Ph.D. Students

Mr. Rajat Ghalta Ph.D.: 2020-Present

Rajat Ghalta received his Master’s degree in Chemistry from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, in June 2017 and also done M.Phil. in Physical Chemistry from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, in 2019. He qualified NET-JRF (CSIR) in Chemical Sciences in June 2019 and also the Himachal Pradesh State Eligibility test in July 2019. In January 2020, he joined as a Ph.D Research Scholar in the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, under the supervision of Dr. Rajendra Srivastava. At present, he is working on “The development of photocatalysts for chemical synthesis.

Mr. Atul Kumar Ph.D.: 2020-Present

Atul Kumar received his Master’s degree in Chemistry from Department of Chemistry & Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India in July 2019. He qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE-2020). He also got the DST-INSPIRE-JRF offer for pursuing doctoral research in India. In September 2020, he joined as a postgraduate student working towards a Ph.D. degree in the Department of Chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Rajendra Srivastava at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab, India. His research work is based on “Development of multi-functional Catalyst and Photocatalyst for the Production of Renewable Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass and/or their Derived Chemicals.

Ms. Arzoo Chauhan Ph.D.: 2020-Present

Arzoo Chauhan received her Master’s degree in Chemistry from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttrakhand, India in July 2018. She qualified JRF-LS (CSIR) in Chemical Sciences held in June 2019. In September 2020, she joined as a Ph.D. Scholar in the Department of Chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Rajendra Srivastava at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab, India. At present, she is working on the “Design and Synthesis of the Carbon based Catalytic Materials for the Biomass Valorization and Organic Transformations”. Her work also includes the development and application of the Metal-free catalysts particularly based on carbon materials.

Mr. Arjun Manal Ph.D.: 2021-Present

Arjun K. Manal completed his Master's degree in Organic Chemistry from ACS College Sonai, Maharashtra, India, in 2018. He qualified CSIR-NET in 2019 and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in 2020. Following this, he became a postgraduate student, working towards a Ph.D. degree under the guidance of Prof. Rajendra Srivastava, in the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Punjab, India, in 2021. He awards India’s prestigious Prime Minister Research Fellowship for doctoral study. His research focuses on the development of heterogeneous catalytic processes for the sustainable upgradation of lignocellulose biomass and plastic waste.

Mr. Bhupendra Pratap Singh Ph.D.: 2022-Present

Bhupendra Pratap Singh received his Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, IIT Roorkee, in September 2020. He qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE-2022) and CSIR- NET (LS) (2022). In August 2022, he joined as a Ph.D. scholar in the Department of Chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Rajendra Srivastava at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab, India. His research work is based on “Development of heterogeneous catalysts for plastic waste and biomass valorization.

Mr. Himanshu Dhiman Ph.D.: 2023-Present

Himanshu Dhiman received his Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, Kurukshetra University, in October 2020. He qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE-2022) and CSIR- NET (JRF) (2022). In January 2023, he joined as a Ph.D. scholar in the Department of Chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Rajendra Srivastava at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab, India. His research work is based on “Development of sustainable transition-metal based catalyst for sustainable production of chemicals and fuels.

Mr. Krishan Kumar Ph.D.: 2024-Present

Krishan Kumar completed his Master’s in Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India, in 2023. He qualified for CSIR-NET in 2023 and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in 2024. In July 2024, he joined as a Ph.D. scholar under Prof. Rajendra Srivastava’s guidance in the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Punjab, India.

Ms. Shivani Kataria Ph.D.: 2025-Present Shivani received her Master’s degree in Chemistry from LPU, Jalandhar, India, in June 2023. She qualified NET-JRF (CSIR) in Chemical Sciences in July 2024. In January 2025, she joined as a Ph.D Research Scholar in the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, under the supervision of Prof. Rajendra Srivastava. At present, she is working on “Photocatalysis for amination reactions”. Project Staff M.Sc. Student Ms. Ritika Das M.Sc.: 2024-Present Ritika completed her secondary education at Surendranath Girls’ High School in Howrah, West Bengal and earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry (Honors) from University of Calcutta. She qualified for the IIT Jam examinations in 2023 with AIR 428. She is currently pursuing a master’s in chemistry at IIT Ropar. As a part of M.Sc. program, she is conducting research in the Catalysis and Materials Research Laboratory under the guidance of Prof. Rajendra Srivastava.