Dr. Rajeev K Sukumaran

Dr. Rajeev K. Sukumaran is a Senior Principal Scientist at the Biosciences and Bioengineering Division of CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, and a Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). He leads the Biofuel Programme at CSIR-NIIST and is a nationally recognised expert in biomass conversion and biorefinery technologies. He holds a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Cochin University of Science and Technology and has professional experience spanning industry, academia, and international research institutions. He pursued postdoctoral research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, focusing on the molecular immunology of Type I diabetes, and as an ESI International Postdoctoral Fellow at National University Hospital, Singapore, investigating human embryonic stem cell pluripotency. Since joining CSIR-NIIST in 2004, his work has centred on second-generation bioethanol and enzyme technologies for biomass hydrolysis. He played a key role in establishing India’s first integrated 2G ethanol pilot plant and coordinated the PAN-CSIR programme on integrated bioethanol technologies. Dr. Sukumaran has served as a consultant to the International Energy Agency and as a member of several national scientific committees. He has over 118 publications, an h-index of 51, and more than 11,800 citations, and has been listed among the Stanford Global Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists from 2021 to 2024.