Dr. Shushil Kumar Rai

Dr. Shushil Kumar Rai
  • Dr. Shushil Kumar Rai
  • Scientist - C

Dr. Rai has obtained Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh in 2013. He received M. Tech. (Pharm.) in Biotechnology from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab in 2015. On continuing his higher studies Dr. Rai obtained his Ph.D. degree from Punjab University, Chandigarh in 2022. For doctoral thesis, he worked on rare sugar production especially D-Tagatose via enzymatic approach and stabilization of enzymes through immobilization. For post-doctoral exposure he has worked in various national institutions/labs in India such as National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), Mohali. In 2025, he moved to Canada and work as a postdoctoral fellow at Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta for a year. Thereafter, he returned back to India upon receiving prestigious ANRF grant from Anusandhan National Research Foundation, GOI and work at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee as NPDF. In July 2026, Dr. Rai joined National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology as Scientist-C in the division of Center for Sustainable Energy Technologies (C-SET). His current research interests are enzymology, bioenergy, biofuel, and biomass valorization.

Academic Qualification
  • Ph.D. (Biotechnology), 2022, Punjab University, Chandigarh.
    Title of the thesis: Development and Characterization of Nanobiocatalysts for the synthesis of rare sugar D-Tagatose.
  • M. Tech (Pharm.), 2015, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab.
  • B. Pharm. 2013, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Professional Experience
  • Scientist-C, Center for Sustainable Energy Technologies, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR), Trivandrum, Kerala (July 2026 to till date).
  • ANRF-NPDF, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (January 2026 to July 2026).
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta (February 2025 to January 2026).
  • Research Associate at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (November 2024 to January 2025).
  • Research Associate at the Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), Mohali (April 2023 to April 2024).
  • Assistant Professor at Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Pharmacy Kumhari, Durg, Chhattisgarh (April 2022 to March 2023).
  • Research Associate at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana (July 2021 to March 2022).
Achievements & Awards

