Harsh Vardhan received his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 2009 from the University of Delhi, India, and his master's degree in chemistry in 2013 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He earned two PhDs: one in materials physics and chemistry in 2016 from Wuhan University of Technology, China, and the other in chemistry in 2020 from the University of South Florida. Currently, he is a postdoctoral research associate and Rice Academy junior fellow at Rice University, where he is leading two projects related to covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for environmental applications and separations. In the first, his focus is the selective adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using ionic COFs and the development of 3D COFs for selective bromine removal in aqueous environments. The second — gram-scale synthesis of COFs under ambient conditions to facilitate commercialization — represents one of the pioneering studies demonstrating a benchtop approach for fabricating gram-scale COFs of varying topologies. His doctoral and postdoctoral research has resulted in 24 peer-reviewed publications, collectively cited 1,116+ times. Long term, Vardhan will address key environmental remediation challenges through three distinct research thrusts: PFAS adsorption and degradation from water; sustainable photoredox catalysis; and advancing atmospheric water harvesting. One of the hallmarks of his teaching plan is mistake-based learning, in which he allows students to correct exams and take quizzes multiple times, helping them learn through reflection rather than fear of failure.

Research Interests

Materials science, environmental remediation, Catalysis