During the past ten years, he has carried out both vigorous independent and strong collaborative research in organic synthesis, natural products chemistry and biomaterials. This activity is reflected in 7 book chapters, and 250 publications that have appeared in major peer-reviewed international journals of chemistry. The major emphasis of his research has been in the area of heterocyclic chemistry and, more recently, in the areas of medicinal chemistry and biomaterials. These projects have been well supported by ARC grants, NHMRC grants, and commercial research contracts.

Prof Kumar’s group has access to state-of-the-art research facilities through the School of Chemistry and the UNSW Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre. The School is co-located with the Centre, which together have all the major scientific infrastructure required to perform cutting edge chemical research including high-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. Further, the School of Chemistry enjoys state-of-the-art laboratories housed in Australia’s newest chemistry building.