Kumari Lab

Harshita Kumari, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Cincinnati

Dr. Harshita Kumari earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Missouri–Columbia under the mentorship of Prof. Jerry L. Atwood, focusing on the design, solution behavior, and encapsulation properties of metal-seamed pyrogallol[4]arene nanocapsules. She began her career at Unilever’s Global Oral Care Division and held postdoctoral and research associate positions at the University of Missouri before joining the University of Cincinnati in 2015. She is currently a Professor with a primary appointment in the Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a secondary appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Dr. Kumari’s research bridges molecular-level understanding with real-world applications. Her lab integrates supramolecular chemistry, crystal engineering, and gas sorption analysis to study molecular recognition, phase transitions, and structure–function relationships in complex materials. In parallel, she leads applied formulation science efforts in the areas of skin, oral, and hair care—supporting product innovation through mechanistic studies on delivery, deposition, and performance of active ingredients.

Her work spans disciplines including biosensing, membrane science, and 3D printing, and is supported by a diverse range of sponsors such as the AFOSR, NSF, USDA, and major consumer product companies. Her team employs advanced techniques—such as neutron scattering, X-ray crystallography, and super-resolution microscopy—to investigate behavior at both the nanoscale and interface level.

Dr. Kumari’s career has been shaped by a global research perspective. She has held visiting scientist positions at institutions such as the Bragg Institute (ANSTO), Flinders University (Australia), Durham University (UK), and the NIST Center for Neutron Research. As a Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow, she conducted research at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) with Prof. Leonard Barbour, furthering her work in host–guest chemistry and crystallography.

She has received numerous honors, including the 2024 STEM Influencer Award, the Faculty Excellence in Research Award, and recognition from the UC Board of Trustees for her outreach in STEM education. She is an alumna of the Harvard Business School’s High Potential Leadership Program (HPLP) and the AACP Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP), and currently serves as a Trustee of the Cincinnati Local Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS-CINTAC).