Alumni
Dr. Nirmal Kumar
joined the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 2001 for his doctoral study on Synthetic Studies on Eleutherobin under the guidance of Professor Krishna P. Kaliappan. He was a postdoctoral research fellow in the group of Professor Derrick L. J. Clive at the Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, to work on the synthesis of complex natural products CP-225, 917 and CP-263, 114. He has a rich experience spanning nearly 16 years of leadership positions in reputed organisations like Jubilant, INTAS, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., GVK-Bio etc. Dr. Nirmal Kumar is currently working as Senior General Manager and Head (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control) at Zydus Research Centre, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd, Ahmadabad and leading a large team of scientists for Process Development of NCE/API for regulated markets and also life cycle management of the products.
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Dr Rahul Shripad Nandurdikar
completed his Master’s from RBNB College, Shrirampur-IN. In July 2001, he joined for PhD with Prof. Krishna P. Kaliappan at IIT-Bombay. During his PhD, he extensively worked on the synthesis of the core structure of natural and non-natural products using Ru-catalyzed metathesis reactions. He mainly worked on cascade metathesis reactions to construct dioxatriquinanes, thapsigargins and taxol-sugar hybrid structures. In Aug 2006, he moved to ETH-Zurich, Switzerland for post-doctoral research with Prof. Andrea Vasella. At ETH-Zurich, he worked on the synthesis of novel aminoglucoside antibiotics. In Jan 2008, he moved to National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD United States (NIH/ NCI-Frederick) and worked as visiting fellow with Dr. Larry Keefer. At NCI-Frederick, he was involved in developing diazeniumdiolate-based nitric oxide (NO) and nitroxyl (HNO) releasing therapeutic agents. During the research tenure, he published in many high-impact Journals. After returning to India in 2012, he has worked in various roles at Lupin Ltd., Pune-IN and Syngene International Ltd., Bangalore-IN. Since 2019, he holds a senior management position at one of the leading CROs Aragen Lifesciences, Hyderabad-IN. He has expertise in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry and contract research. He is also a co-supervisor for multiple PhD aspirants from the industry.
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Dr. Samaresh Panda
joined KPK’s group in 2001 and obtained his Ph.D in 2007. He worked on the total syntheses of otteliones, aspinolide and aigalomycin. With a Ph.D in bioactive molecule design, he has led cross-functional teams, optimized processes, and ensured regulatory compliance in renowned companies like Anthem Bioscience Pvt. Ltd, Lupin Ltd, Hikal Ltd, and GVK BIO. Dr. Samaresh Panda is currently working as General Manager/ Principal Scientist API Process R&D at Aurobindo Pharma, Hyderabad.
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Dr. Ravikumar Velayutham
joined KPK’s group in July 2002 after completing his M.Sc., from Madurai Kamaraj University, with a couple of years of experience in Dr. Reddy’s Research Foundation. He completed his research work entitled “Synthetic studies on platensimycin, taxol, sugar- oxasteroid- quinone hybrids and some angucyclinone antibiotics” in 2007. He moved to a post-doc stint at the University of Geneva with Prof. Stefan Matil and returned to India in 2009. He has vast experience working with leading contract research organizations in India and supporting early-phase drug discovery for several big pharma and biotechs. He is currently working at Syngene International as Senior Principal Investigator.
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Dr. A. V. Subrahmanyam
joined KPK’s group in July 2002 after his MSc from Andhra University. He worked on the total synthesis of taxa-oxa-sugar hybrid molecules, C-Aryl Glycosides, and Platencin. After several years of post-doctoral research experience at the University of Massachusetts & McMaster University, he has an industrial experience as a synthetic organic chemist since 2018 at Toronto Research Chemicals. Currently, he is working as a Senior Scientist I at NuChem Sciences.
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Dr Narayana Murthy
completed his PhD in 2008 from IIT Bombay under Prof. Krishna P Kaliappan on 'Synthetic studies on Herbarumin, Cladospolide A and Eleutherobin'. He completed his post-doctoral studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2010 and at Stanford University, School of Medicine in 2011. He has a rich organizational experience since 2012 in reputed organizations like Anthem Biosciences private limited, Bal Pharma Ltd., RL Fine Chem Pvt. Ltd., Solara Active Pharma Sciences Ltd and Tagros Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd. Currently he is a Business Consultant at MOLWAY, a sourcing and consultation company based in Chennai.
