Soumya Sarkar │Page 1 of 2

352-682-2477 | soumya.chem@gmail.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/soumyasarkar1

570 ST Olin Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

H i g h l i g h t s

Synthetic chemist with strong background in organometallic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and catalysis

Excellent track record in project development, product characterization and data analysis

Proficient in synthesizing metal complexes for small molecule activation and fundamental transformations

Adept in multistep organic synthesis and catalyst development

Experienced in stereoregular polymer synthesis and detailed polymer characterization

Key contributor in collaborative research projects with academic groups and industrial R&D sectors

Author of 8 publications in peer reviewed journals and 2 international patents

T e c h n i c a l S k i l l s

Organometallic compound characterization: NMR, FTIR, electrochemistry, single crystal and powder XRD

Polymer characterization: GPC, DSC, TGA, MALDI and 2D-NMR

Analytical techniques: LC-MS, GC, HPLC, TLC, and ESI-MS

Software: ChemDraw, Mnova, Sigma-Plot, Gaussian, Spartan, SciFinder, Reaxys, EndNote and MS-Office

Maintenance and troubleshooting: glove-box, vacuum pump, gas-manifold, dry solvent system and ovens

E d u c a t i o n

Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry, University of Florida, USA (GPA: 4.0/4.0) December 2011

MS in Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India (GPA: 3.6/4.0) May 2006

BS in Chemistry, Calcutta University, India July 2004

C o r e C o m p e t e n c i e s

Protocol development Problem solving Event organization

Experiment designing Leadership/Supervision Collaboration

Technical reporting Team player Troubleshooting

E x p e r i e n c e

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Cornell University January 2012-present

Advisor: Prof. Geoffrey W. Coates

Synthesized bimetallic cobalt catalyst for producing highly isotactic polypropylene oxide

Utilized diols as chain transfer agents to precisely control chain length and form telechelic polyethers as

midblock for polyurethanes

Developed a novel family of magnesium catalysts for acrylonitrile polymerization

Developed a 2D-NMR technique for rapid determination of polymer tacticity

Characterized polymers using GPC, DSC, MALDI and multinuclear NMR (1H and 13C) techniques

Routinely presented research updates via teleconferences to collaborators in academic groups and industry

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Florida August 2008-December 2011

Advisor: Prof. Adam S. Veige

As a project leader initiated and established the trianionic pincer project which resulted in 7 publications, 2

international patents and 2 major grants

Soumya Sarkar │Page 2 of 2

Developed protocols to synthesize organometallic complexes with trianionic pincer ligands, studied their

reactivity with small molecules and alkyne polymerization reactions

Significantly contributed in a different project in the group by executing molecular modeling studies and

ground state DFT calculations in Gaussian, which resulted in a publication

Executed kinetic/mechanistic analysis for fundamental chemical transformations

Mentored four undergraduate students in research and inspired them to pursue careers in chemistry

Received P&G Research Excellence Award (2009), Ann-Crow Stach Publication Award (2009), and 2 travel

awards

Masters Research, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India August 2005-May 2006

Advisor: Prof. R. Murugavel

Synthesized several multinuclear transition metal clusters using organic phosphates via different techniques

such as hydrothermal conditions, biphasic reaction medium and microwave irradiation

Characterized products using multinuclear NMR in combination with FTIR, XRD, TGA and mass spectrometry

Received Madhav-Pandya Fellowship for meritorious achievements

P u b l i c a t i o n s

S. Sarkar, K.P. McGowan, S. Kuppuswamy, I. Ghiviriga, K. A. Abboud, and A. S. Veige J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012,

134, 4509.

M. T. Jan, S. Sarkar, S. Kuppuswamy, I. Ghiviriga, K. A. Abboud, and A. S. Veige (invited) J. Organomet. Chem.

2011, 696, 4079.

T. D. Castillo, S. Sarkar, I. Ghiviriga, K. A. Abboud, and A. S. Veige Dalton Trans., 2011, 40, 8140.

S. Sarkar, J. A. Culver, A. J. Peloquin, I. Ghiviriga, K. A. Abboud and A. S. Veige Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49,

9711.

S. Sarkar, K. P. McGowan, J. A. Culver, A. R. Carlson, J. Koller, A. J. Peloquin, M. K. Veige, K. A. Abboud and A.

S. Veige Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 5143.

S. Sarkar, K. A. Abboud and A. S. Veige J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 16128.

S. Sarkar, A. R. Carlson, M. K. Veige, J. M. Falkowski, K. A. Abboud and A. S. Veige J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008,

130, 1116.

J. Koller, S. Sarkar, K. A. Abboud and A. S. Veige Organometallics 2007, 26, 5438.

P a t e n t s

A. S. Veige, J. M. Falkowski, M. E. O’Reilly, S. Kuppuswamy, K. P. McGowan and S. Sarkar; “Trianionic pincer

ligands, a Cr(III)/Cr(V) catalytic system and its use for catalytic aerobic oxidation of organic substrates.”

WO2010101993, 2010.

A. S. Veige, S. Sarkar; “Method for transferring N-atoms from metal complexes to organic and inorganic

substrates.” US20090281343, 2009.

A d d i t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n

Teaching Experience, University of Florida, USA 2006- 2011

Instructed general chemistry course for freshmen

As principal instructor designed and conducted an advanced chemistry lab course for chemistry majors

Received College of Liberal Arts & Science Teaching Award (2011), Chemistry Department Teaching Award

(2008)

Community Outreach, University of Florida, USA 2006- 2010

Led team of graduate students and performed experiments in science fairs and chemistry outreach events