Vijay Kumar

Roles and Affiliations: Vijay Kumar is an Associate Professor and Docent in Textile Management at the University of Borås, Sweden, within the Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business. He holds a PhD from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme in Sustainable Management and Design for Textiles, with research contributions across Université Lille 1, Soochow University, and the University of Borås. His academic roles include membership in the Research Education Committee for Social and Human Sciences at the University of Borås (2024–Present) and serving as an internal environmental auditor since 2021.

Education:

• PhD: Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme (SMDTex), 2010–2014
• M.Tech: Textile Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), India
• B.Tech: Textile Engineering, Himachal Pradesh University (JN Govt. Engineering College), India

Research Interests: Dr. Kumar's research focuses on two core axes:

1. System-Level Modeling: Exploring dynamics of textile processes and value chains using data-driven methods (e.g., discrete event simulations, AI, system dynamics). Key topics include traceability, circular business models, and predictive analytics for textile systems.
2. Analytical Modeling of Textile Materials: Investigating structural parameters of materials like nonwovens, carbon nanotube assemblies, and absorptive glass mats. Techniques include micromechanics and stochastic modeling to understand material behavior under diverse conditions.

His work bridges theory and application, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to advance sustainable textile systems.

Publications: His research spans leading journals such as Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, Advanced Materials Interfaces, and Sustainability. Recent work emphasizes textile actuators, blockchain-based traceability, and AI-driven supply chain optimization. Articles often address sustainability challenges, such as circular economy practices and material science innovations.

Grants and Projects: Dr. Kumar has led or co-led projects funded by Vinnova, Formas, EU Horizon/H2020, and Swedish ESF Council, among others. These projects address textile recycling, smart manufacturing, and supply chain resilience.

Advising and Editorial Roles: He supervises doctoral students in textile systems and materials science. Editorial contributions include roles as Academic Editor for PLOS ONE and member of the editorial board for Advanced Materials & Sustainable Manufacturing.

Labs and Teams: His research involves interdisciplinary collaborations, including work on textile muscle fibers, electroactive polymers, and sustainable manufacturing processes. Key projects involve partners like Linköping University and the University of Manchester.