Dr. Elumalai is currently a research scientist at the Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), India. He obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering discipline from the Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu. He then moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) for gaining the post-doctoral experience. His current research at CIAB, Mohali focuses on the thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass materials to high-value platform molecules (bulk chemicals). The principal activities of his research work include the development of protocols for the selective isolation of biomass constituents like lignin and hemicellulose for the synthesis of low molecular weight compounds, catalytic conversion of cellulose/glucose to fructose and further to levulinic acid and its kinetic modelling. He has about 20 peer reviewed publications, three book chapter contributions, and two patents filed and one granted patent.