Pavel Kots

Pavel Kots is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. His research focuses on catalytic processes for plastic waste upcycling, with a mission to transition to a circular economy. He leads the Laboratory for Sustainable Catalytic Processes (LSCP), which designs catalysts and reactors to convert waste plastics into valuable chemicals, fuels, and lubricants.

Education: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2018); M.S. in Chemistry (Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2014). Prior to NYU, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Delaware (2019–2023) and a Process Development Engineer at Evonik (2023–2024).

Research interests include heterogeneous catalysis, decarbonization, process intensification, and reactor design. His lab bridges fundamental catalysis with industrial scale-up, emphasizing energy-efficient, low-temperature processes for contaminated plastic streams. Key innovations involve earth-abundant catalysts and microwave-assisted pyrolysis for selective conversion.

Grants and collaborations focus on industry partnerships to advance plastic recycling technologies. The lab's broader impact includes advancing sustainable manufacturing and reducing environmental plastic pollution.