In situ with Raj Shah

Raj Shah is a director at Koehler Instrument Company. He recently won the prestigious ASTM Award of Merit for his efforts in creating standardised test methods for use worldwide. He was speaking with Kushleen Kaur.

Growing up in India, my father worked in chemical manufacturing after a postdoc at Imperial College London. My family lived across from a chemical plant. While most kids were learning cricket, I was learning about chemical reactions and industrial processes. Science felt less like a school subject and more like a family language. Once you understand that language, you can’t help but want to keep speaking it.

By my final year of high school, chemical engineering was clearly my path. I passed India’s national exam, studied at the University Department of Chemical Technology and later earned a fellowship to graduate school at the Pennsylvania State University in the US.

I briefly entertained being a cricket commentator, mostly because friends said I never stopped talking, but chemical engineering combined curiosity, problem-solving and the occasional controlled explosion, which suited me perfectly.

Convincing people that tribology and lubrication matter has been my biggest challenge. Curing diseases earns applause; working with analytical instruments for greases and lubricants gets polite nods.

At Koehler Instrument Company I’ve helped develop equipment now used worldwide, from major refineries to small oil blenders. Invisible fluids keep civilisation running and proving their importance has been as rewarding as it has been difficult.

Helping young scientists grow is something that will last far beyond any plaque on my wall

I aim for a working atmosphere more like a football squad than a family picnic. Humour is welcome, but accuracy and deadlines matter most. Science thrives on accountability, collaboration and occasional banter to keep spirits high.

To me good research culture is when curiosity is valued more than ego. It’s when credit is shared fairly and treats failure as a learning opportunity. The real measure of culture is whether young scientists feel safe to ask, ‘what if?’ and whether senior scientists are generous enough to say, ‘why not, let’s try’.

Mentoring younger scientists is my proudest achievement. Watching a student publish their first paper, win an award or gain confidence brings me joy. Seeing students and junior colleagues grow into respected experts has been as satisfying as any award. In a sense, the award was just a reminder that I’ve had the privilege of standing on the shoulders of giants and now is my time to give others a hand up. Helping young scientists grow is something that will last far beyond any plaque on my wall.

My advice to students is don’t fear industry – it’s where science meets reality. Universities and companies need to build more bridges through internships, mentoring and hands-on exposure to real problems. That’s where learning truly sticks.

Learn to communicate. You can be the best chemist in the room, but if you can’t explain your results to a manager, regulator or customer, you won’t get far. Also, never stop learning and stay endlessly curious.

If I could change one thing about how science is done, it would be to break down silos. Chemists should talk to data scientists; engineers should talk to biologists. Publishing should focus less on impact factors and more on societal impact. Collaboration should be the driving force.

Outside the lab, I paddleboard, kayak and occasionally golf. Spending time with my son keeps me grounded and teaches me patience daily. Writing and reading remain important outlets. After hundreds of papers, I still believe the next one could be my best. And I’ve learned that a good laugh in the lab is often as important as a good reagent.

Science today faces challenges beyond the lab. Public trust is wobbly and opportunity is unevenly distributed. Brilliant students around the world may never publish in reputed journals, not due to lack of talent, but lack of access. Bridging these gaps is just as vital as the experiments we run.