Alumni Highlight: Dr. Silabrata Pahari

Dr. Silabrata Pahari (Ph.D. ’24): Researcher at ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company (EMTEC)

This month’s Alumni Journeys features Dr. Silabrata Pahari who is making a significant impact as a researcher at ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company (EMTEC) at the intersection of research innovation and sustainable process development.

Specializing in process scale-up, Dr. Pahari’s work spans phenomenological and multiscale modeling, chemical process control, and optimization. He plays a key role in developing processes for novel materials and emerging energy products, with a clear focus on lowering carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. “My role involves advancing chemical process modeling and control solutions that help scale up new technologies efficiently and responsibly,” Dr. Pahari explains.

Dr. Pahari earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University in August 2024, under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Kwon. His doctoral work focused on first-principles multiscale modeling, advanced process control, and hybrid modeling. Toward the end of his program, he began exploring the integration of large language models with first-principles frameworks—pioneering a path toward more generalized and robust hybrid modeling techniques.  Dr. Pahari reflected, “That experience not only advanced my technical skills but also opened up exciting avenues at the interface of AI and engineering.”

Leadership Beyond the Lab

While research was central to his time at A&M, Dr. Pahari highlights his involvement in student organizations as equally transformative. He held leadership roles in the Texas A&M Energy Research Society, the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association (ChEGSA), and was a Tex-E Fellow at Greentown Labs.

“These experiences sharpened my leadership, communication, and event management skills,” he shared. “Organizing conferences like the ChEGSA Symposium and the Texas A&M Energy Conference taught me how to lead teams, coordinate logistics, and engage with professionals across the energy sector.”

Dr. Pahari served as Vice President of ChEGSA during 2021–2022, “It  [ChEGSA] pushed me outside the typical academic environment and helped me develop time management and interpersonal skills in a real-world context. Organizing the Annual Symposium taught me how to fundraise, budget, and adapt quickly when plans changed. Plus, it was fun—I really enjoyed bringing our student community together for creative and social events.”

Advice for Current Graduate Students

Looking back, Dr. Pahari encourages current graduate students to embrace both research and community involvement, “Texas A&M offers a fantastic platform to conduct impactful research in a collaborative setting. But don’t overlook the value of student organizations like ChEGSA and ERS. They offer a unique chance to develop soft skills, build lasting friendships, and tap into the power of the Aggie alumni network. These relationships will serve you well throughout your career.”

If you would like to learn more from Dr. Pahari, you can connect with him at  LinkedIn (click here to visit his profile).