Polymers have strong potential to contribute to the future of bio-based plastics, which are increasingly important for reducing environmental impact and moving towards more sustainable manufacturing technologies.
Sachin Gupta, our next pathbreaker, R&D Polymer Chemist at Radiant Color NV (Belgium), works on designing and developing novel resin systems that can be used in applications such as sealants, coatings, and adhesives.
Sachin talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about a memorable project in Germany where he worked on the development of novel resin systems for 3D printing based on bio-based and biodegradable monomers.
For students, learn to evaluate your options clearly and choose the best available path. If you truly have only one viable option, then give it your full focus and energy
Sachin, tell us what were your “growing up” years like?
I was born and raised in Delhi in a family that operated a small textile business. During my childhood, I witnessed my father’s business suffer heavy losses, which eventually pushed our family into a serious financial crisis. Despite these hardships, my parents strongly believed that education was the only path to a better future. They made tremendous sacrifices, even selling family gold, to ensure that my siblings and I could continue studying in a good private school. Watching their determination during difficult times deeply shaped my personality and motivated me to build a financially independent and successful future through education and hard work.
From an early age, I was naturally interested in science and analytical thinking, which led me to choose Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Engineering Drawing as my major subjects in high school. Alongside academics, I actively participated in extracurricular activities such as singing, swimming, basketball, and computer-related competitions. These activities helped me develop confidence, discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills. I was always enthusiastic about learning new things, and I still remember how exciting it felt during my early computer classes when creating a perfect square in Microsoft Paint seemed like a remarkable achievement. Small experiences like these sparked my curiosity towards technology and problem-solving.
I also attended personality development programs during my school years, where I learned how to handle criticism, manage challenges, and build resilience.
As I entered the 11th standard, I became highly focused on academics because I understood that strong academic performance was essential for gaining admission into a reputed college, especially for someone from a financially constrained background. Although, I do not link good scores with good talent, unfortunately it was linked that way by society. Through dedication and consistent hard work, I achieved high scores in my 12th standard examinations and secured a good rank in the AIEEE engineering entrance exam. However, due to financial limitations, pursuing engineering was not possible for me.
Overall, my background taught me the importance of resilience, focus, and perseverance.
In short, a child coming from a financially weak family could only dream of having financial freedom—for which—focus, hard work and dedication were the only tools I had.
What did you do for graduation/post-graduation?
I secured admission to Hansraj College, one of the most reputed colleges of University of Delhi, known not only for its strong academic environment but also for the vibrant culture of Delhi University’s North Campus. Initially, my first preference was Mathematics Honors. However, by the time my admission process was completed, the seats in that program were already filled. Since the Chemistry department at Hansraj College was highly regarded and seats were still available, I decided to pursue Chemistry Honors instead. I did a bachelor’s and master’s in chemistry from Hansraj College.
Looking back, this decision became an important lesson in adaptability. Life does not always provide the opportunity to choose the perfect path; sometimes success comes from making the best use of the opportunities available. What initially felt like a compromise gradually developed into a genuine academic interest and eventually shaped my professional career.
Later, I then did a PhD from Charles University in collaboration with the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. All the laboratory work was performed at the institute while the PhD degree was awarded by Charles University.
Do you recollect any strong influences that led you to a career in Research?
I would say that both my mentors and my family circumstances played a major role in shaping my career path. While my natural interest in science gave me direction, it was not solely enough. Throughout my school and college years, several mentors recognized my learning ability and consistently motivated me to aim higher. Even today, I remain in touch with some of them, and it is deeply rewarding to see how proud and happy they feel watching me achieve the goals I once dreamed about.
At the same time, my family’s financial struggles constantly reminded me of the importance of building a stable and secure career. I could have joined my father in rebuilding the family business, but the uncertainty associated with it made me realize that pursuing higher education and establishing myself professionally was the more practical path for me. From an early stage, securing a good job and becoming financially independent became one of my strongest motivations.
I have always believed that business opportunities can come at any stage of life, but education has a limited window of time. Therefore, it is important to recognize the opportunities that align with one’s strengths and pursue them with complete dedication. During my time at Hansraj College, I also served as a Placement Cell Coordinator, where I helped students prepare for opportunities in reputed companies. That experience gave me valuable exposure to career planning, communication, and professional networking. More importantly, it made me realize that while I was helping others secure jobs, I also needed to strategically prepare myself for the career I aspired to build.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path
Due to the unstable family circumstances, I started getting a feeling that I would not be able to succeed if I lived here. Thus, I started looking for moving abroad. I had to step outside my comfort zone to have a comfortable life for a longer period. That realization motivated me to search for international opportunities. I spent countless hours in cyber cafes researching pathways to study abroad, and I soon understood that pursuing a PhD was one of the most realistic options for someone with strong academic interests but limited financial resources.
