, Dr. Liu’s legacy continues to shine in both academic and industrial arenas.