Dr. R. C. Naik

Dr. Naik has over 58 years of research experience. For over 33 years he was in the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Government of India, heading a solid-state spectroscopy group. His expertise and experience include laser-excited and X-ray excited optical fluorescence spectroscopy and spectroscopic instrumentation. He was responsible for building an automated computer-controlled, scanning spectrometer with a drive system for SEPIL (Selective Excitation of Probe Ion Luminescence) studies at liquid helium temperatures for ultra-trace analysis of rare-earth compounds. He also worked for two years at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Orsay, France as a visiting professor.

He joined UPL Ltd in 1992 and made a proposal to indigenously develop phosphine detection devices required by the company. Since then, he has been responsible for implementing the program by setting up the laboratory, research facilities, and hiring and training the technical manpower. Under his technical inputs and guidance, the lab has grown over the years into one of the best R&D and instrument production facilities with a wide range of products. The diverse research programs he initiated and guided include the development of sensors, water, and oil quality instruments, chemiluminescence, and fluorescence-based instruments for gas analysis and non-dispersive spectroscopic instruments for analytical applications.

Since the formation of UEPL in 2010, he has been the chairman and technical director of the company, responsible for its overall operations.

He has written over 100 research papers and articles; holds many patents jointly and was joint winner of the Technology Day Invention Award 2001 from DSIR and WIPO international award for the best research of 2002 from World Intellectual Property Organization, Switzerland.