Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia

Statistical mechanics of dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers & grafted nanoparticles

The Kumar Lab builds analytical and computational models to understand how branching, flexibility and excluded volume govern the conformation, dynamics and rheology of complex macromolecules.

Flg. Offr. (Dr.) Amit Kumar · Professor (Assistant) · Associate NCC Officer, Air Wing
Focus areas

Research

Semiflexible dendrimers

Analytical theory for how bond orientation, excluded volume and branching set the conformation and intramolecular relaxation dynamics of semiflexible dendrimers.

Ph.D. thesis (2013) → J. Rheology (2016) → PCCP (2025)

Randomly hyperbranched polymers

Conformational heterogeneity of hyperbranched macromolecules and its effect on rheology, transport dynamics, and association with nucleic acids.

DST-SRG project SRG/2021/001709 · ₹28 Lakhs (2021)

Polymer-grafted nanoparticles

Mechanical and structural deformation of cross-linked polymer-grafted nanoparticles under varying solvent conditions — theory, simulation, and DFT for the electronic picture.

UGC-BSR project F-30/569/2021(BSR) · ₹10 Lakhs (2020)

Applied electrochemical & functional polymer systems

The same toolkit extends into microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment, conducting-polymer hydrogels for drug release, and photocatalytic composites.

DU Innovation Project 302/2015 · RSC Advances & J. Mol. Liquids, 2019–23
Background

Education

2013

Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry

University of Delhi
Thesis: "A Generalized Theoretical Model to Evaluate the Conformational and Dynamic Properties of Semiflexible Dendrimers" — Advisor: Prof. Parbati Biswas, FNSc
2008

M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry

University of Delhi — First Division
2006

B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry

T. M. Bhagalpur University — First Division
Career

Positions held

Nov 2019 – present

Professor (Assistant), Jamia Millia Islamia

  • Coordinator, SWAYAM & NEP Courses, Dept. of Chemistry (2024–present)
  • Member, Syllabus Committee; Time Table & Workload Committee Incharge (2024–present)
  • Computer Lab Incharge, Dept. of Chemistry (2021–present)
  • Placement Coordinator, Dept. of Chemistry (2021–2024)
Jan 2014 – Nov 2019

Professor (Assistant), Kalindi College, University of Delhi

  • Advisory & Core Committee member, IQAC, Kalindi College (2014–19)
  • Software support team, Student Management System (2015–19)
  • Technical Committee Member, Online Admission Committee (2016–19)
  • Discipline & Steering Committees for NAAC and undergraduate admissions (2014–18)
  • Multiple organizing/registration/prize committees for Lehren Cultural Fest & Annual Day (2015–19)
  • Golden Jubilee signage, invitations and logo design committee (2015–16)

Contribution to the corporate life of JMI

  • Introduced Senior Division NCC Air Wing at Jamia Millia Islamia
  • Established the first Smart Computer Laboratory, Dept. of Chemistry (2021)
  • Facilitated placement of 13 students in a single recruitment drive as Placement Coordinator (2022)
  • Proposed an application-based advanced course paper in the M.Sc. Chemistry curriculum (2022)
Recognition

Academic achievements

  • 2008Secured First Rank in the Ph.D. Entrance Examination, University of Delhi
  • 2008Cleared JRF-NET Examination, CSIR-UGC
  • 2016Shikshak Samman, Hindu Shiksha Samiti Nyas, Vidya Bharti Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan Delhi
  • 2022Guest Editor, special issue marking JMI's 100th anniversary, ChemistrySelect
  • Lifetime member, SPES & Biophysical Society of India
Funded work

Research projects

DST-SRG · SRG/2021/001709Sanctioned as PI, 2021

Conformational heterogeneity of hyperbranched polymers and their association with nucleic acids

₹28 Lakhs
UGC-BSR · F-30/569/2021(BSR)Sanctioned as PI, 2020

Mechanical & structural deformation of cross-linked polymer-grafted nanoparticles

