Biopolymers and Polymer Chemistry

Biography

Dr. Sunkara is currently a Senior Principal Investigator in DuPont Industrial BioSciences Business unit. He received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 1989 from University of Madras, India. He joined DuPont Nylon Intermediate and Polymer Business unit in 1997 after working at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Since then, he devoted his DuPont career in advancing the frontier of the “white biotechnology” area with focused efforts on development bio-based materials as substitutions for petroleum-sourced incumbents. During his 20 years with DuPont, he has played a significant role in promoting the “greening of DuPont” through many scientific contributions to corn and soy agricultural feedstocks based materials:Bio-PDO™, Sorona®, Cerenol® Polyols, Hytrel® RS, Imron® Industrial Strength, Bio based plasticizers, Plenish® High Oleic Soybean Oil based dielectric fluids and tannin based rigid insulation foams. He is the principal Inventor in more than 140 US Patent applications issued/pending, some of which were licensed to European and Asian countries. He is also contributor to many publications and presentations. Dr. Sunkara is recipient of 2013 ACS national award for Affordable Green Chemistry. His current research focus is on developing 100% bio based poly(alkylene furandicarboxylate) resin for packaging industry.

Research Interest

“white biotechnology” area with focused efforts on development and commercialization of bio-based materials from renewably sourced feedstocks.