Ajay Padunnappattu was born and brought up in Kerala, India. He has a Master’s degree in chemistry from the National Institute of Technologies Thiruchirappalli, India and Master’s degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies from the University of Toulouse III- Paul Sabatier as part of NanoX international master program in France. He completed B.Sc. in Chemistry from Calicut University, India. Currently he enrolled as joint doctorate candidate under SENNET project at University of Kiel and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research project mainly focuses on synthesis of metal-organic frameworks for the detection of VOCs for sensor applications under the supervision of Prof. Norbert Stock and Prof. Joeri Denayer. At free times Ajay would like to do sports activities, cook and travel.