₹10 Lakhs
DU Innovation · 302/2015Completed as PI

Microbial Fuel Cell for laboratory wastewater treatment

Antardwani · 2015Completed as PI

Online software for internal assessment of students

Output

Publications

29Articles & chapters
~500Citations
2010–26Active years
Full list on Google Scholar
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  • 2026 — A. K. M. Irfan, S. Khurana, A. Kumar. Optical, Thermal, Mechanical, and Viscoelastic Properties of Conjugated Polymer Nanocomposites. Book chapter, Properties and Applications of Advanced Materials, pp. 231–261, Wiley.
  • 2025 — Unraveling the Influence of Excluded Volume on Orientational Relaxation Dynamics in Dendrimers, PCCP. DOI
  • 2024 — A Theoretical Perspective on Segmental Relaxation Dynamics of Model Dendrimer, Chemical Physics. DOI
  • 2024 — Analytical Model to Deduce the Conformational and Dynamical Behavior in Dendrimers: A Review, Polymers. DOI
  • 2024 — Electronic Properties of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles: A DFT Study, Asian Journal of Chemistry. DOI
  • 2024 — H. Basheer et al. Kanamycin–Cu(II) Complex Catalyzed Ullmann Amine Synthesis at Room Temperature, Eur. J. Org. Chem. DOI
  • 2024 — Investigating the Influence of Polymer Grafting on Nanoparticle Properties, African Journal of Biological Sciences.
  • 2023 — S. Gaffar, A. Kumar, U. Riaz. Synthesis Techniques and Advance Applications of Spinel Ferrites: A Short Review, Journal of Electroceramics, pp. 1–12, Springer.
  • 2023 — Efficient Visible Light–Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. DOI
  • 2023 — Microwave-Assisted Rapid Catalytic Degradation of Isoniazid Drug, J. Molecular Liquids. DOI
  • 2023 — pH-Responsive Conducting Polymer/Na-Alginate/Gelatin Hydrogels for Amoxicillin Release, Int. J. Biological Macromolecules. DOI
  • 2023 — Electronic (E-Waste) Conduct: Chemical Assessment and Treatment Methods, book chapter, Elsevier.
  • 2023 — Translational Transport of E-Waste and Implications on Human Well-Being, book chapter, Elsevier.
  • 2023 — Conducting Polymer/Alginate Composite Hydrogels for Metformin Release, J. Molecular Liquids. DOI
  • 2022 — Recent Advances in the Utilization of Polyaniline in Protein Detection, RSC Advances. DOI
  • 2022 — Synthesis and Advanced Applications of Polyaniline Hydrogels, RSC Advances. DOI
  • 2022 — Conducting Polymer-Based Micro- and Nano-Batteries for Biomedical Applications, ChemistrySelect. DOI
  • 2021 — Microbial Fuel Cell: A Greener Way to Protect the Environment, book chapter, Elsevier.
  • 2021 — Practical Scale Up Synthesis of Carboxylic Acids and Bioisosteres, RSC Advances. DOI
  • 2019 — Orientation and Behavioural Responses of Cotesia plutellae Towards Honey and Sucrose, Int. J. Zoological Investigations.
  • 2016 — Dynamics of Dendrimers with Excluded Volume, Journal of Rheology. DOI
  • 2015 — Effect of Excluded Volume on the Rheology and Transport Dynamics of Randomly Hyperbranched Polymers, J. Chemical Physics. DOI
  • 2014 — Intramolecular Relaxation of Flexible Dendrimers with Excluded Volume, J. Chemical Physics. DOI
  • 2013 — Orientational Relaxation in Semiflexible Dendrimers, PCCP. DOI
  • 2013 — Conformation and Intramolecular Relaxation Dynamics of Semiflexible Randomly Hyperbranched Polymers, J. Chemical Physics. DOI
  • 2013 — Semiflexibility Induced Range of Conformations in Dendrimers, Soft Matter. DOI
  • 2012 — Conformational Transitions in Semiflexible Dendrimers Induced by Bond Orientations, J. Chemical Physics. DOI
  • 2011 — Intramolecular Relaxation Dynamics in Semiflexible Dendrimers, J. Chemical Physics. DOI
  • 2010 — Dynamics of Semiflexible Dendrimers in Dilute Solutions, Macromolecules. DOI
Latest

News & highlights

PUBLICATION
2025

New result on excluded-volume effects in dendrimer orientational relaxation, published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.

STUDENT AWARD
2022

Shelly Bhardwaj felicitated by the Vice Chancellor for the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) at JMI's 102nd Foundation Day.

EDITORIAL
2022

Dr. Kumar served as Guest Editor for a special issue marking JMI's 100th anniversary in ChemistrySelect.

FUNDING
2021

DST-SRG project on the conformational heterogeneity of hyperbranched polymers sanctioned — ₹28 Lakhs.

Each card is a self-contained block — copy one to add a new highlight as it happens.
Beyond the lab

NCC — Air Wing

Dr. Kumar serves as an Associate N.C.C. Officer with the rank of Flying Officer, attached to No. 1 Delhi Air Squadron (Flying) under the Delhi Directorate of the National Cadet Corps.

  • Associate N.C.C. Officer (ANO), rank of Flying Officer — No. 1 Delhi Air Squadron (Flying), NCC
  • Delhi Directorate (DTE), Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi–110042
  • Introduced the Senior Division NCC Air Wing at Jamia Millia Islamia

View the 1 Delhi Air Squadron unit page — cadet roster, camps & achievements →

Group

People

Principal Investigator

Dr. Amit Kumar

Professor (Assistant), Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia

Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry, University of Delhi (2013), under Prof. Parbati Biswas, FNSc. PI on DST-SRG and UGC-BSR funded projects.

Ph.D. Student

Shelly Bhardwaj

Prime Minister's Research Fellow (PMRF)

Awarded the PMRF under the Lateral Entry Scheme; felicitated by the Vice Chancellor at JMI's 102nd Foundation Day (2022).

Toolkit

Computational skills

Programming languages
BASIC, FORTRAN, C, Java, Python, R, SCILAB, MATHEMATICA, MATLAB, PHP
Tools & libraries
SciPy, Matplotlib, TensorFlow, VMD, PyMOL, Gaussian, ChemDraw, ArgusLab, Avogadro, LaTeX
Systems experience
Linux (Fedora, Debian, RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu) and Windows (XP–10)
Interests
Data analysis, machine learning
Reach us

Contact

Address

Department of Chemistry
Jamia Millia Islamia
New Delhi–110025, India

Details

akumar1@jmi.ac.in
+91-11-26981717 Ext. 1799
atslab.co.in