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Dr. P. Gowrisankar
joined KPK’s group after his M.Sc., from Anna University and a couple of years’ experience in Dr. Reddy’s Research Foundation. He joined the group in 2003 and completed his Ph.D in 2009. He worked on the total synthesis of palmerolide A, epothilones and dysidiolide. His research as a postdoctoral fellow at Leibniz University of Hannover, University of Geneva, and Purdue University further exemplifies his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. He has held leadership roles throughout his career, successfully managing and guiding teams in prominent pharmaceutical companies such as Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services, Syngene International, and GVK Bio.
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Dr. Prasanta Das
joined KPK’s group in July 2003 after his M.Sc. from IIT Kanpur. He worked on the synthesis of oxa and aza-bridged polycyclitols, hyacynthacines and bicyclic azasugars. He did his post-doc at the University of Texas, South Western Medical Center, USA and is currently working as a research associate at Jackson State University, USA since July 2010.
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Dr. Sandip Pujari
completed his Graduation and Masters from Pune University. He joined the research group of Prof. Kaliappan in 2004 as project staff and then as a PhD student in 2005. After completing PhD he moved to the University of Geneva for Post-doctorate studies. Currently, he is working as a Senior Manager at Aarti Industries, Navi Mumbai. Prior to this, he worked as Principal Investigator at Syngene International, and as Team lead at PI Industries.
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Dr. Kalanidhi
joined KPK's group for his Ph.D in December 2005 and completed it in 2012. He worked on the total syntheses of platensimycin, platencin and mevinolin. After one year of postdoc in CNRS, France, he worked in GVK BIO, Hyderabad, for 1.5 years. Then, he did another postdoc in CUNY, USA, for 2 years, followed by working as a research scientist in Amar chemistry for 1.5 years. Since July 2021, he has been working as a senior research investigator in Syngene, Hyderabad.
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Dr. Debjani
is a highly accomplished chemist with a remarkable academic and research journey. She embarked on her scientific career by joining KPK's lab in July 2007, where she conducted groundbreaking research leading to her successful completion of a PhD in 2013. Her doctoral work focused on the total syntheses of cladospolides, discodermolide, and dolofibriol, demonstrating her expertise in complex molecule synthesis. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Debjani pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Connecticut, making significant contributions in both the chemistry department and the department of pharmaceutical sciences from 2014 to 2022. Her dedication and rich experience led her to her current role as a Senior Scientist at Sonata Therapeutics, where she continues to drive scientific innovation in the field of pharmaceutical research.
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Dr. Rama Kanwar Khangarot
earned her doctorate degree in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai in 2012. She subsequently held a postdoctoral position at City College of New York, NY, USA for two years. Then she joined the Department of Chemistry, IISER Bhopal, India, as a research associate. After a few months, she joined Manipal University Jaipur, Rajasthan as an Assistant Professor. Later in June 2018, she moved to Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, and currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Her research interest includes the synthesis of biologically active molecules and nanomaterial chemistry. She has published her research work in internationally reputed research journals.
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Dr. Devender
joined KPK's lab in July 2008 and completed his Ph.D. in 2013. He worked on the total synthesis of angucyclines antibiotics and synthetic studies on apicularen A. With extensive experience as a Senior Scientist at AMRI and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National University of Singapore, he has honed his skills in research and development. Currently, he holds the position of Assistant General Manager at Ind-Swift Laboratories Ltd., where he continues to make significant contributions to the company's success.
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Dr. Parthasarathi Subramanian
obtained his bachelor's degree in 2004 and master's degree in 2006 from Bharathidasan University (BHC) and Madras University (MCC) respectively. After working as a senior chemist for a couple of years in GVK Biosciences, he began his doctoral studies with Prof. Krishna P. Kaliappan at IIT Bombay. Immediately after his graduation, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. Janine Cossy at ESPCI ParisTech (2016-2017). Subsequently, with Prof. Lutz Ackermann at the University of Göttingen (2017-2018), and Prof. K. C. Nicolaou at Rice University (2018-2020). He is currently working as an Assistant Professor at IIT Kanpur since January 2020. His research group is mainly focused on developing catalytic cascade methodologies and their application to the synthesis of biologically relevant unnatural and natural products.
