Head of Department, Senior Lecturer, Inorganic Chemistry

The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Telephone: 868-662-2002 Ext. 82091

Email: arvind.kumar@uwi.edu


Professional Profile

I have over 35 years of research experience in inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, catalysis, and renewable energy materials, gained through academic appointments and research collaborations at leading institutions in India, the United States, Taiwan, and Trinidad and Tobago. My research integrates synthetic chemistry, coordination chemistry, materials science, spectroscopy, crystallography, electrochemistry, and computational modelling to develop innovative solutions to contemporary scientific and technological challenges.

My research focuses on the rational design of functional molecular and materials systems for green catalysis, renewable energy, chemical sensing, advanced materials, and medicinal chemistry. Through molecular design, advanced characterization, and computational approaches, I seek to establish structure–property–performance relationships that underpin the development of sustainable technologies for energy harvesting, photocatalysis, optoelectronics, molecular recognition, and biomedical applications, including the discovery of potential therapeutic agents for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

I have established strong interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers across academia in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. To date, I have authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, including journal articles, review papers, and book chapters published by leading international publishers such as the American Chemical Society (ACS), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Wiley, Springer, and Elsevier. Beyond research, I am committed to graduate supervision, curriculum development, scientific outreach, and promoting chemistry as a driver of innovation and sustainable development.

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, The University of the West Indies (2012)
  • Ph.D. in Chemistry, Tripura University, India (2002)
  • Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET), India (1999)
  • M.Sc. in Chemistry (First Class), Gorakhpur University (now DDU), India (1994)
  • B.Sc. in Chemistry (First Class), Purvanchal University, India (1992)

Fellowships and Training

  • Emerging routes to new therapeutics: Highlights from winning Horizon Prize teams, 2024, Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Purposeful simulation: maximizing impact in surface chemistry modelling, 2024, Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Balancing the Load: Safeguarding Mental Health in Academia, (CETL, UWI, STA), 2024
  • Research Supervisor Development Course, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, 2015
  • Implementation of the New UWI GPA, (CETL, UWI, STA), 2014
  • Student-Centered Research Supervision (CETL, UWI, STA), 2014
  • Training in Cyclic Voltammetry, Transient Absorption Spectrophotometry, HPLC, GC-MS, NMR Spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, Schlenk Line and Autoclave Techniques, ATR and FTIR Spectroscopy, UV–Visible and Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Research Interests

  • Coordination and Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Catalysis and Green Oxidation Chemistry
  • Renewable Energy Materials and Solar Energy Harvesting
  • Organic Semiconductors and Thin-Film Materials
  • Chemical Sensing and Functional Molecular Materials
  • Structure–Property–Performance Relationships

Professional Experience

  • Senior Lecturer (Above the Bar), Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (2024–Present)
  • Senior Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (2014–Present)
  • Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (2009–2014)

Skills

  • Inorganic and Coordination Chemistry
  • Materials Synthesis and Characterization
  • Catalysis and Green Chemistry
  • Renewable Energy Materials
  • Supramolecular and Organometallic Chemistry
  • Chemical Sensing and Molecular Recognition
  • Research Supervision and Mentorship
  • Curriculum Design and Higher Education Teaching
  • Scientific Writing and Research Publication
  • Research Leadership and Grant Development

Honours and Awards

  • Top Researcher 2015/2016, Faculty of Science and Technology, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
  • Academia Sinica Fellowship, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan (2005–2009)
  • National Science Council Fellowship, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan (2004–2005)
  • Robert A. Welch Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA (2002–2003)
  • CSIR Senior Research Fellowship-II, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India (2000–2002)
  • CSIR Senior Research Fellowship-I, Tripura University, India (1997–2000)
  • Department of Science and Technology Research Assistantship, Tripura University, India (1996–1997)
  • University Grants Commission Research Assistantship, Tripura University, India (1995–1996)

UWI Service

  • Currently serving as Head of the Department of Chemistry (2024 – present)
  • Faculty representative at the Academic Board subcommittee on Co-curriculum (2019 -2021)
  • Department representative at Faculty IT Committee (2018 - 2019)
  • Department Curriculum Review Committee (2016 - Present)
  • Faculty A & P committee (2014 – 2016)
  • Member of Academic Board (2014 - 2015)
  • Quality Assurance Committee of the department (2013 – Present)
  • Department Post Graduate Liaison Committee (2013 - 2024)
  • Department representative at Faculty Prizes Committee (2009 - 2018)
  • Trinidad and Tobago Chemistry Olympiad (since inception-Present)

