Chemical Engineering Assistant

*

Ishant Khurana

*******@******.*** +* (***) ***–5176 West Lafayette, IN www.linkedin.com/in/ishantkhurana OBJECTIVE

Seeking a full-time industrial R&D position to apply my research expertise, abilities and skills in solving complex problems and developing innovative technologies in the field of, but not limited to, catalysis, reaction and process engineering. EDUCATION

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA Aug 2014 – Aug 2019 Doctor of Philosophy, Chemical Engineering CGPA: 3.90/4.00 Institute of Chemical Technology (Formerly UDCT), Mumbai, India Aug 2010 – May 2014 Bachelor of Chemical Engineering CGPA: 9.08/10.00

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Graduate Research Assistant, Purdue University Aug 2014 – Present Research Project: Catalytic Consequences of Speciation, Spatial distribution, Mobility, and Solvation of Active sites on Ammonia Selective Catalytic Reduction (NH3-SCR) of Nitric oxide (NOx) over Cu-Zeolites Research advisor: Dr. Fabio H. Ribeiro

• Synthesized and Characterized Cu-Zeolite catalytic materials using a range of spectroscopic and titrimetric analysis to enumerate Cu spatial distribution and speciation into different Cu cation sites

• Evaluated the reaction performance of Cu-Zeolite materials by measuring reaction kinetics, free of mass transfer and heat transfer effects, in a continuous, down flow, packed bed reactor

• Discovered the structure-function relationship to optimize catalyst design parameters

• Established detailed molecular level understanding of Ammonia Selective Catalytic Reduction (NH3-SCR) of Nitric oxide (NOx) over Cu-Zeolites by employing X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) under working conditions (operando) at Advanced Photon Source (Argonne National Laboratory)

• Analyzed the stability of catalysts by probing structural and kinetic changes to active Cu sites during exposures to hydrothermal conditions and sulfur poisoning to develop rational catalyst design approach

• Collaborated with modelling group at University of Notre Dame and Cummins Inc to acquire fundamental outlook on the aforementioned system and guide the development of theoretical models

• Planned, organized and led 10+ trips to the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory

• Teaching Assistant (TA) for Senior Design Lab and Chemical Reaction Engineering: Assisted with instruction of courses by leading recitation and laboratory sections, holding office hours, grading examinations and laboratory reports and proctoring exams Awards and Honors

• Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award, Purdue University 2018

• Bisland Dissertation Fellowship, Purdue University 2018

• Purdue Graduate Student Government Travel Grant 2018

• Best Research Poster award, Purdue Chemical Engineering 2016, 2017, 2018

• Purdue Chemical Engineering Travel Grant 2016, 2017, 2018

• Inducted in Golden Key International Honour Society, Purdue University 2017

• Eastman Chemical Travel Grant, Purdue University 2016

• Centennial Fellowship, Purdue University 2015

Senior Design Project, Institute of Chemical Technology, India July 2013 – May 2014 Project: Techno-economic feasibility report to produce 100 tons per day of Monochlorobenzene Generated a detailed project proposal including chemical process selection, process design, reactor design, equipment sizing, utility operations and project economics

Awards and Honors from Undergraduate Experience

• Merit Scholarship (2012)

In-Plant Training (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, India) May 2013 – July 2013

• Designed a Horizontal 3-phase separator used in a Crude Distillation Unit

• Determined the efficiency of operating furnaces and suggested the ways for improvement 2

LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Safety Officer for Ribeiro Research Lab Mar 2017 – May 2018

• Communicated new safety policies/recommendations to the group and reported near miss/ safety incidents to the committee

• Maintained lab records, acted as a liaison between the group and safety committee for safety concerns

• Trained new researchers

Reviewer for Journal of Catalysis, Elsevier Inc. Aug 2017 – Present Vice-President and Treasurer, SKY at Purdue, Student Organization Aug 2017 – Present

• Certified Meditation facilitator – Led weekly yoga and meditation sessions on campus

• Planned, organized, and hosted weekly yoga and meditation sessions, mindful leadership retreats and leadership seminars

• Worked with a team of 10+ members to raise funds (grant writing), collaborate with others, plan and execute events Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Officer, Purdue University May 2016 – May 2017