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Dr. Kota R
completed his PhD at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, from June 2009 to August 2016. Following his academic pursuits, he served as a Post-Doc Fellow at the University of Geneva, where he continued to excel in research for three years and nine months. Driven by his passion for scientific exploration, he pursued a career in the pharmaceutical industry, where he held the position of Senior Research Investigator at Syngene International Ltd. for two years. Currently, he serves as a Senior Research Scientist at Syngenta in Goa, India, contributing his expertise to on-site research projects.
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Dr. Anandaraju Bandaru
joined KPK's group in July 2010. His work centred on the total synthesis of polypropionate natural products muamvatin and dolabriferol. Later he moved to Academia Sinica, Taiwan and to the University of Alberta, Canada for his post-docs. Currently, he is working as a chemist in TRC-LGC Toronto.
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Dr. Vipul Betkekar
did his MSc. from Goa-university in 2008. He spent a couple of years at Syngenta Biosciences Pvt. Ltd. before joining KPK’s group in December 2010. He primarily worked towards the synthesis of Vinigrol. Currently, he is working as a post-doctoral researcher at Prof. Keisuke Suzuki and Prof. Ken Ohmori's research group at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.
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Dr. Ashik A. Sayyad
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Dr. Velmurugan Rathinam
is a dedicated chemist with a strong academic background. He completed his B.Sc. in Chemistry at The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University, Gandhigram, Dindigul, and pursued his M.Sc. in Chemistry at the School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. Driven by a passion for research, he joined KPK's group for his Ph.D. in July 2012 and was awarded his degree in February 2020. His doctoral work focused on "Synthetic Approaches Towards the Pluraflavin A Aglycone and Syntheses of Aryl Fused N-Heterocyclic Carbene Precursors, Chiral 1,2,3-Triazoles and its Triazolium Salts (2019)." Currently, Dr. Rathinam serves as a Guest Lecturer at the Chemistry Department of Government Arts and Science College for Women in Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu, where he continues to inspire and educate the next generation of chemists.
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Dr. Arpan Banerjee
after completing his M.Sc. from the University of Calcutta, joined KPK’s group in July 2012 to pursue his Ph.D. His doctoral research was dedicated to the syntheses of benzimidazoquinazolinones, aza-varitriols, and hippolachnin A, showcasing his expertise in complex molecule synthesis. Following the successful completion of his PhD, Dr. Banerjee continued to excel in the field by joining Prof. Ang Li's group at SIOC as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in August 2019. During this time, he accomplished the total syntheses of albucidin, oxetanocin A, and oxetanocin G, further establishing his prowess in total synthesis. Currently, Dr. Banerjee serves as a Research Investigator at Syngene International Limited, where he leads a talented team working on synthesizing challenging PROTACs, contributing to the advancement of innovative therapeutic approaches.
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Dr. Satrajit Indu
after completing his BSc from the erstwhile Presidency College in Kolkata and MSc from IIT Kanpur, joined KPK’s group in January 2013 for his PhD. Initially, he worked on the development of novel transition metal-catalyzed transformations toward biologically relevant molecular scaffolds, before working on synthetic studies towards cortistatins, taxol and dendrobine. He graduated with his PhD in 2019 and is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the research group of Prof. Yujiro Hayashi at Tohoku University in Japan.
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Dr. Anjali
became a part of Prof. KPK's esteemed research group as a PhD scholar in 2013, enrolling through the Monash program. Her PhD research focused on the design and synthesis of calcium channel inhibitors for chronic pain management, showcasing a strong commitment to pharmacological research. Following their doctoral studies, they pursued a postdoctoral stint at Academia Sinica, Taiwan, delving into the fascinating field of Carbohydrate Chemistry. Since September 2019, Dr. Anjali has been contributing to the Protein crystallography group at the Department of Biosciences, IIT Bombay, as a research associate. Currently, their major interests lie in biocatalysis and structural enzymology, demonstrating a keen passion for understanding and utilizing enzymatic processes.
