Dr. Zeena S. Pillai is a distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, with over two decades of experience in teaching and research. She holds a Ph.D. in Photochemistry and has completed prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in the United States at the University of Notre Dame and Florida State University. Her research spans organic photochemistry, supramolecular chemistry, nanochemistry, and phytochemistry, with a growing focus on sustainable technologies and Ayurvedic formulations. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters, and has led multiple interdisciplinary research projects. Dr. Pillai has received numerous accolades, including the AIRA Research Award (2025), Best Academician Award (2023), and an Erasmus Mundus Professorship. As a curriculum developer and key contributor to the MHRD Virtual Labs project, she plays a vital role in educational innovation. Her academic excellence, research leadership, and commitment to advancing science make her a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award.
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Dr. Zeena S. Pillai completed her M.Sc. in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University in 1996 and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Photochemistry from the Photonics and Photosciences Division at NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, affiliated with the University of Kerala, in 2002. Her academic excellence was evident early on, qualifying national competitive exams such as the CSIR-UGC NET and GATE in 1997. She also received the prestigious CSIR Junior and Senior Research Fellowships, supporting her doctoral research. Post-Ph.D., she was awarded competitive postdoctoral research fellowships, first at the Radiation Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, and later at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, USA. These positions provided her with significant exposure to cutting-edge international research. Her academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied chemistry, combined with a global outlook and a consistent record of achievement across all stages of her education.
Dr. Zeena S. Pillai brings a wealth of professional experience in both academia and research, marked by a consistent trajectory of growth and leadership. She began her career as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame (2001–2003) and later at Florida State University (2003–2004), where she worked on photochemical systems and supramolecular materials. Returning to India, she held teaching roles at R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore (2006), and NSS College for Women, Trivandrum (2008). Since 2009, she has served as a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus. Her responsibilities have included curriculum development, Ph.D. supervision, and spearheading interdisciplinary research initiatives. She has also served as a subject expert in MHRD’s Virtual Labs project under the National Mission on Education through ICT. Her career reflects a blend of research innovation, pedagogical excellence, and national-level academic contribution.
Dr. Zeena S. Pillai’s research is rooted in interdisciplinary and application-driven chemical sciences. Her primary areas of interest include organic photochemistry, supramolecular chemistry, nanochemistry, phytochemistry, and photodynamic therapy. She has explored functional materials such as dendrimers, host–guest systems, and hemicyanines with applications in sensing, drug delivery, and luminescence. She also contributes to sustainable and green chemistry through research on ionic liquids, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and carbon capture technologies. Notably, her work bridges traditional systems of medicine and modern chemistry, with several studies on Ayurvedic compounds and ethnobotanicals for pharmacological applications. Dr. Pillai’s active research includes both experimental and theoretical components, as reflected in her numerous publications in high-impact journals like Nature (NPG Asia Materials) and The Electrochemical Society. Her work exemplifies a commitment to solving real-world challenges using modern chemical science while maintaining a strong academic and ethical research foundation.
Dr. Zeena S. Pillai has been recognized for her research excellence and academic leadership through numerous awards and honors. Recently, she received the AIRA Research Award (2025) from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and the Best Academician Award (2023) from InAsc. Her international reputation was highlighted by her selection for the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Visiting Professorship at the University of Bologna, Italy, in 2010 and 2011. Earlier in her career, she earned the highly competitive CSIR Junior and Senior Research Fellowships, along with a National Talent Scholarship from India’s Ministry of Education. She also cleared national-level competitive exams such as the CSIR-UGC NET and GATE in Chemistry. These recognitions validate not only the scientific merit of her work but also her contributions to capacity-building in higher education and research. Dr. Pillai’s consistent record of academic distinction and award-winning scholarship strengthens her candidacy for any research-focused honors.
