Amar Mohanty, PhD

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Brief Bio
Amar Mohanty is a Full Professor and Distinguished Research Chair in Sustainable Biomaterials at the Ontario Agriculture College and is the Director of the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He is a former Michigan State University professor and currently holds Distinguished Professor position at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, in India and a Visiting Professor status at the University of Portsmouth, in the UK.
Prof. Mohanty is an international leader in the field of bioplastics, biocomposites and advanced biorefinery. His research focuses on engineering value-added uses of biomass wastes and industrial co-products from agro-food and biofuel industries. Circular economy, environmental sustainability, waste plastic valorization, biodegradable plastics as single-use plastic alternatives, biocarbon based composites and 3D printing of sustainable materials are other areas of his expertize.
Prof. Mohanty is the Editor-in-Chief of Sustainable Composites, Composites Part C -Open Access; an ELSEVIER journal.
Awards, Honours, and Distinctions
2022 | 2022 RSC Miroslaw Romanowski Award Lecture, Royal Society of Canada, Canada |
2022 | Prof. Dr. Gokulananda Mahapatra Oration Award 2022, Prof. Dr. Gokulananda Nityananda Mahapatra Foundation, India |
2021 | Miroslaw Romanowski Medal, Royal Society of Canada, Canada |
2020 – Present | Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, Canada |
2020 – Present | OAC Distinguished Research Chair in Sustainable Biomaterials, University of Guelph, Canada |
2020 | JL White Innovation Award, Polymer Processing Society, USA |
2019 – Present | Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK |
2019 – Present | Fellow, Society of Plastics Engineers, USA |
2019 | Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence, Odisha Bigyan Academy, India |
2019 | OAC Alumni Distinguished Researcher Award, University of Guelph, Canada |
2018 – Present | Fellow, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, USA. |
2018 | NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada |
2017 – 2020 | Research Leadership Chair Award, University of Guelph, Canada |
2017 | Highly Prolific Author, American Chemical Society (ACS) Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, USA |
2017 | Featured Canadian Author, Selected for ACS Publications Open Access Virtual Issue “Hot Materials in a Cool Country” - articles authored by Canadians to celebrate the 100th Canadian Chemistry Conference |
2016 |
University of Guelph’s Innovation of the Year Award, Canada. For the creation of the 100% Compostable Bio-composite Resin; additional awards for this innovation visit: http://purpod100.com/awards/ |
2015 | Lifetime Achievement Award, BioEnvironmental Polymer Society, USA |
2012 | “Gold Medal” and Certificate, International Conference on Composites Interfaces, (Interface21). |
2011 | Jim Hammar Memorial Service Award, BioEnvironmental Polymer Society, USA |
2011 – 2015 | 5 Year Visiting Professorship, South China University, China |
2008 – 2020 | Premier’s Research Chair in Biomaterials & Transportation, University of Guelph, Canada (Endowed Research Chair awarded for 12 years) |
2006 | Andrew Chase Forest Products Division Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, USA |
1999 | Prof. R. C. Tripathy Memorial Award (Young Scientist Award), Orissa Chemical Society |
1998 – 1999 | Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Fellowship, AvH Foundation, Germany |
1980 | Gold medal, Utkal University, Orissa being 1st Class 1st in M.Sc (Chemistry) |
Research Interests
Biomaterials
- Natural Fiber Composites and All Green Composites
- Nanostructure Controlled Bioplastics and Hyperbranched Polymers
- Nanocomposites (Polymer-clay and Polymer-Carbon Nanotubes) and Nanoblends
- Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes and Clays
- Renewable Resourse-based Biodegradable polymers (Polylactides, Polyhydroxyalkanoates, Cellulose esters and Starch plastics)
- Petroleum-based Biodegradable Polymers (Aliphatic Polyesters and Aliphatic-aromatic Copolyesters)
- Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (SoronaT) based Composites, Blends and Nanocomposites
- Reactive extrusion, Injection Molding, Thermoforming and Co-Injection Molding
- Soy-based Bioplastics (Soy oil-based Thermoset Resins and Soy Protein-based Thermoplastic)
- Polyols from Plant Oils and Biobased Polyurethanes
- Biobased Polyesters/Epoxies and their biomaterials
- Biodegradable Polymers and Sustainable Packaging
- 3D Printing
Biofuels, Biorefinery and Sustainability
- Value-added Applications of Downstream Co-products from Dry-milling Corn Ethanol Industries e.g. Distillers' Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and Carbon Dioxide as Biocomposites, Bioadhesives and Biochemicals
- Value-added Applications of Corn Gluten Meal (Co-product from Wet-milling Corn ethanol Industries) as Biodegradable Plastics and Biocomposites
- Value-added Applications of Coproducts from Soy Biodiesel Industries e.g. Soy meal and Glycerol as Biodegradable Plastic, Biocomposites and Biochemicals
- New Uses of Lignin and Residual Biomass from Cellulosic Ethanol in Value-added Applications
- Pretreatment of Biomasses for Biofuels
- Sustainability Issues of Biofuel Industries and Biorefinery
Selected Recent Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications
- Pal, A.K., Misra, M., Mohanty, A.K. (2023). "Silane treated starch dispersed PBAT/PHBV-based composites: Improved barrier performance for single-use plastic alternatives". International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 229, 1009-1022.