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Dr. Trisha Banik
after completing her B.Sc. from Ranaghat College, West Bengal, moved to IIT-Bombay for her master's study. She joined KPK's group in July 2014 for her master’s project and continued for her PhD since July 2015. She worked mainly on the annulation reaction and later tried her hands on the chiral hypervalent iodonium ions during her doctoral studies. She graduated with her PhD in 2021 and is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Shῡ Kobayashi’s research group at The University of Tokyo, Japan.
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Dr. Priyanka Sakhare
completed her PhD in 2021 from IIT Bombay under the guidance of Prof. Krishna P Kaliappan on “Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative C-C Bond Cleavage to N-Heterocyclic Compounds and Synthetic Studies Towards (-)-Ingenol,” She also worked as an Institute Postdoctoral Fellow in the same group for a short period of time. In 2022, her patent got granted for her PhD work. Currently, she is working as an Assistant Professor in Chemistry & Biochemistry at Indira Group of Institute, Pune.
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Dr. Vijay Kumar Reddy
Reddy completed his MSc degree in organic chemistry from Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, and went on to join Prof. KPK's esteemed research group for his PhD in January 2016. After successfully completing his doctoral studies, he has taken on the role of Sr. Scientist at Anthem Biosciences Private Limited in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, contributing to cutting-edge research and innovation in the field of chemistry.
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Dr. Khushboo
after completing her Bsc (H) in chemistry from Hansraj College, University of Delhi (2010-2013) and MSc (chemistry) from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2013-2015) joined the KPK’s group in January 2016 as a PhD scholar. Her thesis work includes “Synthetic studies towards desmethyl amphilectolide, Sandresolide, reserpine, oxaprostaglanding and azaprostaglandins”. She graduated with her PhD degree in Dec 2022. She is currently working as guest faculty in the Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi.
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Mahendra Shingole completed his B.Sc in Janseva college, Mumbai university. He moved to K. J. Somaiya college Mumbai university for his Master's degree. He joined S.M.B.C. college as lecturer of chemistry for one year. He joined IITB for Ph.D Program in July 2017, under KPK's group .
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Ajad
after completing his M.Sc. from H.N.B Garhawal University Uttarakhand, moved to IIT Bombay for the PhD program and joined Professor KPK's group in July 2017. He worked on the total synthesis of Angucyclinones natural products. He graduated in April 2024.
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Dr. Vikram Bhat
is an esteemed chemist with a remarkable academic and research journey. He began his scientific pursuits with an M.Sc. project in Prof. KPK's group in 2004/5, setting the foundation for his future endeavours. Driven by a passion for chemistry, he completed his PhD at the University of Chicago under the guidance of Prof. Viresh Rawal. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge and innovation, he joined Prof. Robert Grubbs' group at Caltech, further enhancing his expertise in the field. In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Dr. Bhat received the prestigious Reaxys Prize in 2011, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in the scientific community. Subsequently, he served as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at SRI International in 2014-15, further expanding his research horizons. Currently, Dr. Bhat holds the position of Senior Scientist II in the Oncology Discovery division at AbbVie, where he plays a key role in route development, reaction optimization, and the synthesis of biologically active molecules.
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Dr. Venuka Durani
is an accomplished individual with a diverse background in academia and writing. She began her academic journey with a M.Sc. project in KPK's group in 2005/6. With a PhD in Biological Chemistry from The Ohio State University, she has made significant contributions as a DST-young scientist at IIT Bombay, DST-INSPIRE Faculty at BARC, and Visiting Faculty at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. As a part-time Faculty at CH Edgemakers, she imparts her knowledge and expertise through teaching. Alongside her academic pursuits, she is a talented Fiction Writer, self-employed since August 2021, with an impressive collection of novels, short stories, and novellas to her credit.
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Dr. Ankit Sharma
did his M.Sc. project in KPK’s group in 2006/7. With a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Geneva, he has excelled in developing new catalytic transformations of unactivated carbon-hydrogen bonds, enabling late-stage functionalization of complex natural products during his Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at UC Berkeley. Driven by a passion for drug discovery, he has contributed significantly to pharmaceutical research as a Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry at Amgen and currently as an Associate Director at AstraZeneca.
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Mr. Sumit Kumar did his M.Sc. project in KPK’s group in 2007-08.