In conclusion, Dr. Zeena S. Pillai stands out as a highly accomplished academic and researcher in the field of chemical sciences. With a solid educational foundation, substantial international research experience, and a deep commitment to interdisciplinary and socially relevant science, she has built a career marked by both scholarly excellence and impactful teaching. Her contributions span from foundational photochemistry to applied research in nanomaterials and Ayurvedic compounds, illustrating a rare blend of tradition and innovation. With over 30 research publications, several book chapters, and leadership roles in national education initiatives, she continues to inspire future generations of scientists. Her awards, fellowships, and invited positions further affirm her role as a thought leader in her discipline. As a result, Dr. Pillai is exceptionally well-qualified for recognition through honors such as the Best Researcher Award, which would be a fitting acknowledgment of her dedication, impact, and ongoing contributions to science and education.
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Title: What factors control the size and shape of silver nanoparticles in the citrate ion reduction method?
Authors: ZS Pillai, PV Kamat
Year: 2004
Citations: 1092
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Title: Photoinduced Charge Transfer between CdSe Quantum Dots and p-Phenylenediamine
Authors: SN Sharma, ZS Pillai, PV Kamat
Year: 2003
Citations: 300
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Title: The VALUE@ Amrita Virtual Labs Project: Using web technology to provide virtual laboratory access to students
Authors: K Achuthan, KS Sreelatha, S Surendran, S Diwakar, P Nedungadi, ZS Pillai, et al.
Year: 2011
Citations: 90
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Title: Chemistry of cyanine dyes—A review
Authors: GS Gopika, PMH Prasad, AG Lekshmi, S Lekshmypriya, S Sreesaila, ZS Pillai
Year: 2021
Citations: 78
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Title: Dendrimers as Nd3+ ligands: Effect of Generation on the Efficiency of the Sensitized Lanthanide Emission
Authors: ZS Pillai, P Ceroni, M Kubeil, JM Heldt, H Stephan, G Bergamini
Year: 2013
Citations: 19
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Title: Effect of viscosity on the singlet-excited state dynamics of some hemicyanine dyes
Authors: ZS Pillai, PK Sudeep, KG Thomas
Year: 2003
Citations: 18
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Title: Spectroelectrochemistry of aromatic amine oxidation: an insight into the indo dye formation
Authors: ZS Pillai, PV Kamat
Year: 2005
Citations: 17
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Title: Emerging organic electrode materials for sustainable batteries
Authors: PM Hari Prasad, G Malavika, A Pillai, S Sadan, ZS Pillai
Year: 2024
Citations: 11
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Title: The stability of the superhydrophobic surfaces
Authors: JS Jayan, D Jayadev, ZS Pillai, K Joseph, A Saritha
Year: 2019
Citations: 10
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Title: A review on synthesis and various pharmacological aspects of Rhinacanthin-C with special emphasis on antidiabetic activity
Authors: AS Kumar, M Leema, S Sridevi, S Sreesaila, LJ Anil, M Mohit, H Krishnan, ZS Pillai
Year: 2021
Citations: 7
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Title: Characterization of superhydrophobic polymer coating
Authors: D Jayadev, JS Jayan, ZS Pillai, K Joseph, A Saritha
Year: 2019
Citations: 6
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Title: Synthesis of silver nanoparticles from a bioactive precursor
Authors: M Leema, G Sreekumar, A Sivan, ZS Pillai
Year: 2019
Citations: 4
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Title: Lanthanide Terpyridine‐Based Assemblies: Towards Dual Luminescent Probes
Authors: JK Molloy, Z Pillai, J Sakamoto, P Ceroni, G Bergamini
Year: 2015
Citations: 4
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Title: Synthesis and antibacterial screening of novel derivatives of embelin
Authors: L Subramanian, M Leema, NS Pradeep, B Joy, ZS Pillai
Year: 2018
Citations: 3
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Title: Synthesis and fine tuning of MOF for hydrogen storage
Authors: ZS Pillai, PPMH Prasad, ASA Latheef, A Pillai
Year: 2023
Citations: 2