MANIKANTAN (MANI) B. NAIR, Ph.D.

acvsc7@r.postjobfree.com • 573-***-**** (cell)

**** ***** **** ****, *** # 208, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44224, USA OBJECTIVE

Polymer / coatings scientist seeking a senior technical position in new product development, research and innovation SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Scientist July 2014 to present

OMNOVA Solutions Inc. – Global Technology Center, Engineered Surfaces Division Akron, OH Experience:

Development of proprietary, innovative, next generation, high performance coatings, including water-based, solvent-based, thermal and UV curable coatings, for calendared PVC (rigid & flexible) coated fabrics and decorative laminates and paper laminates, to support existing businesses and to win new business opportunities in diverse applications across varied industries

Synthesis and analytical characterization of proprietary oligomers and polymers in the lab and their subsequent scale up through collaborations with toll manufacturers

Led efforts for new product development and current product sustainability to support > $ 200 M Engineered Surfaces business unit

Led coatings development and toll manufacturing of proprietary resins and polymers for use in domestic and global manufacturing plants across USA and Asia

Led collaborative projects and DOEs with domestic and global suppliers of coatings and resins (thermal and UV curable), crosslinkers, additives and nanoparticles to improve current product performance

Developed understanding of the current state of the art and explored multiple chemistries and approaches to develop next generation high performance coatings

Conducted basic and applied research aligned with business needs, to benchmark coating performance with respect to coat weight, cure temperature, cure time, cross-link density, cross-linking chemistry and by using application technologies, including direct gravure and reverse gravure

Nine years of global work experience in manufacturing industry and academia

Expertise in polymer chemistry, coatings technology development, coatings application and polymer

processing methods, including calendaring and extrusion of formulations involving PVC, polyolefins and

polyurethanes

Successfully led diverse technology projects with multiple project teams, involving intense collaboration with strategic sourcing, sales & marketing, resin / raw material suppliers, external toll manufacturers and global internal and external customers

Experience in the stage-gate processes for new product development and technology development, for high

performance coated fabrics and decorative laminates

Experience in providing technology and production support for domestic and global manufacturing plants

Extensively skilled in polymer characterization using analytical instruments which include: NMR (liquid and solid state), FTIR, GPC, GC-MS, static and dynamic laser light scattering, DSC, TGA, XPS, SEM and TEM

Expertise in membrane-pressing and thermoforming processes used in the adhesive lamination of PVC sheets onto wood substrates (MDF or Particle Board)

Expertise in product innovation and development for applications in diverse industries, including residential & commercial interior furniture, store fixtures, recreational vehicles, food service, kitchen & bath, healthcare, transportation, retail and automotive OEM upholstery materials

Expertise in thermal and UV-curable coating formulations for heat sensitive plastic substrates

Expertise in synthesis and analytical characterization of oligomers and polymers used in coating formulations and successfully scaling up through collaborations with toll manufacturers

Expertise in synthesis of acrylic monomers, polymers and copolymers by conventional and controlled / living radical polymerization methods (Atom Transfer Radical

Polymerization)

Expertise in designing and tailoring UV curable coating formulations for demanding applications using knowledge of chemistry and structure-property relationships

Expertise in using productivity tools, including Lean Six Sigma, Design of Experiments, SAP, Smartsheet and

Microsoft Projects for project management, root-cause analysis and problem solving

Successfully completed hazardous waste and emergency response training

MANIKANTAN (MANI) B. NAIR, Ph.D. PAGE 2

Coatings Development Chemist Oct 2010 to April 2014 The Haartz Corporation – R & D, Advanced Materials and Technology – Automotive Interiors Acton, MA Experience:

Formulated water-based and solvent-based coatings for TPO / TPU / PVC to achieve U.S. automotive OEM approvals, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Jaguar and BMW

Led product improvement efforts by solving technical problems, addressing customer issues by troubleshooting and root cause analysis

Developed coatings for high performance applications in automotive OEM interiors, with performance characteristics, including denim-stain resistance, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, gas-fade resistance, UV resistance and anti-squeak properties

Conducted production trials on topcoat lines in manufacturing, using direct gravure coating process, to meet customer orders

Led continuous product development and improvement efforts by collaborations with suppliers of coatings / resins / additives / waxes

Lecturer Aug 2009 to Oct 2010

Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST) – Department of Chemistry Rolla, MO Experience:

Taught advanced physical chemistry lecture courses, including thermodynamics and chemical kinetics

Conducted and led advanced physical chemistry labs for undergraduate seniors Graduate Teaching Assistant 2001 to 2009

Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST) – Department of Chemistry Rolla, MO Experience:

Supported Chemistry department’s faculty to organize, lead and teach advanced physical chemistry labs (kinetics and thermodynamics labs for about 200 students)

Led recitation sessions and taught general chemistry labs (for 60 freshmen per semester) for one year EDUCATION

Ph.D., Chemistry 2009

Missouri University of Science and Technology, (MST) Rolla, MO Thesis: ‘Glass-transition (Tg) behavior of hybrid poly (methyl acrylate)-silica composites’ BS (Tech), Technology of Paints and Polymers 1999

Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly U.D.C.T) Mumbai, India BS, Chemistry 1996

Khalsa College, University of Mumbai Mumbai, India PRODUCTION (PLANT FLOOR) EXPERIENCE

Section Manager - Production 1999 to 2001

Bajaj Auto Ltd Pune, India

Managed and motivated 20 workmen in the production plant-floor (paint-shop) of Bajaj Auto Ltd., one of the largest automobile manufacturers in India, to produce about 1,000 automobiles (scooters) per shift

Troubleshot and solved problems on the production-line and implemented TPM (Total Productive Maintenance)

Tested and approved paints and plastic components / materials (in the quality-control lab) for use in production AWARDS

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) award 2008 Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST) Rolla, MO First rank 1996

BS, Chemistry, Khalsa College, University of Mumbai Mumbai, India PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS

American Chemical Society (ACS), American Coatings Association (ACA), Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), RadTech International

Contact this candidate