Dr. Vishwesh Dutt Awasthi

Vishwesh
  • Dr. Vishwesh Dutt Awasthi
  • Scientist - C

Dr. Vishwesh Dutt Awasthi completed B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry and M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. He subsequently pursued a Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) in Mumbai on “Sensing and Removal of Contaminants from Water.” His research journey has been driven by a consistent objective: transforming materials and chemical science into practical technologies for environmental applications.

During his doctoral research, Dr. Awasthi worked on water-quality monitoring and treatment technologies, including the development of portable devices for rapid, on-site contaminant detection and advanced adsorbent systems for water purification, in collaboration with TORAY Industries, Japan, with the aim of potential integration with household RO systems. His work also involved microfluidic fabrication of nanoparticle-functionalized materials for contaminant removal. Through these studies, he developed expertise in advanced material synthesis, surface functionalization, contaminant sensing, adsorption and separation processes, microfluidics, device and prototype development, and advanced material characterization.

Following his Ph.D., he continued as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Bombay. Subsequently, he joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of Alabama, USA, as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. His research expanded towards emerging contaminants and strategic resource recovery, particularly through the development of advanced functional materials and separation approaches for PFAS remediation, critical mineral extraction, and selective recovery. This progression broadened his work from conventional water contaminants to next-generation environmental challenges and resource-recovery applications.

Dr. Awasthi is presently working as a Scientist-C in the Environmental Technology Division at CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram. A defining feature of his research is its application- and product-oriented approach, with emphasis on translating laboratory-scale scientific concepts into practical, scalable, adaptable, and field-deployable technologies. His broader approach integrates materials chemistry, environmental engineering, sensing, separation science, microfluidics, device engineering, and emerging fabrication approaches, such as 3D printing, to develop technologies for water treatment, contaminant remediation, resource recovery, and other environmental applications with real-world societal relevance.

 

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Academic Qualification
  • Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), Mumbai, 2023 Thesis title: “Sensing and Removal of Contaminants from Water”
  • M.Sc., Organic Chemistry, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, 2016
  • B.Sc. (Hons.), Chemistry, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, 2014
Research Interest

Dr. Awasthi’s research interests are centered on the development of materials- and chemistry-driven technologies for environmental applications, with emphasis on practical, scalable, adaptable, and field-deployable solutions.

Water Treatment Technologies, Environmental Nanotechnology, Functional Materials, Adsorption and Separation Processes, Surface Functionalization and Material Design, Sensing and Detection Technologies, Microfluidics, Device and Prototype Development, 3D Printing, Emerging Contaminant Remediation, Membrane-Based Separation Technologies, Microplastic Remediation, Critical Mineral Extraction and Resource Recovery, Selective Separation, Application-Oriented Technology Development, Product Development and Environmental Technology Translation.

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Professional Experience
  • Scientist-C, Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (July 2026 - Present).
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA (Feb 2025- April 2026).
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (Nov 2023- Nov 2024)
  • Research Associate, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (May 2023- Nov 2023).
Patents & Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  1. Awasthi, V. D., Yamamura, G., Kobayashi, A., & Bandyopadhyaya, R. (2025). A very efficient post-reverse osmosis (RO) adsorbent cartridge to remove As(III) from drinking water. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 13(6), 119556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.119556
  2. Pala, J., Al Mayyahi, A., Pakravan, K., Gurdev Singh, P., Awasthi, V. D., Beidaghi, M., & Esfahani, M. (2025). Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) Removal by Delaminated Titanium Carbide MXene: Impact of MXene Surface Chemistry on Adsorption Mechanisms and Removal Efficiency. ACS Applied Engineering Materials, 3(10), 3442-3454. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaenm.5c00569
  3. Fernandes, L.*, Awasthi, V. D.*, Sharma, K., Bandyopadhyaya, R., & Gundabala, V. (2025). Single-Step Microfluidics-Based Method for Fabrication of Nanoparticle-Coated Functional Microfibers. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 17(12), 18920-18930. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c00458
  4. Awasthi, V. D., Yamamura, G., Kobayashi, A., & Bandyopadhyaya, R. (2024). Enhanced impregnation of iron-manganese binary oxide nanoparticles on nylon 6 fibre for rapid and continuous arsenic [As(III)] removal from drinking water. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 64, 105656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.105656
  5. Awasthi, V. D., Singh, S. P., Ramachandran, S., & Bandyopadhyaya, R. (2023). A portable device for quick, on-spot, total arsenic measurement over a wide concentration range in water. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 11(6), 111012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2023.111012
  6. Awasthi, V. D.*, Ramachandran, S.*, & Bandyopadhyaya, R. (2023). A low-cost, colorimeter-based portable device for rapid, on-spot determination of fluoride in water. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2023.2219973

