WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Vilas Pol, professor of chemical engineering at Purdue University’s Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, has been elected as a Life Fellow by the Indian Chemical Society (ICS).

Being elected as a Life Fellow is a prestigious honor that highlights researchers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of chemistry or chemical engineering. It is a lifelong recognition of professional excellence, leadership, and an outstanding commitment to the scientific community around the world.

At Purdue, Pol leads the Vilas Pol Energy Research (ViPER) group, which focuses on developing synthesized tailored energy storage materials through innovative synthesis methods, studying engineering fundamentals, and enhancing electrochemical properties, with a particular focus on ultralow temperature performance and thermal safety. His ViPER group holds the Guinness World Record for the "Lowest temperature to charge a lithium-ion battery" at -100°C (-148°F).

Pol has taught at Purdue since 2014 and currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Battery and Energy Storage Pillar at the Purdue Institute for Energy Innovation. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Society of Arts, and the World Technology Network, as well as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

To learn more about Professor Pol’s research group and his recent Guiness World Record, visit his research website here.