Dr Raghu Ganesh is a materials chemist who works on the development of thermally robust inorganic composites and their application towards sustainable energy. He completed his PhD from Iowa State University, where he synthesized and evaluated encapsulated nanomaterials for applications in heterogeneous catalysis. Following his time at Iowa State, he held research positions at Breathe Applied Sciences Pvt Ltd, and at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). At both institutions, he focused on the direct and indirect utilisation of carbon dioxide as a feedstock for the synthesis of value-added fuels such as alcohols and dimethyl ether. Additionally, he has also worked with industrial entities such as Saudi Aramco, a primary partner at KAUST via the KAUST Catalysis Centre.
At Iowa State, he also taught various chemistry courses as both a teaching assistant and a course instructor, catering to a diverse range of students. In his role as a senior teaching assistant, he assisted course instructors in designing coursework and laboratory sessions, provided one-on-one tutoring to students, and trained junior colleagues in effective teaching methods. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he mentored undergraduate research students and hosted DOE-sponsored research internship students from other institutions in the US.
Dr Raghu Ganesh’s research will continue to focus on the development of inorganic materials, specifically multicomponent nanomaterials, and their applications for heterogeneous catalysis. He hopes to explore current green energy initiatives encompassing carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, as well as hydrogen-based energy initiatives.
