Dr. Milind V. Kulkarni presently working as ‘Senior Scientist’ & ‘Group Head’ at Nanocomposite Laboratory, Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C- MET), Pune, under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Govt. of India. He obtained his M.Sc. degree in ‘Polymer Chemistry’ from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, India in 1996, with first rank. He has received his Ph.D. on “Conducting Polymer Based Sensors”, in 2002 from University of Pune, Pune, India. In 2001, he has started his career as ‘Scientist-B’ at C-MET, Pune. He is actively working for the development of Active materials (Cathode and Anode) for Li –ion & Na-ion battery with fabrication of prototype cell/battery and all solid state, flexible, thin batteries. Recently, he is developing, ‘Li - S’ batteries and ‘Li- air’ batteries for Automobile applications (Hybrid Electrical Vehicles). He also has developed and demonstrated Polyaniline based thin, flexible, light weight and ultra-low-cost battery. His main field of current scientific interest is Nanomaterials and Polymer nanocomposites for multifunctional applications, Development of conducting/electroactive polymers and their nanocomposites, ‘Flexible and Wearable’ electronics devices, Nanomaterials for ‘ink-jet printed, ‘flexible electronics devices’. He has developed polyaniline-CNTs nanocomposite coated ‘E-fabric/smart fabric’. He is also actively working for the development of nanomaterials and glass/polymer nanocomposites for lead free, X-ray absorption/attenuation application and developed successfully a prototype light weight, lead free apron for biomedical applications. Presently, he is also engaged in the development of polymer nanocomposites for biological applications and development of ‘Electronic Nose’ (E-Nose) and ‘Electronic Tongue’ (E-Tongue) for chemical and biomedical applications.
Dr. Kulkarni has published more than 110 research paper in international journals of high repute. His Google Scholar h-index =35 with citations more than 3973 with i10 –index = 78. He has filed more than 25 patents (including 1 US, 1 Canadian & 1 German Patent & 1 PCT). Also, he has presented more than 130 papers in National and International conferences and delivered ~ 50 invited lectures. He has guided 5 Ph.D students (3 more student are currently working under his guidance) and 6 M.Phil and 25 B.E/M.Sc./M.Tech students.
Recently, he is admitted as ‘Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry’ (FRSC), London (UK) in 2022. Also, He is recipient of the ‘Researcher of the Year -2021: Energy Storage’ award by India Energy Storage Alliances (IESA), “Fellow” of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences in year 2013 and Young Associate” award in 2009. He has awarded the ‘JRF’ and ‘SRF’ from DST, and CSIR, New Delhi, India respectively. He is the ‘Member” of “ The Electrochemical Society” USA (ECS ID: 528585) & “Life Member” of “The Electrochemical Society of India (ECSI)”, Materials Research Society of India (MRSI), The Society for Polymer Science (India) and Indian Society of Analytical Scientists (ISAS). He is also Member of Board of Studies (BOS) for the subject ‘Applied Sciences’ of Symbiosis International University, Pune and for the subject ‘Chemistry’ of Fergusson College, Pune & subject of ‘Electrical Engineering’ D.Y. Patil University, Ambi, Pune., Member of the ‘Research Recognition Committee’ (RRC) for the subject – Chemistry of the Maharashtra Institute of Technology World Peace University (MITWPU), Pune. He has also been invited as ‘Adjunct Faculty’ in the ‘Applied Science Department’ at the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). Also, he is working as an ‘Expert’ for ‘TechNovuus’ at Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune (Research Institute of the Automotive Industry with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Govt. of India).
Nominated as Member (Eminent Scholar in the Subject) by VC on School Council of the School of Transdisciplinary Sciences & Management of COEP Technological University, Pune
Dr. Kulkarni has designed & developed ‘First Indigenous & Low Cost’ “Polymer Swab” for the sample collection and testing of COVID-19 and other viral diseases.