Ms. Lata Pawar is a Senior Research Fellow at Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), Mohali and her PhD is registered at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali. Her doctoral research focuses on generation of biopolymers through advance biocatalysis and biomass utilization. She is passionate about promoting sustainable biotechnology and believes harnessing biological systems can unlock innovative solutions for a greener future.
Ms. Pawar holds a bachelor’s degree in botany from Gargi College, University of Delhi. Interested in the development of sustainable food packaging materials, she pursued a postgraduate diploma in food analysis and quality assurance. She completed a master’s degree in food technology from the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune.
As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellow at Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Lata is developing a sustainable and integrated pathway for the production of polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a promising bio-based alternative to petroleum-derived plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Her research focuses on the synthesis and polymerization of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, a key monomer derived from lignocellulosic biomass through catalytic conversion processes. The study aims to engineer high-performance bioplastic films by integrating principles of green chemistry, polymer science, and process systems engineering. Additionally, her work involves comprehensive life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to evaluate the environmental sustainability and economic feasibility of the developed biopolymer production route.