Education and Research Summary

• Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Berkeley, USA (Sept 2024-present)

Advisor: Prof. Ashok Gadgil,  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 

Research Focus: Electrochemical Processing; Critical Mineral Recovery 

• Ph. D., Washington University in St. Louis, USA (2019-2024)

Advisor: Prof. Pratim Biswas,  Department of Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering

Research Focus: Aerosol Processing; Nanomaterials for Energy; Waste Valorization 

 (CGPA: 3.96/4)

• M. Tech., Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India (2016-2018) 

Advisors: Prof. Sanjay Mahajani and Prof. Anurag Garg, Department of Chemical Engineering

Research Focus: Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling; Agricultural Residue Compositing 

(CGPA: 9.55/10)

• B. Tech., Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, India (2012-2016) 

Department of Chemical Technology

(CGPA: 9.78/10)

Select Honors and Awards

(1) Research Impact Award, Washington University in St. Louis (2024)

Awarded annually to one student in the aerosol science research cluster for high-impact research

(2) Graduate Student Research Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers  (2023)

Awarded annually to one graduate student for exceptional contributions to the field of carbon nanomaterials

(3) McDonnell Scholar and Dean’s Fellow, McDonnell and Dean’s International Scholars Academies (2019-24)

Awarded to ~ 20 WashU students, covering tuition, stipend, annual travel to partner university, and a $5000 award

(4) Tata Center Fellowship, Tata Center for Technology and Development  (2016-18)

Awarded to 14 students admitted to IIT Bombay in the 2016 batch

(5) Institute Silver Medal presented by the Honorable Prime Minister of India, IIT Bombay (2018) 

Awarded for securing first rank in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Bombay

(6) Four Gold Medals, One Silver Medal, and Two Cash Awards,  Nagpur University (2016) 

Awarded for securing the top rank among ~20,000 graduating students from all engineering streams in the university

Peer-Reviewed Publications

(1) S. Modi, J. Zhang, N. Ziebarth, S. Deng, P. Biswas. Rapid and Single-Step Synthesis of Carbon-Silicon Composites Using a Continuous Aerosol Approach, Carbon, 2026, 253, 121410. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2026.121410)

(2) S. Modi, Y. Shah, L. Gilbertson, P. Biswas. Towards Sustainable Scaled-up Synthesis of Lignin-Derived Carbon Nanoparticles Using a Furnace Aerosol Reactor: Insights from Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Science & Technology, 2025, 59 (37), 19802-19812.  (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c06572)

(3) S. Modi, O. Okonkwo, S. Saha, M. Foston, P. Biswas. Reuse of Lignin to Synthesize High Surface Area Carbon Nanoparticles for Supercapacitors Using a Continuous and Single-step Aerosol Method, ACS Nano, 2023, 17(17), 17048–17057.

(DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.3c04443)

Recognition: Graduate Student Research Award from AIChE (AIChE Annual Meeting, 2023)

(4)  S. Modi, M. Foston, P. Biswas. Controlled Synthesis of Smaller than 100 nm Lignin Nanoparticles in a Furnace Aerosol Reactor, ACS Environmental Science & Technology Engineering, 2023, 3(5), 671–681.   (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.2c00386)

(5) S. Modi, O. Okonkwo, H. Zhou, S. Kavadiya, M. Foston, P. Biswas. Geometric Model for Predicting the Size and Morphology Evolution of Multiparticle Aggregates during Simultaneous Reaction and Sintering, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 458, 141423. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.141423)

(6) H. Zhou, S. Modi, P. Biswas. Controlled Synthesis of Charged Lignin Nanocarriers by Electrospray, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2022, 129314. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.129314)

Patents

(1) S. Modi, S. Bandaru, A. Gadgil. Surface-Engineered Stainless-Steel Mesh Air Cathode. US Provisional Patent Application, 64/041,610, 2026.

(2) S. Modi, S. Bandaru, A. Gadgil. Electrocoagulation Method for Phosphate Recovery. International Patent Application, PCT/US26/23519, 2025.

(3) S. Modi, P. Biswas. Continuous Condensational Loading Technique for Composite Synthesis. US Provisional Patent Application, 63/799,102, 2025.