Manuscripts Submitted / Under Review

  1. Awasthi, V. D., Tsai, E., Jordan, T., Hilary, L., Zhao, M., Zhang, D., & Esfahani, M. (2026). Sequence-defined Peptoids as Molecularly Tunable Adsorbents for PFAS Removal: A Comprehensive Experimental and Molecular Study. ACS ES&T Water. Manuscript ID: ew-2026-011978 (Under peer review).
  2. Awasthi, V. D., Rousselle, K., Beck, L., Cryer, C., & Esfahani, M. (2026). Amine- and Fluoroalkyl-Functionalized MXene for Dual-Mode PFOS and PFBS Adsorption. ACS Applied Engineering Materials. Manuscript ID: em-2026-00717a.R1 (Revised manuscript submitted).

Patents

  1. Meshram, S., Ramachandran, S., Awasthi, V. D., & Bandyopadhyaya, R. “Multitracker Device for Rapid, On-Field Detection of Multiple Water Contaminants.” Indian Patent No. 548402; Application No. 202321059479. Date of Grant: August 8, 2024.
  2. Sharma, K., Fernandes, L., Awasthi, V. D., Bandyopadhyaya, R., & Gundabala, V. “Microfluidic Method for the Single-Step Fabrication of Nanomaterial Coated Microfibers.” Indian Patent Application No. 202521045865. Filed: May 13, 2025.
Achievements & Awards

Awards and Recognition

  • International Travel Support (ITS), 2024 - Awarded support for participation in the IEEE 14th International Conference on Nanomaterials: Applications & Properties (NAP 2024), Riga, Latvia, under the Government of India International Travel Support scheme.
  • 3rd Prize - Best Poster Presentation Award, 2022 - Awarded at the Conclave on Sustainability 2022, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay).
  • Outstanding Recognition, 2022 - Conferred by the Director, IIT Bombay, in recognition of significant institutional contribution.
  • Best Citation Award, 2022 - Awarded by Hostel-12, IIT Bombay, during tenure as Mess Secretary.

Competitive Academic Achievements

  • CSIR-NET Chemical Sciences, 2018 - Qualified for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) with All India Rank 48.
  • CSIR-NET Chemical Sciences, 2017 - Qualified NET with All India Rank 17.
  • GATE Chemistry, 2020 - All India Rank 369; 98.5 percentile.
  • GATE Chemistry, 2019 - All India Rank 803; 96.3 percentile.
  • GATE Chemistry, 2018 - All India Rank 112; 99.4 percentile.
  • GATE Chemistry, 2016 - All India Rank 774; 94.6 percentile.
Conference Presentations

Conference Presentations and Participation

  • “Surface-Functionalized MXene for the Rapid and Efficient Removal of Long- and Short-Chain PFAS from Water,” International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes (ICOM), San Antonio, Texas, USA (2026). This work was presented at the conference by a member of Esfahani’s lab.
  • “Functionalized Fluorinated-Aminated MXene Membranes for Enhanced and Selective PFAS Removal,” AIChE Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (2025).
  • Poster Session Judge, North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, USA (2025).
  • “Expeditious Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water by an Iron-Manganese Binary Oxide Nanoparticle-Nylon 6 Fibre-Based Adsorbent,” IEEE 14th International Conference on Nanomaterials: Applications & Properties (NAP), Riga, Latvia (2024).
  • “A Very Efficient Post-Reverse Osmosis (RO) Adsorbent for Home RO Systems to Remove As(III) from Drinking Water,” 3rd International Conference on Green Energy and Environmental Technology, ISEL - Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal (2024).
  • “A Low-Cost, Portable, Multiplexed Device for On-Spot, Rapid Detection of Hazardous Water Pollutants,” Tech Connect, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India (2022). Exhibitor.
  • “A Low-Cost, Portable, Multiplexed Device for On-Spot, Rapid Detection of Hazardous Water Pollutants,” Conclave on Sustainability, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India (2022).
  • “On-Spot Detection of Fluoride and Arsenic in Real Water by Photometer-Based Portable Device,” Research Scholars’ Symposium, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India (2022).
  • “Photometer-Based Portable Device for Fluoride Determination,” International Conference on Advanced Materials for Better Tomorrow (AMBT), IIT (BHU), Varanasi, India (2021).