Dr. Deepti Gopalakrishnan
did her MSc project in KPK’s group in 2009/10. With a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science from Cornell University, she made significant contributions to the invention and optimization of novel polymers for detecting explosives with remarkable sensitivity and speed. Throughout her career, she has excelled as a Senior Research Chemist at 3M, where she led the development of next-generation sensors and adhesive technologies, driving revenue growth and cost reduction. As Director of Research and Development at Bolt Threads and now as a Principal Scientist at FLO Materials, Inc. Dr. Deepti continues to showcase her strong leadership skills, fostering team culture and achieving remarkable success in her endeavors.
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Dr Chintan Sumaria
did his MSc project in KPK’s group in 2010/11. Dr. Chintan holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and has a proven track record of success in applying analytical skills and cutting-edge technologies to address complex challenges in the field of data science. Currently working at Wayfair as a Senior Machine Learning Scientist, he has played key roles in various data science projects at reputable companies such as Chewy and Microsoft. Dr Chintan's expertise lies in developing and evaluating advanced AI models for predicting SKU performance, optimizing supply chain networks, and delivering data science solutions to drive business growth.
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Mr Krish Hirani
did his MSc project in KPK’s group in 2012/13. He is an accomplished Perfumer and Director with over 8 years of experience in the fragrance industry. Currently serving at SKFF (INDIA) PVT. LTD., Krish has showcased remarkable talent in creating captivating scents that resonate with consumers worldwide. The journey to success began with an Internship Trainee position at IPRA Fragrances in Grasse, France, where he honed their skills in creative perfumery. Further education at the prestigious Grasse Institute of Perfumery added depth to their knowledge of natural and synthetic raw materials, chemistry in perfumery, marketing, and more.
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Mr Vaibhav Sambre
did his MSc project in KPK’s group in 2012/13. He is a highly accomplished and results-driven professional with over 8 years of experience in the telecommunications and fintech industries. Currently serving as Assistant Vice President - Product at Airtel, he demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving product innovation and revenue growth.
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Dr Piyush Arya
did his MSc project in KPK’s group in 2014/15. With a solid academic foundation as a Graduate Student at the University of Chicago, where he focused on the total synthesis of natural products, Dr Piyush brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his scientific endeavours. Currently serving as a Scientist II at Paraza Pharma Inc., he has made significant contributions to challenging small molecule synthesis for medicinal chemistry projects, leading a team of scientists in delivering exceptional results. Prior to this role, he worked as a Research Investigator at Syngene International Limited, where he demonstrated exceptional team leadership and expertise in organic chemistry and synthesis.
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Tirth Chauhan is from Vadodara, Gujarat. He completed four years of integrated BSMS from IISER Pune. He joined Prof. KPK's Lab for the 5th-year master thesis project in May 2023.
Dr. Raghunath Roy
Roy did his M.Sc. project in KPK’s group during 2002/2003 and obtained his PhD in 2008 from UMASS, Amherst (Prof. S. Thayumanavan). He did his Post-doctoral studies at the University of Delaware. With over 11 years of experience at Dow and currently serving as an R&T Advisor at Albemarle Corporation, he has demonstrated expertise in polymer synthesis, characterization, and formulations. Dr Roy's passion for the field extends to academia, where he previously served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Saginaw Valley State University, imparting knowledge on polymer chemistry to aspiring students.
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Dr. Somnath Jana
did his M.Sc. project in KPK’s group in 2004/5. He earned their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Oregon State University, working under the guidance of Professor James D White. He embarked on his research journey as a Post-doctoral researcher at the University of Utah, collaborating with Professor Jon D Rainier. Currently serving as a Drug Discovery Scientist I at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the past 7 years, he has made significant contributions to the field of pharmaceutical research. Prior to this role, he served as a Staff Scientist at the same institution, gaining a total of 9 years of experience at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
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Dr. Dipankar Basak
did his M.Sc. project in KPK’s group in 2005/6. He earned his PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where they worked on the design and development of new organic materials for anhydrous proton transport, further showcasing their passion and expertise in the field. His research journey began as a DST Fast Track Young Scientist at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, focusing on hydrogen bonding-driven assembly of pi-conjugated chromophores and developing new synthetic methodologies for poly(disulfide)s preparation. Before that, he served as a Research Associate at Jadavpur University, synthesizing biologically relevant amphiphilic polymers to study their micellization properties. Currently serving as a Team Lead at TCG Lifesciences Pvt Ltd., he leads R&D activities in the polymer division, contributing to the development of innovative materials. Prior to this role, he worked as a Research Scientist at Solvay for over 6 years, where he specialized in designing new materials for speciality polymers.
