Sushila works on materials science for environmental applications. She received a first class bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Queen Mary, University of London in 2016, where she investigated carbon-based non-metal catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells. This was followed by research into biofuel upcycling using agricultural waste as a feedstock during a master’s degree in Materials for Energy and the Environment at UCL.
After taking a gap year in India to volunteer as a teacher, Sushila returned to UCL to pursue a PhD in nature inspired materials for catalysis. Her current research on metal nanoparticles for electrocatalysis in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) for hydrogen fuel cells is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Sushila is passionate about the environment and hopes to tackle climate change issues through research, education and social reform. Her research interests surround material synthesis and design for energy technologies such as fuel cells, biofuels, batteries, solar cells and others, with an emphasis on heterogeneous catalysis.
Awards and Honours:
- Royal Charter Prize (2016) nomination – Institute for Materials, Mining and Metallurgy (IoM3)
- Drapers’ Company Prize (2015) winner – ‘Outstanding Achievement and Academic Excellence’
- Alcoa prize (2014) winner – ‘Best Materials Student’ QMUL
- Athena Swan Award (2013) winner – ‘Best Materials Student’ at QMUL
Memberships:
- Royal Society of Chemistry – Associate Member (AMRSC) since 2018
- Institute of Materials, Mining and Metallurgy (IoM3) – Student Member since 2014
Outside of research, Sushila is interested in meditation, word games, puzzles and gardening.
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