Ripudaman Malhotra PhD

Dr. Ripudaman Malhotra is Associate Director of Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory in SRI International's Physical Sciences Division. Dr. Malhotra is an organic chemist, and during his tenure at SRI he has worked extensively on the processing and analysis of fossil fuels, and advanced materials. His work on coal liquefaction and pyrolysis resulted in identification of novel pathways for hydrogen transfer by which strong bonds in coals are broken. He is currently investigating pyrolysis and gasification of coals at elevated pressures under conditions using a radiant furnace that allows complete capture of all the products for detailed mass and element balance. Lately, Dr. Malhotra has been studying the applications of biotechnology in the areas of energy, chemicals, and environment. He has co-authored a book on Nitrations, edited one on Combinatorial Materials Development, as well as co-edited one on Advanced Materials. He recently co-authored a book with Hew Crane and Ed Kinderman on the global energy crisis, A Cubic Mile of Oil: Realities and Options for Averting The Looming Energy Crisis to be published by the Oxford University Press. He is also Editor for the Fossil Fuels Section of the multi-volume Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology to be published by Springer. Dr. Malhotra received his Bachelor's (1971) and Master's (1973) degrees in chemistry from Delhi University, India, and a PhD from the University of Southern California (1979). Dr. Malhotra is the recipient of the SRI 2005 Fellows Award, the highest honor SRI bestows upon its employees for technical excellence and professional contributions.