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Dr. Shiven Kapur
did his MSc. Project in KPK's group in 2005/6. He completed his PhD in Chemistry and postdoc in Bioengineering and Medicine at Stanford University before joining Lilly in 2016. He is a Principal Research Scientist at the Lilly Innovation Center in Cambridge, MA as part of the Bioproduct Research and Development group. He is leading efforts to understand and overcome the limitations to subcutaneous delivery of biologics, via the development of a multi-faceted platform to deconvolute the impact of molecule, formulation and device parameters on SQ performance.
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Dr. Subham Mahapatra
did his M.Sc. project in KPK’s group in 2006/7. Having started his chemistry pursuits as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at Oregon State University, under the mentorship of Prof. Rich G. Carter, he has developed expertise in multi-step organic synthesis and has demonstrated an ability to tackle complex stereochemical challenges. His academic journey includes postdoctoral research at prestigious institutions such as Yale University and Stanford University, where he excelled in organic synthesis and organometallic chemistry. Currently serving as a Principal Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry at Pfizer, he has been actively involved in innovative drug discovery projects. Prior to this role, he held the position of Senior Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry at Pfizer, making significant contributions to the development of novel therapeutic compounds.
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Dr Aniruddha Sasmal
did his M.Sc. project in KPK’s group in 2007/8. He completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, where he focused on methodology development and total synthesis of oligosaccharides under the guidance of Dr. Xinyu Liu. Following his doctoral studies, he pursued a postdoctoral researcher position at UC San Diego, working with Prof. Ajit Varki on the study of biologically relevant complex glycans and their implications in human health and diseases. His expertise and passion for glycobiology led him to join Pfizer as a Senior Scientist, contributing to bacterial vaccine research and development. Currently, he holds the position of Principal Scientist at Pfizer, continuing his valuable contributions to bacterial vaccine research.
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Dr. Souvagya Biswas
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2009/10. He completed his PhD in Chemistry at The Ohio State University in 2015. Following his doctoral studies, he pursued a post-doctoral researcher position at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on organic chemistry from 2016 to 2017. His expertise and dedication to the field of chemistry led him to join Dow, where he has been making significant contributions to research and development. He has served as a Senior Chemist in the Chemical Science Division of Core R&D at The Dow Chemical Company's Michigan Operations, where he worked from January 2018 to November 2020. Currently, he holds the position of Associate Research Scientist at Dow, continuing his valuable contributions to the organization’s scientific endeavours.
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Mr. Animesh Verma
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group at IIT Bombay. With a strong passion for education and chemistry, he has had a diverse and impactful career. He started as a Reservoir Engineer at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, showcasing his technical expertise. Later, he transitioned to academia, becoming a Faculty member at Lakshya Institute and Sri Chaitanya Academy, where he excelled as a Senior Faculty, Chemistry Lead, and Head of Department. During his tenure, he mentored exceptional students, producing All India Rank 1 in JEE Advanced. His teaching prowess extended to YuppTV Inc., where he served as a Star Faculty. Additionally, he authored organic chemistry content for Arihant Publications India Limited and Srishti Publishers.
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Dr. Amit Kumar Dutta
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2008/9. He pursued his passion for Organic Synthesis and Physical Organic Chemistry, earning a PhD from the University of Zurich. During his tenure as a Research Associate at the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology in Tianjin, China, from May 2014 to October 2015, this individual contributed significantly to the field of pharmaceutical science. He embarked on a successful career as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Germany, delving into the study of inositol polyphosphates as signalling molecules. His expertise led him to another prestigious postdoctoral position at the University of Regensburg, Germany, where he focused on photoredox catalysis, methodology development, and selenium catalysis. Currently, as an Associate Team Lead at PI Industries Ltd in Udaipur, India, he continues to contribute to the advancements in the field of chemistry.
