Dr. Amitabha Kumar is Vice President, Innovation and R&D at Boral IP Holdings LLC, San Antonio, Texas. He received a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from IT, Banaras Hindu University in 1978 and M.S. and Ph.D degrees in Solid State Science from Pennsylvania State University in 1982 and 1985 respectively with Prof. (Dr.) Della M. Roy.

After post-doctoral research for Prof. Rustum Roy at Penn State, he joined the Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, India, as Scientist C in 1987 working on refractories and low cost housing. From 1994-2004, Amitabha focused on bio-degradable packaging while working as a senior research manager at start-up E. Khashoggi Industries, California and as VP, R&T for its spin-off EarthShell Corporation. He joined James Hardie Building Products, California as Technical Manager in 2004 to focus on environmental aspects of fiber cement, and moved to start-up CalStar Corporation, California, in 2008 where he helped develop Portland cement free concrete bricks and pavers serving as Director, R&D and as VP R&D from 2010. Working for Boral since 2012, first as Director, Materials Research, and his current position since 2015, Amitabha concentrates on new building product development.

Amitabha received the prestigious Young Scientist Engineering Sciences, CSIR, India award in 1991 and shared the Innovation in Real Materials award from the International Union of Materials Research Societies in 1998. He has contributed to over 35 publications, 20 patents, and four book chapters. An American Ceramic Society member of the Cements Division since 1981, Amitabha has served as a page, published and presented papers, and chaired a meeting. Developing talent in the ceramics field has been a passion of Amitabha’s career. He has maintained close relationships with local universities, lectured college courses, and mentored Ph. D. students. He continues to coach internship programs and recruit fresh graduates. His professional interests include new product development with environmental benefits.