Akansha Mehta

Dr. Akansha Mehta is a Researcher at the Department of Glass Processing, FunGlass Centre for Functional and Surface Functionalized Glass at Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín, Slovakia. Her work focuses on sustainable materials development with emphasis on waste valorization and environmental applications.

Education:

• Ph.D. (Chemistry) from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, India (2015-2018)
• M.Sc. (Chemistry) from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, India (2013-2015)
• B.Sc. (General Chemistry) from Kurukshetra University, Thanesar, Haryana, India (2010-2013)

Dr. Mehta's research spans multiple areas of sustainable materials science, with particular expertise in waste glass upcycling, photocatalysis, and water treatment technologies. Her work bridges fundamental materials science with practical environmental applications, developing innovative solutions for converting industrial waste into functional materials. She has made significant contributions to the development of highly porous ceramic membranes, additive manufacturing of glass ceramics, and photocatalytic systems for environmental remediation. Her interdisciplinary approach combines materials synthesis, characterization, and application testing to address pressing environmental challenges.

Analysis of Dr. Mehta's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on sustainable materials development, particularly in waste valorization and environmental applications. Her work demonstrates a progression from fundamental photocatalytic mechanisms to practical applications in water treatment. The research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between materials science, environmental engineering, and chemical engineering, with increasing emphasis on 3D printing technologies for sustainable material fabrication.

Scientific Awards:

• L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science, Slovakia (2023)
• ACS Best Presentation Award (2022)
• Best Poster Award at National Conference on Material Science (2018)
• MRSI Scholarship for student talk at IIT Mumbai (2017)

Dr. Mehta actively supervises PhD students, currently serving as primary supervisor for Maria Waqar's research on "Upcycling of industrial waste glass into valuable components for water treatment applications" and co-supervisor for Mansi Dua's work on "Additive manufacturing of advanced porous and photocatalytic glass ceramic wastewater purifying membranes." Her research is supported by multiple grants including Horizon 2020 project FunGlass (2017-2024), Slovenian Research Agency project P2-0337, and VEGA national Slovak grant (1/0110/23) where she serves as Principal Investigator.

Dr. Mehta leads research within the FunGlass Centre, collaborating with international partners including University of Padova (Italy), CEITEC (Czech Republic), and multiple industrial partners such as Nuova Ompi, Stevanato Group Italy, and RONA. Her team focuses on developing advanced materials for environmental applications, particularly 3D printed photocatalytic membranes and electrodes for water treatment systems.