With determination, I applied to more than 300 PhD positions across different countries. I also prepared for TOEFL and IELTS examinations and achieved competitive scores, which eventually helped me secure an offer from Imperial College London. Although I received a Presidential Scholarship covering nearly 50% of the tuition fees, arranging the remaining amount—approximately 60 lakhs INR—was beyond my family’s financial capacity. I sat for interviews for prestigious scholarships such as the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, but unfortunately, I was unsuccessful. At that stage, I realized how the whole system was unapproachable for a simple boy like me without any financial support. Fortunately, through a job site, I then secured a position at Dabur Research & Development Center in Delhi, which became a major turning point in my career.
At Dabur, I was working in analytical R&D, developing new methods for analysis of products from Dabur (such as Chyawanprash, Honey, Gripe water, Rose water, etc.). During my two years there, I gained valuable industrial experience, strengthened my technical skills, and matured professionally. However, my dream of pursuing a PhD abroad remained alive alongside my professional growth.
With emotional and financial support from a few genuine friends who believed in me, I eventually moved to Taiwan to pursue a fully funded PhD program.
Indeed, Taiwan was not my first choice either. But in my quest for an “international” PhD study, an opportunity in Taiwan came along my way and I took it. Once I was there, I felt that it is not that bad, as we might think. I was involved in several projects ranging from organic synthesis of pheromones (e.g. for rice, litchi insects) to working on polymer chemistry (i.e., using waste products from crude oil to prepare flame retardant polymers). My years there exposed me to a new academic and cultural environment and taught me many valuable “life (love & hate)” lessons, both personally and professionally. However, after facing several unwanted issues (such as irresponsible PhD supervisor), I realized that Taiwan was not the place where I envisioned my long-term future. Instead of remaining in an environment that did not align with my goals, I made another bold decision. I applied for the prestigious UNESCO-IUPAC program and was selected for a 10-month research course in Prague. I decided to quit my PhD in Taiwan and restart my academic journey in Prague.
That phase of my life taught me the importance of calculated risk-taking, critical planning, and timely execution. I ensured that despite major transitions, there was no break in my professional development. During my PhD studies in Prague, I worked extensively on polymer and analytical research, built strong international networks, and earned opportunities to undertake internships in Slovakia and Canada.
While the overall area of research was polymer chemistry, the sub-topics were different. During my PhD in Prague, I worked on developing new initiating systems through which one can modify natural polymers (i.e., cellulose) and grow synthetic polymers giving natural-synthetic hybrids. This study was ground-breaking in its own sense, as it was not easy until then to modify, for example cellulose which is present everywhere in nature and can be used for many interesting applications. On the other hand, I also developed several new post-polymerization modification techniques, through which one can prepare totally new class of polymers, especially for bio-applications.
Yes, I received scholarship for whole duration of PhD study. In addition, the PhD program was designed very differently, where the true enrollment was done at Charles University but the research work was conducted at Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry which is associated with Czech Academy of Sciences.
During my PhD years in Prague, I secured internships opportunities firstly in Slovakia and then in Canada. These were outcomes of my outgoing nature and interactive sessions with professors/researchers during the conferences. All the internships were also fully sponsored by the receiving sides.
All that hard work and persistence eventually paid off when I secured a postdoctoral position at Heidelberg University in a globally recognized research group specializing in advanced 3D printing technologies.
At Heidelberg university, I worked on a project where I had to develop new resins (or you can call it “inks”) that can be used for 3D printing using light. The “gamechanger” in the overall project was that the new resin had to be fully biobased, and the printed structures should be biodegradable, thereby making whole process also bio economical. This was quite challenging as biobased compounds are often very chemically stable and do not easily react further.
The topic was totally different than my PhD topic, but the professor saw the can-do attitude in me and offered me the postdoc position in her lab. The project was completed to great extent. You will see the results out soon.
Indeed, chemistry and 3D printing are a unique combination, but everything you see around yourself is because of chemistry (e.g., the food, the air, the water, the plants, houses, chairs, pens, phones, computers, etc.). 3D printing is also possible because of the inks that are chemically designed to be printed either using light or heat.