• Planned and organized events to promote sustainable practices like tree plantation drive, cloth collection drive, wind farm tour, etc

• Served as a key member in planning, organizing and executing annual research symposium (30+ attendees)

• Solicited student opinions on issues discussed during graduate committee meetings and represented student interests Volunteer for educational and outreach activities aimed to promote interest in Science May 2016 – May 2017

• Led school students (7th–9th grade) in a hands-on activity to demonstrate basic concepts in chemical engineering and catalysis SKILLS

Technical − Inorganic synthesis, Structural characterization (XRD, BET), Analytical techniques (MS), Spectroscopic techniques

(Atomic absorption, UV-Vis, Infrared, X-Ray absorption), Temperature programmed techniques, Reaction kinetics, Reaction engineering, Process engineering. Software − Microsoft Visio, Origin, MATLAB. Language: English, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi. PUBLICATIONS

• H. Li, C. Paolucci, I. Khurana, et al., Consequences of Exchange-Site Heterogeneity and Dynamics on the UV-Visible Spectrum of Cu-Exchanged SSZ-13, Chemical Science, Accepted Manuscript (2018)

• C. Paolucci, I. Khurana, et al., Dynamic Multinuclear Sites Formed by Mobilized Copper Ions in NOx Selective Catalytic Reduction, Science, 357 (2017) (898-903)

• J. D. Albarracin-Caballero*, I. Khurana*, et al., Structural and Kinetic Changes to Small-Pore Cu-Zeolites After Hydrothermal Aging Treatments and Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx with Ammonia, Reaction & Chemistry Engineering, 2 (2017) 168-179

(*Equal contribution)

• C. Paolucci, A. A. Parekh, I. Khurana, et al., Catalysis in a Cage: Condition-Dependent Speciation and Dynamics of Exchanged Cu Cations in SSZ-13 Zeolites, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138 (201*-****-****

• A. Shih, I. Khurana, et al., Spectroscopic and Kinetic Responses of Cu-SSZ-13 to SO2 Exposure and Implications for NOx Selective Catalytic Reduction (submitted)

• H. Li, A. J. Shih, I. Khurana, et al., Comparison between sulfur poisoning chemistry on Cu sites on SSZ-13 (in preparation)

• H. Li, Y. Tang, J. Luo, I. Khurana, et al., Minimizing N2O formation on Cu-SCR catalysts with unique copper species (submitted)

• I. Khurana, et al., Role of Proximity of Cu sites in SSZ-13 in forming dimeric Cu active site for NO oxidation reaction (in preparation)

• I. Khurana, et al., Kinetic study of the reduction and oxidation half-cycles during NH3-SCR of NOx (in preparation) CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Oral Presentations

• Ishant Khurana, et al. Speciation of Liquid Ion-Exchanged Cu in SSZ-13 Zeolite. AIChE Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 31, 2018

• Ishant Khurana, et al. Kinetic Study of the Reduction and Oxidation Half-Cycles during Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx with Ammonia on Cu-SSZ-13. AIChE Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 30, 2018

• Ishant Khurana, Christopher Paolucci, al. Probing the Oxidation and Reduction Halves of the Cu Redox Cycle during Standard NH3- Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx on Cu-SSZ-13. AIChE Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, November 1, 2017

• Ishant Khurana, Atish A. Parekh, et al. Effects of Cu Spatial Density in Cu-SSZ-13 Zeolites on Low-Temperature NOx Selective Catalytic Reduction with NH3. North American Catalysis Society Meeting (NAM), Denver, CO, June 5, 2017

• Ishant Khurana, Atish A. Parekh, et al. Effects of Cu density in Cu-SSZ-13 Zeolites on Low-Temperature NOx Selective Catalytic Reduction with NH3. AIChE Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 14, 2016 Poster presentations

• Michigan Catalysis Society Spring Symposium, Ann Arbor, MI (2017)

• Catalysis Club of Chicago Annual Meeting, Naperville, IL (2016 and 2017)

• Cross-Cut Lean Engine Emissions Reduction Simulations (CLEERS) Workshop, Ann Arbor, MI (2017 and 2018) OTHER INTERESTS

Sports (Racquetball, Squash, Badminton, Volleyball), Yoga and Meditation, Reading, Community Service, Travelling

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