Sachin Handa
Columbia, MO| Grant Category: | Fulbright-Nehru Academic & Professional Excellence Award (Teaching & Research) |
| Project Title: | Research and Teaching on Green Catalysis and Sustainable Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals |
| Field of Study: | Chemistry |
| Home Institution: | University of Missouri, Columbia, MO |
| Host Institution: | Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam |
| Grant Start Month: | September 2025 |
| Duration of Grant: | Four months |
Brief Bio:
Dr. Sachin Handa is MizzouForward Faculty and a tenured associate professor of chemistry at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Earlier, at the University of Louisville, he had served as an assistant professor before being promoted to the position of associate professor. He earned his PhD in chemistry from Oklahoma State University and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Dr. Handa’s research lies at the intersection of synthesis, material chemistry, energy, nanocatalysis, photochemistry, and electrocatalysis. His work is recognized for its innovative approaches to sustainable chemistry, particularly in the development of environmentally benign catalytic systems. He has authored over 85 peer-reviewed publications, including papers in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature Communications, JACS Au, ACS Catalysis, Advanced Functional Materials, and Angewandte Chemie. His notable research contributions include advancements in micelle-driven electrocatalysis, ligand design for sustainable catalysis, and nanoparticle-mediated transformations in aqueous media. Many of his research products are commercialized by Sigma-Aldrich.
His excellence in research and commitment to green chemistry have earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious NSF CAREER Award and the ACS Peter J. Dunn Award for Green Chemistry and Engineering Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry. He has also received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award in Physical Sciences. He currently serves as an associate editor for ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering and holds editorial board positions with Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews and Molecules. He is also a member of the ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference Advisory Committee.
Dr. Handa’s Fulbright-Nehru project is developing a sustainable electrocatalytic-electromicellar method for synthesizing fluorinated heterocycles, which are key pharmaceutical intermediates. By using electrons as clean reductants and aqueous micelles from benign designer amphiphiles as solvents and electrolytes, the research aims to minimize environmental impact and improve atom economy. The project is also exploring the delayed adoption of green chemistry in India’s pharmaceutical sector. The fellowship integrates teaching a graduate course on green chemistry and catalysis, fostering international collaboration, and promoting sustainable practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing through academic–industry partnerships and student engagement.