Kakasaheb Nandiwale
Principal Scientist - Automation & Robotics Chemical R & d @Pfizer
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WORK HISTORY
Principal Scientist - Automation & Robotics Chemical R & d @Pfizer
Groton, CT, US
Architect and deploy advanced AI platforms & web applications for automated analysis of scientific documents and manufacturing records, integrating multi-modal LLMs, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), Optical Chemical Structure Recognition (OCSR), Optical Character Recognition, & Vision Language Models with Dataiku DSS.• Lead collaborations with MIT- Machine Learning for Pharmaceutical Discovery & Synthesis (MLPDS) Consortium to facilitate the software design for the automation of small molecule discovery & synthesis.• Develop and implement synergistic digital tools & ML solutions to drive laboratory automation & self-optimizing workflows.• Design, prototype, and deliver cutting-edge laboratory automation platforms for API process development, flow chemistry, & continuous manufacturing.• Implement robotic control systems & scalable data management infrastructure to enhance laboratory efficiency & data integrity.• Enable data-rich experimentation through advanced analytics, computer vision, & emerging technologies.• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering sciences, process chemistry, & FAST to deliver innovative solutions for pharmaceutical development.• Lead & mentor colleagues and co-ops to achieve strategic innovations.• Represent Pfizer at university career fairs and lead recruitment of co-ops/interns.• Build partnerships with academia and external vendors by inviting expert speakers to accelerate technology innovation and foster new collaborations.• Delivered invited plenary talks on \"AI-Driven Automated Platforms for Self-Optimization of Continuous Flow Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals\" at- University of Connecticut, Dept. of Chemistry, Modern Methods for Pharmaceutical Development (April 14, 2025)- Acceleration Consortium, University of British Columbia, Canada (August 6, 2024)- Boston-Xtalpi Accelerated Drug Discovery Symposium (June 6, 2024)- The University of Kansas, CEBC (November 21, 2023).
EDUCATION
The University of Kansas
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with Honors, Chemical Engineering
University Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT)
Master of Technology (M.Tech.), Chemical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Chemical Engineering
Navyug Vidyalaya, Badole (BK), Akkalkot, Solapur, Maharashtra
SSC
Stevens Institute of Technology
Graduate Program, Management of Artificial Intelligence
KIT's College of Engineering Kolhapur (Empowered Autonomous)
Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Biotechnology
Fergusson College
HSC, Science
SKILLS
ABOUT KAKASAHEB NANDIWALE
I am a Principal Scientist – Automation and Robotics at Pfizer PSSM Chemical Research and Development (Groton, CT, USA), where I drive innovation in pharmaceutical API development and continuous manufacturing. My expertise sits at the intersection of chemical engineering, automation and robotics, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on building AI‑native laboratories.My postdoctoral research at MIT with Prof. Klavs F. Jensen focused on developing advanced CSTR platforms for multiphase and photochemical reactions, along with AI‑driven self‑optimization and machine‑learning algorithms for flow chemistry. I earned my Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas and previously contributed to catalytic process development for biomass valorization at CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, India.At Pfizer, I advance automated robotic laboratory infrastructure and deploy AI/ML solutions to accelerate pharmaceutical API development. My work includes designing AI architectures and internal scientific web applications for analysis of scientific documents and manufacturing records. I integrate multimodal large language models (LLMs), Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), Optical Chemical Structure Recognition (OCSR), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Vision‑Language Models (VLMs), and Hugging Face Transformers within enterprise platforms such as Dataiku DSS, tightly coupled with laboratory automation.I have authored peer‑reviewed publications and regularly deliver invited talks at AIChE and international academic and industry forums. I am passionate about leveraging automation, robotics, and generative AI to revolutionize pharmaceutical chemical research and development, mentor scientists and engineers, and enable autonomous experimentation.Key Areas of Focus:• Multimodal GenAI (LLMs, VLMs, RAG, Knowledge Graphs)• AI/ML‑Driven Lab Automation & Robotics• Flow Chemistry & Continuous Manufacturing• API Process Development & Process Intelligence• Self‑Optimizing, Closed‑Loop Experimental Systems• Scientific Software & Digital TransformationLet’s connect to discuss chemical engineering innovation, AI‑native laboratories, autonomous experimentation, and the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing.Links:• MIT Profile: https://jensenlab.mit.edu/kakasaheb-nandiwale/• Google Scholar: Email: k••••••••@gmail.com
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