Vineet Kumar

Vineet Kumar has an extensive work experience in the field of chemistry. In 2018, they became the Director of Synthetic Chemistry at Ubiquitous Energy, where they led synthesis R&D towards discovery and process development of new materials for transparent OPV application, especially focused on transparent solar glass windows. Vineet also designed and oversaw synthesis and purification projects with national and international CROs/CMOs for Gram to Kilogram scale production. From 2015 to 2018, they were a Senior Scientist at Stanford University School of Medicine, where they designed and synthesized small molecules for application in transparent organic photovoltaics (TOPV) and led process chemistry efforts to optimize and establish in-house large scale (up to 500G) synthetic protocols and oversee Contract Research Organizations (CROs) for kilo scale production. From 2007 to 2015, they were a Scientist I and II at Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., where they designed and synthesized complex small molecules and collaborated with multidisciplinary team to study their SAR and enhance their physical and DMPK properties to develop hit to lead drug candidates. Vineet also trained and oversaw postdocs and research associates on synthesis and medicinal chemistry projects. From 2005 to 2007, they were a Visiting Research Scholar at NJIT, where they designed and synthesized chiral ionic liquids derived from inexpensive carbohydrate-based chiral auxiliaries and studied their applications in chiral recognition using NMR. Vineet also developed new improved methods for Pechmann reaction for coumarin synthesis and aminolysis of epoxides to obtain β-aminoalcohols using ionic liquids. Lastly, from 2004 to 2005, they were a PhD Scholar at Delhi University, where they developed new imidazolium-based ionic liquids and explored their applications for enhanced solubility and selective O-benzoylation of nucleosides in a project sponsored by IONIS Pharmaceutics (Carlsbad, CA, USA). Vineet also synthesized novel polyphenolic compounds including coumarins and chalcones as inhibitors of reactive oxygen species with potential applications as anti-oxidant agents, and developed synthetic methods for selective (regio-, enantio- and chemo-) biocatalytic trans-esterification and de-esterification of organic compounds using lipase enzymes.

Vineet Kumar obtained their B.Sc. in Chemistry from ARSD College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India between 1997 and 2000. Vineet then went on to earn their M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India between 2000 and 2002. Vineet then pursued their Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Organic Chemistry at Delhi University from 2002 to 2004. Finally, they obtained their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Organic Chemistry from Delhi University (India) and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJ, USA) between 2004 and 2007.