Dr. Virender K. Sharma received his Ph.D. from Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami in 1989. He is currently a professor at the department of Chemical, environmental, and materials of the University of Miami. Dr. Sharma has made seminal contributions in the areas of chemistry and environmental applications of ferrate. Ferrate is an earth-abundant iron-based molecule, in which iron is in the plus 6-oxidation state (FeVIO42-), i.e., it is depleted of its electrons, and hence can serve as an advanced material to perform as an efficient surface disinfectant in hospital settings and as a water treatment oxidant. Ferrate has demonstrated multiple roles in performing disinfection, coagulation, and oxidation in various applications. Examples include disinfecting chlorine-resistant bacteria (e.g., Clostridium difficile), inactivating viruses (e.g., Murine Norovirus), coagulating toxic metals (e.g., arsenic and lead), and oxidizing emerging contaminants (e.g., antibiotics) in water and urine. A wide range of recalcitrant pollutants in water can be degraded by “Activated Ferrate” (FeVO43- and (FeIVO44- or FeIVO32-)) in seconds, which would otherwise take several minutes to hours by ferrate without activation. The patents on ferrate technology have been issued to Dr. Sharma in the United States and abroad. Dr. Sharma has also performed pioneering research on engineered and natural nanoparticles in the environment. His research encompasses developing strategies to lower the levels of potentially toxic disinfection byproducts, arsenic, selenium, and lead in treatment processes. His research extends to advanced materials like metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and single-atom catalysts, tackling global challenges in water, food, energy, and healthcare sustainability. Dr. Sharma has made exceptional contributions in the field concerning the occurrence and remediation of toxins, antibiotics, antibiotics resistance bacteria and genes, and nanoparticles to address real-world challenges of water, energy, and food sustainability. The mission of Dr. Sharma is “Saving Lives even One Life”.
Dr. Sharma has published > 460 peer-reviewed journal publications, 60 book chapters, 36 proceedings, and has authored one book and edited seven books. He is the most published researcher on ferrate in the world. Dr. Sharma has been recognized as Highly Cited Researcher (Top 1 %) by the Clarivate (Web of Science) and Google Scholar citations: >46,000; H-Index 104). He has been globally ranked in the top 25 in citations in the fields of environmental science, environmental chemistry, water treatment, and environmental health. Currently, Dr. Sharma is serving as an associate editor or editorial member for several international journals.
His distinguished awards include Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, European Academy of Sciences, and Royal Society of Chemistry, Humboldt Research Award, Southwest Region ACS Research Award, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW), Steven K. Dentel AEESP Award for Global Outreach, Bush Excellence Award for International Research, Faculty Excellence in Research by Florida Tech, Outstanding Chemist by the American Chemical Society (Orlando Section), Outstanding Distinguished Scientist Award by Sigma Xi (Texas A&M University Chapter), a recipient of Invited Professorships in France and China. Dr. Sharma has given >220 invited/keynote presentations at universities/institutes on almost all continents of the world. In addition to outstanding accomplishments in environmental science and technology, Dr. Sharma is an excellent educator who has trained many undergraduate and graduate students. He is a great model for the young generation of scientists all over the world.