With a grandfather who was a rocket scientist and professor of rocketry and a father who played a key role in establishing India’s first nuclear power plant, Dr. Vikram Gopal was destined for a career in science and engineering.
Since 2015, Gopal has served as senior vice president and chief technology officer at Ascend Performance Materials. In this role, he oversees research and development, quality, incubation businesses, and technology licensing. Under his leadership, the company holds more than 700 patents and generates over 20% in specialty margins.
Gopal was previously vice president of technology at Invista, a subsidiary of Koch Industries. There, he spearheaded the launch of the company’s engineering polymers business, which went on to capture over 15% of the global market, as well as the nylon pipe business, which addressed a critical challenge in oil collection. Earlier in his career, Gopal spent a decade at General Electric Plastics, where he advanced through roles in technology, operations, and commercial functions. His work contributed to the creation of IQ Resins, GE’s first sustainable thermoplastics offering, today marketed as Elcrin iQ by Sabic.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Gopal is dedicated to leadership and philanthropy. He serves as chairman of PIPL, a family-owned specialty automation and process controls company, and as a co-chair and board member of Pratham Houston, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to educating underprivileged children.
Gopal’s contributions to the field of engineering have been widely recognized. He was named a Centennial Scholar by the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering in 2010 and a Centennial Graduate Scholar by The University of Alabama in 2024. He has also been an active member of the American Chemical Society’s CTO Forum for nearly a decade. In 2024, Gopal was invited by President Biden to attend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in petrochemical engineering from the University of Pune, followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from The University of Alabama. He also holds an MBA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Gopal uses his love for long-distance cycling to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He and his family are avid hikers and global travelers interested in different cultures and biodiversity.
Gopal lives in Texas with his wife, Dr. Aarthi Ramachandran, and their twin daughters, Virika and Annisa.