How did you get your first break?
I would say that my career journey has been shaped by several important breakthrough moments, and each of them came through initiative, persistence, and strategic decision-making. My first major break was securing a position at Dabur after proactively uploading my CV on various job portals and consistently applying for opportunities. That experience gave me my first exposure to industrial research and helped me build confidence in my professional abilities.
The second major turning point was my move to Taiwan for a fully funded PhD program. This opportunity came through networking and academic interactions. I had connected with a professor at University of Delhi who had received an invited lectureship opportunity, and through discussions and guidance, I was able to explore possibilities abroad.
The opportunities that later took me to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Canada, and Germany were largely the result of careful planning, continuous factchecking, networking, and timely applications. I have always believed that opportunities rarely come by chance; they are often created through preparation and consistent effort.
During my one-year postdoc in Germany, I began exploring opportunities in the chemical industry and attended several competitive interviews. Eventually, I received three strong job offers, including one in the laboratory of a Nobel Laureate. Choosing between them was extremely challenging because each opportunity offered unique advantages. After carefully evaluating my long-term career goals, industrial exposure, and future growth opportunities, I decided to restart my industrial career in Belgium.
Looking back, my journey has been defined by persistence, adaptability, and the courage to take difficult decisions despite uncertainty. Every challenge strengthened my determination to continue growing both personally and professionally.
One habit that has helped me tremendously throughout my journey is learning from people’s experiences. I actively talk to individuals about both their successes and failures because understanding different perspectives broadens my thinking and helps me make more informed decisions in my own career and life.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: Limited Financial Resources
Financial limitations were one of the biggest challenges throughout my journey. To manage this, I constantly looked for ways to achieve the best possible opportunities with the limited resources available to me. During my time at Hansraj College, I gave tuition classes to school students and earned around 2,500 INR per month. That income helped me cover my daily commuting expenses, college fees, food, and basic academic needs. Later, when I started working at Dabur, I began earning a stable salary for the first time in my life. I saved as much as possible and used that money for important applications and examinations such as TOEFL and IELTS. At different stages, I also borrowed money to continue pursuing my goals, which I eventually repaid through my own earnings. These experiences taught me financial discipline, resilience, and the importance of long-term planning.
Challenge 2: Lack of Information and Guidance
Another major challenge was the lack of career-related guidance and exposure. In India, many students, especially those from modest backgrounds, are often unaware of international academic opportunities, scholarships, or career pathways because such information is rarely discussed in schools or colleges. Since I was the first person in my family to pursue science and dream of studying abroad, I had no direct guidance available. Therefore, I took the responsibility of educating myself. I spent countless hours researching online, reading about universities, scholarships, and career opportunities, and traveling across the city to meet people who could provide useful insights. This process taught me the importance of curiosity, networking, and self-learning. I realized that information does not come automatically— one must actively search for it and make informed decisions.
Challenge 3: Unstable Family Situations
Managing family expectations and emotional instability during crucial career-building years was also a significant challenge. During that phase, I made a conscious decision that I would focus on convincing only my parents rather than seeking validation from everyone around me. I assured them that I would take full responsibility for both the successes and failures of my decisions, whether financial, academic, or emotional. Although their support was not always aligned with my choices initially, I remained committed to my goals. For example, my parents strongly disagreed with my decision to leave my PhD program in Taiwan and restart my academic journey in Prague. However, I understood the realities of my situation more closely and believed it was the right decision for my future. I stayed firm, moved forward with confidence, and eventually my parents accepted and appreciated that decision when they saw the positive outcomes later in my career.
Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?
I currently work at the European Resin Center of Excellence at Radiant Colors in Belgium. My role is broadly divided into two key areas. The first focuses on new product development, where I work on designing and developing novel resin systems that can be used in applications such as sealants, coatings, and adhesives. The second involves leading analytical R&D activities, where I develop and optimize analytical methods for characterizing new products using advanced instrumentation such as GC-MS, GPC, rheometer, DSC, tensile tester, and XRF.
Radiant Color is the largest European manufacturer of daylight fluorescent pigments. They are used in agriculture, automobiles, textiles, cosmetics, security systems, etc. It is possible that the pink lipstick you see in a cosmetic store is made using color from Radiant Color. Additionally, the company also produces specialty resins that are used in sealants, adhesives, flame retardants, flooring applications.
