KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY      Executive MBA | 2022

Coursework included Corporate Finance, Business Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring, Operations Strategy, Marketing, and Sales.

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE — Worcester, Massachusetts       PhD, Chemical Engineering | 2004

Dissertation: Growth of Carbon Nanotubes on Model and Supported Catalysts

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE — Worcester, Massachusetts       MS, Chemical Engineering | 2001

Dissertation: Analysis of Oxidation in Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY — Mumbai, India                                 BS, Chemical Engineering | 1999

LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR — Port Arthur, Texas

Chemistry Faculty & Laboratory Coordinator | January 2025 – Present

• I currently teach college-level Chemistry I and Chemistry II lecture and laboratory courses, providing students with a strong foundation in chemical principles, quantitative problem-solving, laboratory methods, and scientific reasoning.
• Develop and deliver course materials, laboratory exercises, assignments, and assessments aligned with course learning objectives.
• Incorporate practical examples from chemical manufacturing, polymers, materials science, catalysis, environmental chemistry, and industrial processes to connect fundamental chemistry concepts with real-world applications.
• Apply more than 20 years of industrial R&D experience to help students understand how chemistry is used in technical careers and the chemical and manufacturing industries.
• Serve as Laboratory Coordinator with responsibility for the handling, organization, storage, management, and oversight of chemicals used within the instructional laboratory environment.
• Continuously enhance classroom and laboratory instruction by incorporating relevant scientific developments, experimental techniques, and examples from current industrial practice.

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE — Worcester, Massachusetts

Graduate Teaching Assistant | Approximately Five Years

Teaching Assistant and student instruction during graduate education in chemistry, mathematics, science, and engineering subjects, including:

• Organic and Inorganic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Catalysis
• Advanced Mathematics
• Physics
• Reaction Engineering
• Heat and Mass Transfer
• Fluid Mechanics

Assisted undergraduate students with scientific concepts, quantitative problem-solving, theoretical analysis, and application of chemistry and engineering fundamentals.

CORNERSTONE CHEMICAL COMPANY — Waggaman, Louisiana

Principal R&D Lead | March 2020 – December 2025

• Led R&D and new-product development programs in polymer chemistry, materials science, specialty chemicals, and sustainable technologies.
• Developed novel melamine-based flame-retardant polymer technologies from laboratory research through pilot and commercial-scale evaluation, resulting in multiple patent applications.
• Led multidisciplinary technical teams and collaborated with universities, scientists, engineers, customers, and manufacturing personnel on applied research programs.
• Led technical initiatives in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) and mentored scientists in experimental design, research methodology, data interpretation, and technical communication.

INVISTA

Research Associate, Technical Lead | November 2014 – March 2020

Senior Research Engineer | January 2011 – October 2014

• Led industrial R&D programs in chemical reaction engineering, catalysis, separations, process chemistry, and Nylon 6,6 intermediate manufacturing.
• Developed and scaled new chemical processes and catalyst technologies from laboratory research to commercial manufacturing, resulting in significant process improvements, cost savings, and patented technologies.
• Led cross-functional teams of scientists and engineers to solve complex manufacturing and chemical-process challenges.
• Mentored chemists, scientists, and engineers while contributing to patents and technical knowledge across the organization.

BASF

Research Engineer — High-Throughput Catalysis | October 2006 – December 2010

• Conducted research in heterogeneous catalysis, reaction kinetics, refinery chemistry, and environmental catalyst technology.
• Established high-throughput catalyst screening and TAP® reactor capabilities for studying catalyst performance, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics.
• Collaborated with international research teams and contributed to scientific publications and technical presentations.

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON — Houston, Texas

Postdoctoral Fellow | December 2004 – September 2006

• Conducted research on NOx emission reduction for diesel and lean-burn engines using platinum-based catalysts.

Investigated catalytic reaction mechanisms and kinetics, resulting in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at professional scientific conferences.

Former Member of

• American Chemical Society
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Society of Automotive Engineers

SELECTED PATENTS & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Author/co-author of multiple patents and patent applications involving catalysts, chemical processing, reactor technology, and polymer/materials development.

• US9687836B2 — “Nickel Form for Preparation of Catalytic Nickel-Ligand Complexes”
• US8969606B2 — “Calcination and Reduction Process Including a Fluidized Bed Reactor”
• US10143999B2 — “Nickel Having High Ligand-Complexation Activity and Methods for Making the Same”
• US20170203287A1 — “Nickel Metal Particle Production”
• TW201819043A — “Heterogeneous Catalyst Process and Nickel Catalyst”
• Patent applications involving novel melamine-based polymer technology

 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Kumar, A.; Medhekar, V.; Harold, M.P.; Balakotaiah, V. “NOx Decomposition and Reduction on Pt/Al2O3 Powder and Monolith Catalysts Using TAP Reactor.” Applied Catalysis B, 90, 2009.
• Medhekar, V.; Balakotaiah, V.; Harold, M.P. “TAP Study of NOx Storage and Reduction on Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/BaO/Al2O3.” Catalysis Today, 121, 226–236, 2007.
• Kabin, K.S.; Khanna, P.; Muncrief, R.L.; Medhekar, V.; Harold, M.P. “Monolith and TAP® Reactor Studies of NOx Storage on Pt/BaO/Al2O3: Elucidating the Mechanistic Pathways and Roles of Pt.” Catalysis Today, 114, 72–85, 2006.
• Medhekar, V.; Thompson, R.W.; Wang, A.; McGimpsey, W.G. “Modeling the Oxidative Degradation of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene.” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 87, 814–826, 2003.

SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

• Presenter, “Advancing Flame-Retardant Polymers for High-Risk Applications,” TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo, 2025.
• Presenter, “Melamine-Based Flame-Retardant Thermoplastics,” ACS Fire & Polymers Conference, 2024.
• Presented research involving catalysis, NOx storage and reduction, reaction kinetics, environmental chemistry, and materials science at scientific meetings including AIChE, North American Catalysis Society, Southwest Catalysis Society, and other professional conferences.

PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC SERVICE

• Reviewer for scientific journals including Applied Catalysis A and Topics in Catalysis.
• Organized technical conference sessions for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), including sessions involving diesel emission control, selective catalytic reduction, catalyst technology, powertrains, fuels, and lubricants.
• President, Graduate Student Organization, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2000–2002.