Engineering Project
Resume:
Lalitha P Balakrishnan
*****, ******* ****, # ***, ********** Hills, MI:-48335, USA.
*******************@*****.*** • 248-***-****
** ***** ** ********, ******* formulation and Project Management Experience at one of the World’s Leading FMCG Companies.
A highly dynamic, team spirited and results-oriented individual offering a high level of expertise in research, project management,
product development and formulation optimization with over 10 years of progressive experience in the FMCG Industry.
Consistently recognized for developing scientific & strategic roadmaps and innovative methodologies targeted towards achieving
specific objectives by combining strong technical aptitude and problem solving skills. Solid interpersonal and communication skills in
building strong consumer relations and enhance corporate visibility.
CORE STRENGTHS
Multiple project management in Research Complex problem solving / troubleshooting
New process / methodology development & implementation Presentation and public speaking
Scientific strategic planning for deliverables Interdepartmental, multi-site & customer liaison
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Hindustan Unilever Research Center, Unilever R&D Bangalore, India July 2004 –August 2014
Associate Research Scientist: Skin & Hair
Roles and Responsibilities:
To develop relevant formulations for global and regional product innovations, as part of a holistic product design.
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Strong understanding of the category, brands, competitive environment and technology to develop robust strategies to support
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product claims and defend or attack product claims by scientific challenge.
To define claims for the product and work in consultation with the legal team.
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Define and/or contribute to the research proposals for innovation, patent strategy or competitor benchmarking studies by
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engaging with the product or packaging development teams during the initial proposal stages in order to ensure efficient use of
scientific data in support of product claims.
Monitoring of scientific & technological developments in order to assess relevance and impact for the business. Closely work with
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cross functional teams, including process, packaging, supply chain, etc.
Translate claims into demonstrations that are consumer relevant, making the consumer aware of our innovation. In the event of
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product challenge, execute and prepare defense testing and claims dossier.
Execution of standard trials at the laboratory, pilot plant, including comprehensive testing protocols for critical aspects of
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performance.
Interfaces with internal and external clinical testing and measurement teams.
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Development of relevant clinical strategy (Scientific validation) and test plan aligned to project deliverables. Responsible for the
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design, execution, and interpretation of clinical studies in agreed test plan.
Selected Highlights and Achievements:
Skin care:
Key member of team that formulated and launched Ponds white beauty cream (2012) & Fair & Lovely SPF15 (2013).
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Good knowledge of formulations/phase behavior and mode of actions of creams, lotions, BB creams and emulsion systems with
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sunscreens for enhanced SPF benefits. Good understanding of various solublization techniques for effective product delivery.
Understanding of polymorphism of actives within the formulations for SPF and prediction of product stability.
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Formulation and stabilization of sunscreens with natural actives (ocimum sanctum,zingerone,rubia) for SPF benefits with in-vitro
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and in-vivo SPF measurements (patent filed).
Formulation development of Skin creams with various biological actives, polymers, film formers, particles and SPF boosters for
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enhanced SPF benefits.
Researched & Developed in-vitro model system for immediate skin pigmentation and developed progressive sunscreens (patent
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filed, WO2014063906 A3).
Good knowledge of Photo biological aspects of the skin for claim support.
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Well versed with various instruments such as DSC, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, Rheometer and Optometrics (SPF
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measurement), L*,a*,b* measurements.
Published science and technology, Unilever internal reports (20 reports)
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Hair Care:
Good knowledge of biological aspects of the hair. Involved in the research of understanding the charged Biosubstrate for active
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uptake for various benefits (hair colour delivery, damage control). Important member within the team, with sound scientific
knowledge to translate the understanding to a viable product design.
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Conducted partition/diffusion/kinetic studies of active molecules and suggested best delivery route for desired system.
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Identified various formulations and enhancers to improve the delivery of actives/natural actives for color delivery on hair
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(patents:US8152859 B2, EP2636402 A1, WO2013167350 A3, 1197/MUM/2006,patent for hair damage control-ongoing)
Developed various quantification methodologies for different actives. Well versed with XRD, DSC, tensile strength measurements
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with hair.
Responsible for optimization and formulation (oils, gels, micoemulsions, shampoo & conditioners) of the desired system with
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respect to functionality, sensorial properties and long term stability testing.
Well versed with characterization of formulations with consumer accepted sensorial.
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Developed various models for identification of effective viscosity of various products, for maximum application efficacy.
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Responsible for design and development of appropriate packaging for product.
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Involved in developing a device for safe and efficient delivery of product to target area. This process involved CFD modeling and
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analysis of flow of materials through devices (patent pending).
Conducted human hair clinical study, involving product formulation, logistic planning, data collection and interpretation.
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Responsible for scale up criteria for technology transfer from research to category development.
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Responsible for all scientific understanding and provide product claim support to category.
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Understanding and prevention of photo damage of virgin and colored hair, proposed various actives for damage prevention
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(patent ongoing).
Laundry & Soap:
Involved in development of novel fabric cleaning processes with minimal fabric damage.
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Research and development of identification and optimization of various parameters for the above system with modeling, for
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efficient and cost effective fabric cleaning.
Involved in modification of cast bar soap formulation to be cost effective.
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Good knowledge of surfactant and colloidal chemistry.
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Well versed with characterization of soaps using various techniques.
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Project Apprentice
Vet care, Bangalore Dec2003 – Apr 2004
Towards completion of Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering worked at Vet care for the formulation and development of
animal health care products.
Selected Highlights and Achievements
Formulated a stable Vitamin E water soluble powder used as immunity boosting agent for birds (poultry).
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Improved the formulated Vitamin E powder by adding various other agents and electrolytes for bio-availability.
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Formulated fully stable Albendezole, used as a de-wormer in animals.
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Formulated a dog shampoo containing benzoylperoxide as active ingredient. Product now available commercially, as PetBen.
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BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore Oct 2002 – Mar2003
The stability of various surface-active compounds (Milk Protein-Casein & Tween) was studied.
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Successfully separated proteins from industrial waste such as Whey from dairy industry, in a batch and a continuous mode of
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operation. This novel type of separation technique is easily adaptable to remove protein from any industrial waste.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Chemical Engineering Sep 2000- June 2004
B.M.S. College of Engineering, Bangalore. Karnataka, India.
Autonomous College under Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum, India.
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82% overall aggregate. GPA 4.0/4.0 (1 Rank in College).
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5 Rank Holder in the entire University in the year 2004.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Special recognition for filing and awards of Patents by Unilever.
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Have obtained several merit awards from Unilever over the last 10 years for excellence in science and technology.
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Organized international and national research conferences at Unilever.
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Member of Board of Studies for Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology engineering at BMS College of
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Engineering, from the year 2012.
Class topper in every semester during Engineering.
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Awarded B.M.S Alumni award for year 2002-2003 for scholarship.
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Received 1 place for National Level Technical paper presentation tilted “Separation of Protein Mixtures by Foaming" at a
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technical meet in Bangalore.
Organized National level technical symposiums, Workshops, Technical Seminars and Cultural Festivals held at college.
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References and Supporting Documentation Furnished upon Request
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