Research

Research Topics

My research lies at the intersection of applied mathematics, scientific computing, particle technology, and pharmaceutical process modelling. I work on computationally efficient modelling frameworks for particulate and multiphase systems, with applications in powder processing, wet granulation, feeding systems, roller compaction, milling, and digital twin development.

* Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations for granular and particulate systems

* Multi-level coarse-graining for computationally efficient DEM simulations

* Population Balance Method (PBM)-DEM coupling for aggregation, granulation, and particle-size evolution

* Coarse-grained PBM-DEM frameworks for high-fidelity, accelerated simulations

* CFD-DEM modelling of particle-fluid and multiphase flows

* Wet granulation modelling and agglomeration dynamics

* Roller compaction, milling, and post-compaction particle dynamics

* Hopper, screw-feeder, and tablet-press feeder simulations

* Powder flow, mixing, segregation, and content-uniformity analysis

* Digital twins for pharmaceutical unit operations

* Machine learning and surrogate modelling for process simulation

* Industrial process modelling for pharmaceutical and particulate systems

Industrial and Collaborative Projects

Pfizer Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd.

Role: Senior Scientist, Process Modeller
Area: Pharmaceutical process modelling, digital twins, DEM/CFD-based process understanding

Projects worked on:

Roller Compaction and Milling DEM
Developed DEM-based models to study post-compaction dynamics, ribbon behaviour, granule formation, screen-size effects, and the influence of roll gap on downstream particle-size distribution.

Outcome:
The simulations helped understand how roll gap and screen size influence particle dynamics after roller compaction and milling. This work also resulted in a conference publication on roller compaction and mill-system dynamics.

Tata Steel

Role: Project Executive Officer / Project Postdoctoral Fellow, IIT Kanpur
Area: Industrial particulate flow modelling and simulation

Project:
Simulation-driven analysis of industrial particulate systems related to Tata Steel’s process requirements.

Outcome:
The project strengthened the application of DEM and particle-scale simulation methods to industrial-scale particulate systems and process-analysis problems.

Eli Lilly and AbbVie

Role: Co-investigator, IIT Kharagpur industrial project (during PhD)
Area: DEM simulation, coarse-graining, multi-level coarse-graining
Project value: USD 35,000

Project:
Development of computationally efficient DEM simulation methods for industrial particulate systems, with emphasis on coarse-grain and multi-level coarse-grain techniques.

Outcome:
The project led to the development of a novel multi-level coarse-graining technique, which reduced DEM simulation time by approximately one order. This work was published in Powder Technology as A particle location-based multi-level coarse-graining technique for Discrete Element Method simulation.

ITC

Role: Co-investigator, IIT Kharagpur industrial project (during PhD)
Area: CFD-DEM simulation
Project value: USD 7,500

Project:
CFD-DEM simulation of industrial particulate-flow systems.

Outcome:
The project involved coupled particle-fluid modelling to support industrial process understanding using CFD-DEM simulations.

Academic and International Collaborations

My research has involved collaborations with academic and industrial researchers from IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Ropar, Rutgers University, University of Limerick, Eli Lilly, AbbVie, Tata Steel, and ITC. These collaborations have contributed to publications and projects in DEM, PBM-DEM coupling, coarse-graining, wet granulation, feeder systems, roller compaction, and industrial particulate process modelling.