Dr. Pranab Kumar Patra is a seasoned scientific leader with deep expertise in synthetic organic and process chemistry. Currently serving as Head of R&D at Adama India, he brings over two decades of experience across global academic institutions and leading chemical and pharmaceutical organizations. His core competencies include route scouting, process development, scale-up, and sustainable manufacturing with a strong focus on reducing cost of goods (CoGs) through innovative chemistry and technology integration.

Dr. Patra has held senior leadership roles such as Vice President of Chemistry R&D at Sajjan India Ltd. and Head of Process Innovation at PI Industries, where he established world-class R&D capabilities, drove the development of novel active ingredients, and led strategic projects in crop protection and pharmaceuticals. His prior role as Head of Science and Technology at Jubilant Biosys saw him oversee drug discovery collaborations and IND-enabling development, including work on Darolutamide (NUBEQA®) and advanced flow chemistry.

With specialized knowledge in sulfur and heterocyclic chemistry, catalysis (homogeneous and heterogeneous), and the safe handling of hazardous reagents, Dr. Patra has contributed to multiple patented technologies and commercialized processes. He has a robust background in analytical science (UV, HPLC, NMR, MS, IR, SEM/TEM) and is highly proficient in cheminformatics and chemical IT tools like SciFinder-n, Reaxys, Chemdraw, and DOE platforms.

Dr. Patra’s academic accolades include prestigious international fellowships—JSPS (Japan), Alexander von Humboldt (Germany), and NSC (Taiwan)—where he conducted cutting-edge research in organometallic synthesis, thiol chemistry, and nanomaterials. He earned his Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry through joint work at North-Eastern Hill University and IIT Kanpur.

He is the author of 25 research publications in reputed journals (including Green Chemistry and Angewandte Chemie) and holds 17 patents, many in crop protection chemistry. Known for his collaborative and ethical leadership style, Dr. Patra is committed to mentoring talent, promoting safety, and fostering innovation-driven growth in the chemical sciences.