- Roy, P., Mohanty, A.K., Dick, P., Misra, M. (2023). "A review on challenges and choices for food waste valorization: Environmental and economic impacts". ACS Environmental Au.
- Harder, N., Rodriguez-Uribe, A., Snowdon, M., Misra, M., Mohanty, A.K. (2023). "Hop natural fiber reinforced poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate)(PBSA) biodegradable plastic: effect of fiber length on performance of biocomposites". Materials Advances.
- Zytner, P., Pal, A.K., Wu, F., Rodriguez-Uribe, A., Mohanty, A.K., Misra, M. (2023). "Morphology and Performance Relationship Studies on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)-Based Biodegradable Blends". ACS Omega, 8(2), 1946–1956.
- Tripathi, N., Rodriguez-Uribe, A., Weldekidan, H., Misra, M., Mohanty, A. (2022). "Upcycling of waste jute biomass to advanced biocarbon materials: the effect of pyrolysis temperature on their physicochemical and electrical properties". Material Advances 24 (2022).
- Surendren, A., Mohanty, A.K., Liu, Q., Misra, M. (2022). "A review of biodegradable thermoplastic starches, their blends and composites: recent developments and opportunities for single-use plastic packaging alternatives". Green Chemistry, 2022, 24, 8606-8636.
- Gonzalez de Gortari, M., Misra, M., Mohanty, A. K. (2022). "Polyphthalamide polymers: A review on synthesis, properties, and advance manufacturing and emerging applications". Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 139 (40), 52965.
- Debevc, S., Weldekidan, H., Snowdon, M., Vivekanandhan, S., Wood, D.F., Misra, M., Mohanty, A.K. (2022). "Valorization of almond shell biomass to biocarbon materials: Influence of pyrolysis temperature on their physicochemical properties and electrical conductivity". Carbon Trends, 9, 100214.
- Mensah, R.A., Vennström, A., Shanmugam, V., Försth, M., Li, Z., Restas, A., Neisiany, R.E., Sokol, D., Misra, M., Mohanty, A.K., Hedenqvist, M., Das, O. (2022). "Influence of biochar and flame retardant on mechanical, thermal, and flammability properties of wheat gluten composites". Composites Part C: Open Access.
- Feijoo, P., Mohanty, A.K., Rodriguez-Uribe, A., Gámez-Pérez, J., Cabedo, L., Misra, M. (2022). "Biodegradable blends from bacterial biopolyester PHBV and bio-based PBSA: Study of the effect of chain extender on the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties". International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
Funded Graduate Opportunities available in my research group - PhD, M.A.Sc & MEng in Biological Engineering*
This graduate opportunity is for graduate students pursuing a degree in Biological Engineering for the following research areas in my team.
- Biomedical Applications for Bioplastics and Biocomposites
- 3D Printing of Bioplastics and Biocomposites
- Bioplastics and Biobased Polymers
- Biocomposites (Natural Fibre Composites) and Polymer Blends
- Green Composites including Recyclability, Durability and Biodegradability Studies
- Biobased Nanocomposites and Nanoblends
- Biomass and Biomaterials Sustainability
- Value-added Biobased Materials from the Coproducts/Byproducts of Biofuel Industries
- Biodegradability (Compostability)
For entry in the PhD Biological Engineering program, candidates must hold a thesis-based Master’s degree in engineering.
For entry in the M.A.Sc./MEng programs, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science.
If your first language is not English, you will be required to submit the results of a standardized language test. Please see the chart for acceptable tests and required scores. Please refer to the School of Engineering website for department requirements.
For more information on how to apply, please contact me by e mail:
bddcjobs@uoguelph.ca with a copy to mohanty@uoguelph.ca
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the positions are filled.
A preliminary selection will be made based on the interviews to qualify the prospective candidate to apply for graduate studies at the University of Guelph. Selection does not guarantee acceptance for graduate studies.
*Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.