Dr. K. O. Xavier is Deputy General Manager and the lead for Hydroprocessing catalysis research at Research & Development Centre of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. He holds a PhD from the Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi with a post-doctoral stint at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel. His major areas of interests include hydroprocessing catalysis, new catalyst systems & materials and also have experience in translating laboratory catalyst system to commercial scale.

He was one of the recipients of Innovation awards (Team) by Petrofed in 2010, MoPNG-GoI in 2019 & 2021 and FIPI in 2020, conferred for indigenous development and commercialization of various refining catalysts. He has over 20 years experience of working in refining catalysis, development of new catalytic materials and has to his credit 10 papers in international journals and 18 patents.