Awards and Fellowships

  • ANRF-NPDF (2025)
  • DBT-SRF (2018)
  • DBT-JRF (2016)
  • GATE (2015)
  • GPAT (2013)
Patents
  • Xylanase and magnetic xylanase-CLEA based process for xylooligosacharides (xos) production from physically treated agro-biomass and uses thereof. Grant. No. 490246. Inventors: Yadav S. K., Purohit A., Rai S. K., Manisha, and Sangwan R. S.
  • Integrated as well as module(s) selective process for production of whey proteins, bacterial cellulose, calcium citrate and D-tagatose from liquid whey. Application No.201711024828. Inventors: Yadav S. K., Sangwan R. S., Kumar V., Sandhu P. P., Rai S. K., Narnolia L. K.
  • Possible drugs against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) from leaf extract of Butea monosperma (lam.) taub. Indian Patent Application no. 202421044550. Inventors: Singh S., Sahu K. S., Rai S. K., Chauhaan R., Mahish P. K., and Jadhav S. K.
Projects
  • PDF/2025/005647 (ANRF grant sanctioned for post-doctoral research work)
Publications
  • Rai, S. K., & Song, H. (2026). A Comprehensive Review of Biodegradation, Upcycling, and Downstream Valorization Strategies Toward Plastic Circularity. ChemCatChem, 18(10), e01858.
  • Mahish, P. K., Singh, S., Sahu, K. K., Verma, D. K., Ghodake, G., Chauhan, R., Rai S. K. & Jadhav, S. K. (2026). GC-MS metabolite profiling and computational ranking of Butea monosperma and their predicted contribution to antimicrobial activity against MRSA. Phytochemistry Letters, 72, 104131.
  • An, Q., Rai, S. K., Sheremet, A., Dunfield, P. F., & Song, H. (2026). Biological and nonthermal plasma methane activation to methanol: Mechanisms, challenges, and prospects for hybrid systems. Fuel, 421, 139127.
  • Dhiman, R., Kumar, P., Pawar, L., Rai, S. K., Purohit, R., & Yadav, S. K. (2026). Cobalt-based hybrid nanoflowers for the sustainable synthesis of a high-value health sugar D-sorbose. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 150829.
  • Bhatia, S., Rai, S. K., & Yadav, S. K. (2026). Enhanced Oxidative Degradation of β-O-4 Lignin Model Compound Using Robust Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase-Cobalt Phosphate Hybrid Nanoflowers. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 1-19.
  • Rai, S. K., Kim, G., & Song, H. (2025). Algae to Biofuels: Catalytic Strategies and Sustainable Technologies for Green Energy Conversion. Catalysts, 15(9), 806.
  • Rai, S. K., Bhatiya, S., Dhiman, R., Mittal, D., & Yadav, S. K. (2025). Development and Characterization of a Tunable Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) for the Synthesis of a Rare Sugar D-Tagatose. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 197(1), 384-397.
  • Rai, S. K., Singh, A., Kauldhar, B. S., & Yadav, S. K. (2023). Robust nano-enzyme conjugates for the sustainable synthesis of a rare sugar D-tagatose. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 231, 123406.
  • Singh, A., Rai, S. K., & Yadav, S. K. (2022). Metal-based micro-composite of L-arabinose isomerase and L-ribose isomerase for the sustainable synthesis of L-ribose and D-talose. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 217, 112637.
  • Rai, S. K., Kaur, H., Singh, A., Kamboj, M., Jain, G., & Yadav, S. K. (2021). Production of d-tagatose in packed bed reactor containing an immobilized l-arabinose isomerase on alginate support. Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology, 38, 102227.
  • Singh, A., Rai, S. K., Manisha, M., & Yadav, S. K. (2021). Immobilized L-ribose isomerase for the sustained synthesis of a rare sugar D-talose. Molecular catalysis, 511, 111723.
  • Kauldhar, B. S., Sooch, B. S., Rai, S. K., Kumar, V., & Yadav, S. K. (2021). Recovery of nanosized silica and lignin from sugarcane bagasse waste and their engineering in fabrication of composite membrane for water purification. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(6), 7491-7502.
  • Rai, S. K., Kumar, V., & Yadav, S. K. (2021). Development of recyclable magnetic cross-linked enzyme aggregates for the synthesis of high value rare sugar d-tagatose in aqueous phase catalysis. Catalysis science & technology, 11(6), 2186-2194.
  • Rai, S. K., Kaur, H., Kauldhar, B. S., & Yadav, S. K. (2020). Dual-enzyme metal hybrid crystal for direct transformation of whey lactose into a high-value rare sugar D-tagatose: Synthesis, characterization, and a sustainable process. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 6(12), 6661-6670.
  • Sucheta, Rai, S. K., Chaturvedi, K., & Yadav, S. K. (2019). Evaluation of structural integrity and functionality of commercial pectin based edible films incorporated with corn flour, beetroot, orange peel, muesli and rice flour. Food Hydrocolloids, 91, 127-135.
  • Rai, S. K., Narnoliya, L. K., Sangwan, R. S., & Yadav, S. K. (2018). Self-assembled hybrid nanoflowers of manganese phosphate and L-arabinose isomerase: A stable and recyclable nanobiocatalyst for equilibrium level conversion of D-galactose to D-tagatose. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 6(5), 6296-6304.
  • Purohit, A., Rai, S. K., Chownk, M., Sangwan, R. S., & Yadav, S. K. (2017). Xylanase from Acinetobacter pittii MASK 25 and developed magnetic cross-linked xylanase aggregate produce predominantly xylopentose and xylohexose from agro biomass. Bioresource technology, 244, 793-799.
  • Dwivedee, B. P., Bhaumik, J., Rai, S. K., Laha, J. K., & Banerjee, U. C. (2017). Development of nanobiocatalysts through the immobilization of Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase for applications in efficient kinetic resolution of racemic compounds. Bioresource technology, 239, 464-471.