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Sourav’s research interest lies in the design and application of automation, flow chemical systems, and machine learning to understand and address complex chemical problems. He obtained his MSc (with distinction) and PhD from Queen’s University of Belfast, UK, for the design of a radiofrequency-heated microreactor for fine chemical synthesis. His research was highlighted on the cover of the Chemical Engineering Journal. He subsequently received a postdoctoral research fellowship from the Max Planck Society in Germany and continued his research at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam. There, he developed automated flow chemical platforms for controlling chemical glycosylation and multistep organic synthesis. He applied machine learning algorithms combined with computational chemistry and automated platforms to predict the stereoselective outcome of chemical glycosylation.

After completing his postdoctoral research, he moved to ETH Zurich as a Team Leader of Automation and AI in chemistry and catalysis. He contributed to the development of machine learning workflows for the Swiss Catalysis Hub East at ETH Zurich and obtained a research grant from NCCR Catalysis. Since February 2023, Sourav began his independent academic career as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath and currently is the principal investigator of the AI/ML-guided automated flow synthesis laboratory at Bath. He has won the Best Oral Presentation award at the ChemEngDay UK 2023 conference and has worked on research projects funded by ERC and DARPA. He has published his research in several prestigious scientific journals like JACS, Chemical Engineering Journal, Chemical Science, and Nature.

EDUCATION

Queen’s University of Belfast – Belfast, UK | Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 12/2014
Designed a radiofrequency-heated micro-trickle bed reactor for fine chemical synthesis. Research published in Chemical Engineering Journal and highlighted as journal cover.
Queen’s University of Belfast – Belfast, UK | Master of Science Process Engineering, 09/2011 (Highest Grade with Distinction)