Sharad Kharel

Materials scientist and laboratory group leader with 7+ years of applied R&D experience in polymer and bio-derived formulations, dispersions, particle systems, surface and interfacial characterization, and product-focused testing. Experienced in designing experiments, troubleshooting formulation-performance relationships, presenting findings to industry collaborators, preparing SOPs and risk assessments, and coordinating vendors, equipment demonstrations and training. Combines hands-on laboratory capability with clear technical communication and a strong interest in field applications, product demonstrations and customer support.

Senior Research Fellow and Laboratory Group Leader at Nanyang Technological University (2018-11 – 2025-12)

• Developed activated-carbon bead technology for a portable peritoneal dialysis platform, scaled processing from 1 g to 50 g per batch and demonstrated complete creatinine and beta-2-microglobulin removal in cartridge-level ex vivo testing, currently in clinical trials.
• Regularly presented material-development and performance findings to industrial partner (Vivance Pvt. Ltd.), discussed testing and device requirements, and translated collaborator feedback into subsequent experimental plans and technical recommendations.
• Led the technical development of an approved industry-collaborative scale-up proposal valued at approximately C$2.58 million, defining methodology, equipment requirements, budget, work packages and milestones.
• Coordinated equipment and consumable vendors on technical requirements, quotations, purchasing, installation, demonstrations and user training; managed chemical inventory, shared equipment and laboratory-space allocation.
• Prepared SOPs, experimental risk assessments, technical reports, presentations and patent disclosures; maintained clear records and supported safe, consistent laboratory execution.
• Mentored more than 10 undergraduate and research trainees and coordinated concurrent laboratory activities in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University (2018-11 – 2022-12)

• Designed and optimized polymer, biopolymer and particulate formulations by systematically relating composition, solvent and surfactant selection, rheology, phase behaviour and processing conditions to morphology, stability and functional performance.
• Developed bio-derived formulations from natural polysaccharide and protein extracts and evaluated composition, particle morphology, stability and performance using FTIR, SEM/EDX, HPLC, UV-Vis and related analytical methods.
• Investigated polymer-surface interactions in a PET microparticle platform and screened surfactant and ionic conditions to control adsorption and dispersion, reducing undesired dye loss from approx. 65% to below 5%.
• Performed surface and materials characterization using SEM/FESEM-EDX, TEM, FTIR, contact-angle measurement, particle-size analysis, zeta potential, rheometry, UV-Vis, HPLC, pycnometry, TGA/DSC, BET and GPC/SEC.

Doctoral Researcher, Materials Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (2013-08 – 2017-08)

• Created and optimized a one-step emulsion-based process for hollow PLGA microparticles, linking formulation and process variables to particle size, shell morphology, encapsulation, release and material performance.
• Planned systematic experiments, analyzed structure-property relationships and translated laboratory findings into a reproducible fabrication method resulting in a first-author publication and published international patent application.

Founder in Residence at Entrepreneurial Program (2017 – 2018)

• Conducted stakeholder and potential-user discussions, organized technical and commercial feedback, and refined product concepts and development priorities within an innovation program.

PhD in Materials Science and Engineering – Nanyang Technological University (2017)

Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering – Purbanchal University (2011)