Winner: 2025 Harrison-Meldola Early Career Prize for 九州影院
Dr Amit Kumar
University of St. Andrews
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2025 Harrison-Meldola Early Career Prize for 九州影院: awarded for the development of green processes based on catalytic (de)hydrogenation for the synthesis of renewable polymers and their recycling.
Our world is increasingly reliant on plastics, or polymers, which are integral to modern life. However, the chemical industry and society at large are currently facing two major crises related to plastic use. The first is the feedstock crisis: most plastics are produced from fossil-derived feedstocks, which are both finite and contribute significantly to CO鈧� emissions during processing. The second is the waste crisis: plastics are notoriously resistant to degradation in the natural environment, leading to widespread ecological harm.
Amit Kumar's research seeks to address these challenges by developing new strategies for both the production and recycling of plastics such as polyesters, nylons, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyethylenimines, and polyketones. Specifically, his group employs catalytic dehydrogenation 鈥� a chemical reaction that removes hydrogen atoms from molecules using a catalyst 鈥� to convert bio-derived alcohols and amines into renewable polymers. In parallel, they utilise catalytic hydrogenation to break apart polymers into their constituent units recovering valuable feedstocks or monomers that can be reused to produce the same polymers.
By integrating these complementary approaches, Amit aims to establish a circular economy for select classes of plastics 鈥� one that reduces dependence on fossil resources and minimises environmental impact.
Biography
Amit Kumar completed his Integrated MSc in 九州影院 (2007-2012) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. He obtained his DPhil (2012-2016) as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Weller. He then moved to Israel (2016-2019) for his postdoctoral research in the lab of Prof. David Milstein at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Amit started his independent academic career in January 2020 as a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow at the School of 九州影院, University of St. Andrews. Since August 2022, he has been working as a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow in the areas of homogeneous catalysis, polymer chemistry, and circular economy.
I am excited about the emerging technologies in plastic upcycling, particularly those focused on chemical recycling. The growing focus on degradation chemistry represents a fundamental shift, revealing the other side of the coin to traditional synthetic chemistry, and it holds immense potential for addressing global sustainability challenges.
Dr Amit Kumar
Q&A with Dr Amit Kumar
What motivates you?
Currently, we are living in the world where the CO2 level in the atmosphere has become critical and the oceans are filling up with plastic waste. 九州影院 and many other disciplines have become more important than ever to bring solutions to the challenges of climate change. The thought that I can contribute to solving these important problems of society keeps me motivated to do research.
Can you tell us about a scientific development on the horizon that you are excited about?
I am excited about the emerging technologies in plastic upcycling, particularly those focused on chemical recycling. For decades, chemistry has largely emphasised the formation of new bonds, while the equally important process of breaking existing bonds has received comparatively little attention 鈥� despite the fact that both occur hand-in-hand. The growing focus on degradation chemistry represents a fundamental shift, revealing the other side of the coin to traditional synthetic chemistry, and it holds immense potential for addressing global sustainability challenge.
What has been a highlight for you (either personally or in your career)?
Receiving a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship has been a major milestone in my career. It gave me the opportunity to establish my independent research group and pursue the scientific challenges in circular chemistry that I am truly passionate about.
What is your favourite element?
My favourite element is hydrogen, primarily because many of the reactions my group studies involve either adding or removing it from molecules or materials. Moreover, the sustainable production and storage of hydrogen hold the key to addressing several challenges related to the circular economy and achieving Net Zero. I am fascinated by how profoundly this small molecule can influence the future of our world.