Gaurav Das, originally from Kolkata, India, earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Jadavpur University. He later pursued his Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where his doctoral research focused on developing advanced thermodynamic frameworks and applying them to model complex industrial processes. After earning his doctorate in 2015, Dr. Das joined OLI Systems Inc., where he leads cutting-edge research in oil and gas, geothermal energy, water treatment, and minerals and mining, with a strong emphasis on sustainable solutions.
Since 2015, Dr. Das has been a key contributor to the Critical Materials Innovation (CMI) Hub, particularly in the Focus Area Crosscutting Research. He has collaborated extensively with other focus areas to design and develop novel processes for obtaining critical materials from both primary and secondary sources. His work includes technospheric mining of critical materials, evaluating the impact of rare earth elements (REEs) on biological systems in wastewater streams, and recycling spent solar photovoltaic (PV) cell materials, among other projects. Additionally, he has been involved with the Department of Energy-sponsored National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) Hub, where he contributed to developing efficient water treatment processes for utilizing non-conventional water sources.
Dr. Das has an impressive scholarly record, having authored over 15 journal articles, proceedings, and book chapters, and delivered more than 30 presentations at international conferences. He is also a dedicated peer reviewer for 11 chemical engineering journals, with over 75 articles reviewed to date. He is a member of the CMI Leadership Academy sixth cohort, which will begin meeting in January 2025.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Das is passionate about sports, particularly soccer and swimming. He actively participates in these activities and coaches a local U7 soccer team, fostering teamwork and skill development among young athletes.
December 2024