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https://niist.irins.org/profile/115072

डॉ सूरज सोमन

Dr.Suraj Soman
Research Interest

Research Interest

Dr. Suraj’s interdisciplinary research group focus on to establish structure-function relationships by understanding and advancing the fundamental knowledge rooted in Chemistry, Physics, Material Science and Engineering through multidisciplinary and collaborative partnerships leading to performance enhancements in next generation nature inspired disruptive molecular photovoltaic technologies: Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs) and Perovskite ...

Honors and Awards

Awards and Honours

A. National

  • CSIR Young Scientist Award for the year 2020 in Chemical Sciences, for developing semi-automatic equipment’s and process for dye-sensitized solar module fabrication and for the research involving alternate copper and cobalt electrolytes
  • R L Thakur Memorial Award for young scientists by Indian Ceramic Society 2019
  • Best Emerging Young Scientist Award by JNCASR, Bangalore 2019
  • Kerala State Young Scientist Award for the Year 2018
  • Selected for the BRICS Young Scientist Award by DST (Department of Science & Technology), India and MOST (Ministry of Science & Technology), China in 2017. Represented India as part of the Indian delegate team in 2nd BRICS Young Scientist Forum from July 11-15th at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
  • Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Assistant Professorship in the Faculty of Chemical Sciences - 2015
  • Awarded with DST-INSPIRE Faculty Award in 2014 to develop new renewable energy technologies for solar fuel production and solar electricity
  • Qualified CSIR-NET in June 2008
  • First Rank and Gold Medal for Master’s Degree in Chemistry (Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India) by scoring 91.3% marks, 2008
  • First Rank and Gold Medal for Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India) scoring 99.4% marks (National Record Score for Chemistry), 2006
  • Awarded ″Rajiv Gandhi Science Talent Research Fellow″ for the year 2006 by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore (JNCASR), India
  • Received the Prestigious ″Indira Gandhi Award″ for University First Rank Holder scoring highest mark for chemistry (bachelors) (99.4%) (2006-08)
  • Received KVPY Fellowship to carry out summer research project in 2005
  • Participated in National Science Olympiad in Bangalore (1998)
  • Zonal School Science Fair First Prize (1997) and State School Science Fair Second Prize (1997)

B. International

  • International Strategic Cooperation Award (ISCA) 2014 from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) for collaborative research work Dublin City University.
  • Received the meritorious Department of Energy (DOE), USA funding to work on development of new dyes and electrolytes under Thomas W. Hamann at Michigan State University, USA, 2011.
  • Received the meritorious research award from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), European Union on the project ″The design of new photocatalytic systems for the generation of hydrogen from H2O using solar energy″ at Dublin City University with Prof. Han Vos and Prof. Mary T. Pryce as Mentors in 2009.
  • Received prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship to work with Prof. Enrico Dalcanale, University of Parma, Italy in 2008.
Invited Talks

Invited Lectures (India)

  • Delivered invited webinar for National College, Bandra, Mumbai on June 15, 2020.
  • Delivered invited webinar at MEDHA webinar series 2020 organized by Devaswom Board College, Thalayolaparambu, Kottayam, Kerala on May 20, 2020.
  • Delivered invited talk at Swadeshi Science Congress at CPCRI, Kasaragod on February 27, 2020.
  • Delivered invited talk at ICEM Conference on February 02, 2020.
  • Delivered invited talk at Government College, Kodenchery, Calicut as part of National Seminar on December 31, 2019.
  • Invited speaker at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Coimbatore, on Dec 16, 2019, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, Kollam, on Dec 14, 2019, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker as part of Ceramic Society Award Lecture at CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, on Dec 12, 2019.
  • Invited speaker at ICAFM Conference, CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, on Dec 10, 2019.
  • Invited speaker at Calicut University, on Dec 06, 2019, as part of Faculty Development Programme.
  • Invited speaker at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, on Nov 22, 2019, as part of Jigyasa Programme.
  • Invited speaker at Government Brennan College, Thalassery, on Nov 18, 2019, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, on Oct 17, 2019, as part of Indo-Swiss Conference at CSIR-NIIST.
  • Invited speaker at JNC Conference, Kovalam, on Oct 01, 2019, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Sri Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering, Pappanamcode, on Apr 27, 2019, as part of National Seminar by IEEE.
  • Invited speaker at IIT, Delhi, on Feb 21, 2019, as part of DST Clean Energy Initiative Global Summit.
  • Invited speaker at IIT, Kanpur, on Feb 20, 2019.
  • Invited speaker at IISc, Bangalore, on Feb 13, 2019, as part of MRSI Conference.
  • Invited speaker at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin, on Jan 03, 2019, as part of IconMAT Conference.
  • Invited speaker at Union Christian College, Aluva, on Mar 02, 2018, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Sacred Heart College, Thevara, on Jan 16, 2018, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Government College, Calicut, on Dec 14, 2017, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at St. Teresa's College, Erankulam, on Dec 08, 2017, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Nattakom Government College, on Oct 06, 2017, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, on Sep 20, 2017, as part of EAS8 Conference.
  • Invited speaker at IISER Pune, on Sep 03, 2017, as part of Indo-UK Newton Bhaba Workshop.
  • Keynote Speaker as part of National technology Day, C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, on May 04, 2017.
  • Invited speaker at Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, on Mar 28, 2017, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at University College, Thiruvananthapuram, on Mar 14, 2017, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Nirmala College, Moovattupuzha, on Feb 27, 2017, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at CSIR-NPL, Delhi, on Dec 08, 2016, as part of IISF.
  • Invited speaker at NSS College for Women, Karamana, on Dec 16, 2015, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL), on Jun 02, 2015.
  • Invited speaker at Amal Jyoti Engineering College, Kanjirapally, on Apr 25, 2015, as part of Faculty Recharge Programme.
  • Invited speaker at Bishop Kurialacherry College, Amalagiri, Kottayam, on Jan 23, 2015, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Kerala University, Thiruvananthapuram, on Nov 17, 2014, as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at St. Thomas College, Palai, on Oct 08, 2014 as part of National Seminar.
  • Invited speaker at Bishop Abraham Memorial College, Thurithicadu, on Sep 03, 2014, as part of National Seminar.