Indeed, the work I do at Radiant Color R&D is a direct application of my PhD and postdoc work. The knowledge I gained in the field of polymer chemistry and analytical chemistry is pushing me north in my research.
What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills?
This role requires a strong combination of skills from synthetic chemistry, polymer science, and analytical chemistry. In addition, non-technical skills such as project management, teamwork, and communication are equally important. While my technical foundation was built through my B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D., as well as my research experience at Dabur, I developed my soft skills through continuous learning—by delivering presentations, attending conferences, participating in webinars, and engaging in discussions with researchers.
What’s a typical day like?
A typical day at work begins with checking emails and having informal discussions over coffee with team members to understand ongoing scientific challenges and plan experiments for the day. I then focus on experimental work until lunch. In the second half of the day, I work on analytical investigations and data interpretation. Occasionally, I also participate in meetings with the R&D Director as well as sales and marketing teams to ensure alignment on project progress and business requirements.
What I enjoy most about my role is the level of responsibility and trust I am given. I am entrusted with decision-making authority on several technical aspects, which makes the work both challenging and rewarding. This responsibility continuously pushes me to think critically, take ownership, and further develop my leadership skills in a real-world industrial environment.
How does your work benefit society?
From a non-scientific point of view, the impact of my work may not always be immediately visible. However, at its core, the research and development I am involved in contributes to addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges, such as plastic pollution and reduction of hazardous emissions.
While each individual contribution may seem small, I strongly believe that long-term solutions are built step by step through continuous scientific progress. In that sense, my work represents one part of a much larger collective effort. Over time, these incremental advancements can add up and meaningfully contribute to more sustainable materials and processes, helping to reduce environmental burden and prevent problems that could otherwise become increasingly difficult to manage in the future.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
On a scientific note, my research experience in Germany was one of the most memorable phases of my career. I worked on the development of novel resin systems for 3D printing based on bio-based and biodegradable monomers. It was highly advanced, interdisciplinary work at the interface of polymer chemistry and sustainable materials science. What made it particularly meaningful was its strong potential to contribute to the future of bio-based plastics, which are increasingly important for reducing environmental impact and moving toward more sustainable manufacturing technologies.
On a more personal and non-scientific level, I find equal satisfaction in contributing to people’s lives beyond the laboratory. Over time, I have helped several aspiring students navigate their academic and career paths abroad, and it is very fulfilling to see them doing well in their respective positions today. I continue to stay open to guiding and supporting students who are passionate and motivated, because I believe access to the right guidance at the right time can make a significant difference in shaping someone’s future.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
I would like to share a few practical pieces of advice for students based on my own experiences:
1. Be decisive and committed early on. Learn to evaluate your options clearly and choose the best available path. If you truly have only one viable option, then give it your full focus and energy. Half-hearted effort often leads to missed opportunities, so commitment is the only key once a decision is made.
2. Develop financial awareness as early as possible. Managing money is a skill I had to learn through experience. There are no shortcuts to it. Understanding how to budget, save, and plan financially can significantly reduce stress and help you make better long-term decisions.
3. Stay updated and plan strategically. Use every resource around you—books, mentors, internet, and peer networks—to stay informed. Importantly, not everything can be learned through the internet. Important lessons are learned by talking to real people and facing issues personally. Opportunities are always time-sensitive, and once a window closes, it may not return. That is why critical planning is essential. Even if things do not go exactly as planned, always have a backup plan (Plan B).
4. Work on improving your environment and mindset. Spend time with people who inspire you and who are achieving things you aspire to. Observing their habits, mindset, and lifestyle can naturally influence your own growth and help you elevate your standards over time.
5. Build opportunities through communication. Do not wait for opportunities to come to you. Actively talk to people, ask questions, and build connections. Many of the most important opportunities in life come through conversations and networking rather than direct applications.
Overall, growth comes from a combination of discipline, awareness, and proactive engagement with the world around you.
Future Plans?
The future is always uncertain, but my guiding principle is simple: to keep progressing steadily in my professional journey while staying grounded in my personal values and relationships.
I aim to continue climbing the ladder of professional growth through consistent learning, responsibility, and meaningful contributions to my field. At the same time, I believe it is equally important to remain humble, approachable, and connected to people around me, regardless of professional achievements. For me, true success is a balance between career advancement and maintaining a down-to-earth, respectful way of living.