Public Service

  • Reviewer for Applied Organometallic Chemistry (Wiley)
  • Reviewer for Inorganica Chimica Acta (Elsevier)
  • Reviewer for Spectrochimica Acta A (Elsevier)
  • Reviewer for Journal of Molecular Structure (Elsevier)
  • Reviewer for Arabian Journal of Chemistry (Elsevier)
  • Reviewer for Journal of Coordination Chemistry (Taylor & Francis)
  • Reviewer for The Chemical Society of Ethiopia (AJOL)

Professional Memberships

  • Royal Society of Chemistry, 2014 - Present
  • American Chemical Society, 2003 - Present
  • Indian Chemical Society, 1999 – Present
  • Trinidad and Tobago Chemical Society, 2024 – Present

Courses Taught

  • CHEM 2170 Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry I (3 credits; Undergraduate; Lecturer and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 3170 Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry II (3 credits; Undergraduate; Lecturer and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 3172 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits; Undergraduate; Lecturer and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 3162 Chemistry of Metal-Catalysed Transformations (3 credits; Undergraduate; Lecturer and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 3163 Chemistry of Technologically Important Materials (3 credits; Undergraduate; Lecturer and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 3670 Research Project for Chemistry Major (3 credits; Undergraduate; Supervisor and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 3671 Research Project for BSc Chemistry (6 credits; Undergraduate; Supervisor and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 3573 Contemporary Chemistry (3 credits; Undergraduate; Lecturer and 1st Examiner; 2014-Present)
  • CHEM 6160 Metal - Organic Chemistry (4 credits; Postgraduate; Lecturer; 2010-Present)
  • CHEM 6560 Introduction to Research Techniques in Chemistry (4 credits; Postgraduate; Lecturer and 1st Examiner; 2010-Present)

Research Projects

  • Photoelectrochemical Cells for Solar Energy Production
  • Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC): A Novel Method of Waste Management, Wastewater Treatment, bioelectricity generation and water recovery
  • Blue Sky-Green Earth: Carbon Dioxide Valorization using Sunlight and Novel Materials
  • Design and Development of Novel Heterocyclics Using Multicomponent Methods

Graduate Students

  • Padminee Ramsaroop, M. Phil Student (2021-Present)
  • Kameisha Richards (Awarded MPhil, 2025)
  • Shobha Dhanpat, (Awarded PhD, 2020)
  • Wilson Sue Chee-Ming, Co-Supervised with Dr. Richard Taylor (Awarded PhD, 2018)
  • Shanelle Suepaul (Awarded MPhil, 2015)

Grants

  • Development of Schiff bases as Multi-Target Directed Ligands for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (2021, PG student research CRP fund TT$17,500.00)
  • Development of Curcumin Analogues as potential anticancer drugs (2021, PG student research CRP fund TT$17,500.00)
  • Transition-Metal Directed Self-Assembly of Metallacyclic Complexes Derives from Schiff Bases (2017, PG student research CRP fund TT$17,500.00)
  • TT$6020 for Mass spectral data from University of Greenwich, UK
  • TT$6020 for American Chemical Society (ACS) 2019 Fall National Meeting - San Diego, CA, USA
  • 7th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress, 26-30 August 2018, Liverpool, England (2018, the poster was awarded £800, distinction)
  • TT$5000.00 for poster Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson Dalton Poster Symposium, London, UK (2017, the poster was awarded £150)
  • Development of novel and highly chromophoric photosensitizers for dye sensitized solar cells. (2012-2013, TT$ 25,000 CRP Fund, UWI, St. Augustine)
  • Synthesis and characterization of metal complexes derived from Schiff base hydrazones/dihydrazones (2011-2012, TT$ 34,000 CRP Fund, UWI, St. Augustine)
  • Synthesis and characterization of metal (Fe, Ru, Os, Re) complexes derived from polypyridyl ligands for sensitization of nanocrystalline dye sensitization solar cells (DSSCs). (2009-2011, TT$ 60,000 CRP Fund, UWI, St. Augustine)

Publications and Presentations

Arvind Kumar Publications and Presentations.pdf


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