Invited Lectures (International)

  • Keynote speaker at Dyenamo thematic web workshops on DSSC using Cu-based redox mediators, 22 April 2020.
  • Invited as Keynote speaker at 2nd "DSSC Strikes Back" conference at Uppsala University Sweden, in October, 2019.
  • Invited speaker & Collaborative Research at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, on Oct 20, 2017.
  • Invited speaker & Collaborative Research at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, on Oct 18, 2017.
  • Keynote speaker at 1st "DSSC Strikes Back" conference at Uppsala University Sweden, on Oct 15, 2017.
  • Invited speaker at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, on Jul 11, 2017, As part of BRICS Young Scientist Award Delegate.
  • Invited speaker at Imperial College, London, UK, on Jul 04, 2016.
  • Invited speaker at Swansea University, Wales, UK, on Jun 25, 2016.
  • Invited speaker at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, on Jun 26, 2015.
  • Invited speaker at University College Dublin, Ireland, on Jun 21, 2015.
  • Invited speaker at Dublin City University, Ireland, on Jun 07, 2015, As part of ISCA Award from SFI for collaborative research.
  • Invited speaker at University of Dallas, on Mar 16, 2014.
  • Invited speaker at University of Texas, Austin, on Mar 15, 2014.
  • Invited speaker at University of Notre Dame, on Jan 22, 2014.
  • Invited speaker at Purdue University, IN, USA, on Sep 07, 2013.
  • Invited speaker at Michigan State University, MI, USA, on Mar 03, 2013.
  • Invited speaker to present paper at MIT, Boston, USA, on Jul 01, 2011.
  • Invited speaker to present paper at University College Dublin, Ireland, on May 16, 2011.
  • Invited speaker to present paper at Dublin City University, Ireland on Apr 15, 2010.
Profile

Dr. Suraj’s scientific quest started from school days itself by winning awards at State and National Level School Science Fairs. An alumnus and gold medalist of Mahatma Gandhi University securing First Rank (99.4%) for his Bachelors and Masters in Chemistry (91.3%), Dr. Suraj obtained his Ph.D. from Dublin City University, Ireland followed by post-doctoral tenure at Michigan State University, USA. He was also fortunate to associate with few industries like SolarPrint Ireland, JCAP and Dow during his scientific career. He is a recipient of many prestigious awards including CSIR Young Scientist Award (2020), R. L. Thakur Young Scientist Award (2019), Best Emerging Young Scientist Award (2019), Kerala State Young Scientist Award (2018), BRICS Young Scientist Award (2017), International Strategic Cooperation Award (2015), DST-Inspire Faculty Award (2014), Indira Gandhi National Fellowship (2006), KVPY Fellowship (2004) etc. With his research he aims to increase the contribution of solar energy to the global energy mix by: (i) development of indigenous solar photovoltaic technologies for converting sunlight to electricity; and (ii) developing metal-based catalysts to efficiently store solar energy into clean hydrogen fuels.

Dr. Suraj started his independent research career as DST-Inspire Faculty at CSIR-NIIST on May 2014 and later on continued as Scientist at Chemical Sciences and Technology Division from October 2018 onwards. His prime research focus at NIIST is to address basic science issues related to new molecules, materials and methods for photovoltaics, in particular for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs), which being the most efficient technology for harnessing indoor/artificial/diffused lights and the best available technology for semi-transparent coloured facades for BIPV applications. His group is involved in systematic variations of components and interrogating the performance limiting parameters with help of a range of home-made perturbation techniques. The general lessons learned from this exercise is ultimately used to develop design rules for next generation DSCs comprised of molecules and materials which are capable of overcoming the kinetic and energetic constraints of current generation photovoltaics. CSIR-NIIST has been making healthy strides in the area of renewable energy. Dr. Suraj’s team is focused on developing creative and out-of-the-box approaches utilizing the knowledge generated in laboratory to solve fundamental scientific problems and systematic transformation of this knowledge to demonstrate technologically relevant products to market in near future.

Dr. Suraj played the leadership role in setting up India’s first truly indigenous module fabrication line for dye-sensitized solar modules partnering with industry supported by DST-SERI initiative, which was commissioned at CSIR-NIIST in October 2018 and was licensed to Elixir Technologies, Bangalore on November 2019 for further commercialization. He is spearheading indigenous equipment development for 3rd generation photovoltaics through systematic industry-academia collaborations in a way to exploit these technologies for the future.