Research & Development
At the heart of JivaJet lies a deep commitment to scientific discovery, led by a founding team of researchers from the George Washington University Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Lab — one of the world’s premier centers for applied plasma research.
🔹 Dr. Michael Keidar
Chair of Scientific Advisory Board
A globally recognized expert in plasma science, Dr. Keidar holds over 30 patents and has published extensively on both electric propulsion and biomedical plasma applications. His breakthroughs in air-breathing plasma thrusters and cold atmospheric plasma have formed the backbone of JivaJet’s dual-division model. He continues to advise JivaJet’s R&D roadmap while leading academic research at GWU.
🔹 Dr. Anmol Taploo
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
A propulsion systems innovator, Dr. Taploo is the architect behind JivaJet’s Self-Neutralizing Air-Breathing Plasma Thruster (SABPT). His work focuses on extending satellite mission life in VLEO, designing propulsion systems that adapt to atmospheric drag and require no onboard propellant — a leap forward in sustainable space mobility. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, during which he invented the Self-Neutralizing Air-Breathing Plasma Thruster (SABPT)—a breakthrough propulsion system enabling sustained satellite operation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). His innovation inspired DARPA’s Charge Harmony program and has been recognized with multiple awards and patents.
🔹 Dr. Vikas Soni
Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
With a specialization in cold atmospheric plasma for therapeutic use, Dr. Soni bridges fundamental science with real-world clinical application. He leads JIVAMED’s device design and biological validation efforts, working toward FDA approvals and animal trials for non-invasive treatments of skin infections and wound care. He holds a PhD in plasma medicine and a master’s in biochemistry, cellular, and molecular biology. His interdisciplinary research focuses on the development of Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) technologies for the non-invasive treatment of cancer, viral infections, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. His research interests span plasma medicine, cancer biology, space medicine, and astrobiology. Dr. Soni has extensive experience in cancer research and has worked at both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At the NIH, he contributed to studies on cancer gene regulation, while at the FDA, he led research on CAP treatment for multidrug-resistant pathogens such as MRSA and E. coli, as well as plasma-based decontamination of PPE and surfaces. His work has also explored CAP applications for inactivating viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
🔹 Shashank Kaul
CEO
Shashank Kaul is a deep-tech entrepreneur and systems architect with a strong foundation in public-sector innovation and mission enablement. A Cisco veteran with a degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from the College of Engineering Roorkee, he has led modernization initiatives across U.S. federal agencies, blending engineering precision with scalable execution. A former Chair of IEEE’s Computer Society (DC-NOVA Chapter) and a Forbes Technology Council member, Shashank brings award-winning leadership and a proven record in secure communications, government contracting, and dual-use commercialization. At JivaJet, he leads strategy, partnerships, and execution across defense, space, and healthcare.