Hunaid Nulwala, Ph.D., is a polymer scientist, entrepreneur, and educator whose career spans academia, industry, and government. He is focused on developing advanced polymer solutions to address global challenges in clean energy, carbon management, and sustainable manufacturing. He aims to impact over 100 million lives through transformative materials technologies positively.
Dr. Nulwala earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the Rochester Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. in Chemistry (Materials) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, under Professor Craig Hawker. He completed postdoctoral research at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), where he worked on advanced materials for carbon capture and energy systems—laying the foundation for his interdisciplinary, impact-driven research.
Previously an Associate Research Professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Dr. Nulwala led federally funded research programs on sustainable materials, CO₂ separations, and electrochemical solutions. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and is named on 20 patents, with innovations spanning recyclable polymers, membranes, ionic liquids, and reactive monomers. His work is widely recognized for its ability to translate scientific discovery into real-world applications.
Now focused full-time on entrepreneurship, Dr. Nulwala founded multiple cleantech ventures that develop polymer-based technologies for applications such as recycling, energy storage, corrosion protection, and carbon utilization. His materials have been successfully piloted with compounders and feedstock partners to unlock new recycling pathways for post-consumer polypropylene (PP) waste streams.
Across these ventures, Dr. Nulwala has raised over $10 million in funding through federal grants, strategic partnerships, and private investment. His work consistently targets scalable, polymer-based solutions to industrial and environmental challenges.
A builder of teams and innovation ecosystems, Dr. Nulwala is deeply committed to mentorship and entrepreneurial leadership. He has trained dozens of scientists, engineers, and startup founders, helping them transition ideas from lab to market. He also works with young students and early-career professionals to spark interest in materials science and entrepreneurship, creating new pathways into cleantech and advanced manufacturing.
His experience includes high-impact collaborations with national laboratories, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. These partnerships have accelerated the commercialization of sustainable materials technologies and built strong bridges between research and deployment.
As an entrepreneur, Dr. Nulwala brings a rare blend of technical depth, business insight, and strategic vision. He believes the next generation of materials companies must deliver high performance and enable circularity, carbon mitigation, and scalable sustainability. He is helping redefine industrial innovation through his ventures—creating materials that matter for a cleaner, smarter, and more circular world.