DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Research Staff

Dr. Gisha Elizabeth Luckachan Research/Teaching Associate Arzanah Building, Room 344 Office: +971 2 607 5239 Fax: +971 2 607 5200 Email: gluckachan@pi.ac.ae

EDUCATION

• PhD., Polymer Chemistry, Cochin University of Science & Technology, India, 2008
• M.Sc., Chemistry, Mahatma Gandhi University, India, 1999
• B.Sc., Chemistry, Mahatma Gandhi University, India, 1997
  

Profile

Dr. Gisha Elizabeth Luckachan joined PI as a Research/Teaching Associate in December 2009. Before joining PI, she worked as a senior lecturer at Viswajyothy College of Engineering and Technology (VJCET) in India. She did her PhD at National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) India, in the area of biodegradable polymers which include synthesis, modification and characterization of polyethylene and polylactide copolymers. Expertise in biodegradable polymer synthesis from renewable resources. Moreover, a proficient in spectroscopic techniques. 

Research Interests

• Carbon nanotubes and foams supported catalysts, Catalysts characterization by Spectroscopic techniques, Biodegradable polymer synthesis

Teaching Interests

• General Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Spectroscopy

Awards

• Council of Scientific & Industrial Research Fellowship (CSIR) (2001-2006)

Research Publications: 

• G.E.Luckachan, J. Lissy, V.S. Prasad & C.K.S. Pillai, “Sugar end-capped polyethylene: ceric ammoniumnitrate initiated oxidation and melt phase grafting of glucose onto polyethylene and its microbial degradation,” Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 91, no. 7, pp. 1484-1494, 2005.
• G.E.Luckachan & C.K.S. Pillai, “Chitosan/oligo L-lactide graft copolymers: effect of hydrophobic side chains on the physico-chemical properties and biodegradability,” Carbohydrate Polymers, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 254-266, 2006.
• G.E. Luckachan & C.K.S. Pillai, “Random multiblock poly (ester amide)s containing poly (L-lactide) and cycloaliphatic amide segments: synthesis and biodegradation studies,” Journal of Polymer Science: Part A. Polymer Chemistry, vol. 44, no. 10, pp. 3250-3260, 2006.
• G.E. Luckachan & C.K.S. Pillai, “Polylactides and their copolymers: a review of their present status and future prospects,” Advavces in Polymer Science (to be communicated).