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Mr. Shyamal Chakraborty
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Dr. Nidhi Kakkar
did her MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2011/12. With a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she embarked on a successful career journey with Intel Corporation. As a Product Manager since October 2021, she has led the Backend (BE) team for M2+ layers, driving defect reduction projects that saved $5M in yield improvement for 10 nm products. Prior to this role, she served as a Senior 7nm Yield Engineer, playing a crucial role in assessing key process implementations and driving improvements in yield indicators. Additionally, she held positions as a TD Defect Metrology and Yield Engineer and Process Engineer, focusing on yield enhancement, defect reduction, and technology transfer for high-volume manufacturing sites.
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Dr. Subir Goswami
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2011/12. His academic background includes a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where his doctoral research focused on the total synthesis of furanyl diterpenoid natural products, showcasing his innovative and problem-solving capabilities. Currently working at Regeneron, he serves as the Technical Lead for in-house Synthetic Process Chemistry Developments at Tarrytown, New York. Prior to this, he worked as a Process Development Scientist at Veranova (formerly known as Johnson Matthey Pharma), where he successfully conducted fate-and-purge studies, synthesized new API-impurities, and scaled up synthesis processes. Additionally, during his tenure at Valliscor, he served as a Research & Development Scientist II, leading projects for new technologies and optimizing processes for frontline products, including a patented synthesis process for a fluorinated alkyl iodide product.
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Mr. Kartik Mallick
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Dr Malay Sen
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2013/14. He pursued his PhD at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. During his doctoral studies from December 2014 to August 2021, he focused on diverse areas of Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis, and C-H Bond activation.
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Dr. Jayeeta Saha
did her MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2014/15. She completed her doctoral studies under the guidance of Prof Dr C Subramaniam and is currently a Postdoctoral research scientist at the Department of Materials and environmental chemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden.
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Mr. Arup Basak
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Dr. Gaurav Dahiya
Dahiya did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2015/16. He holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Florida, where he spent five years as a Graduate Research Assistant, delving into research and making significant contributions to the field. Currently, he serves as a Scientist I at PTC Therapeutics, Inc., contributing to the development of innovative therapies.
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Dr. Rajat Kumar Singh
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2017/18. He pursued a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Organic Chemistry at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, dedicating himself to advancing the understanding of complex chemical processes. He is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at Caltech, based in Pasadena, California, United States.
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Mr. Dheeraj Agrohia
completed his M.Sc. project in the KPK’s group in 2017/18, where he focused on "Aza-Cope/Mannich Cyclization of Sugar-Derived Cyclic Nitrone Derivatives; towards the Construction of [6.5.5] Fused Heterocycles." Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in the Vachet lab at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a research emphasis on developing multiplexed mass spectrometric methods to quantitatively image the in vivo biodistributions of polymer-based drug-delivery vehicles.
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Mr. Hemant Nagpal
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Mr. Netai Aditya
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2018/19. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata.
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Ms. Aosheen Anand
did her MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2019/20. She served as a Project Associate at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay from July 2021 to January 2022. The focus of her research project was "Is molecular engineering the key for newer breakthroughs in quantum information processing?," under the guidance and mentorship of Prof. C. Subramaniam. She has been accepted as an Incoming Graduate Student at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
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Mr. Dipankar Kundu
did his MSc. project in KPK’s group in 2019/20
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Ms. Nishu
did her MSc. Project in KPK's group in 2020-21. Later, she worked as a project staff in KPK's group from July 2021-January 2022. Currently, she is doing her PhD at Max Plank Institute, Germany with Prof. Peter H Seeberger.
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Mr Shishir Tripathi
completed his early education in his hometown before moving to Ramjas College, Delhi University to pursue Chemistry Honours. After completing graduation, he moved to IIT Bombay for a Master's in Chemistry and joined Prof. KPK's Lab for his Master's thesis in 2021-22. Currently, he is working as a Data Analyst apprentice at Google.
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Mr Saurabh Kumar Chaurasia
completed his early education in his hometown before moving to Ramjas College, Delhi University to pursue Chemistry Honours. After completing graduation, he moved to IIT Bombay for his Master's in Chemistry and joined Prof. KPK's Lab for his Master's thesis in 2021-22. Currently, he is working as a Scientist B at the Bureau of Indian Standards.
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Ms. Sheetal
is from Gurugram, Haryana. She completed her Bachelors's from Miranda House, University of Delhi in July 2020. She joined Prof. KPK's lab in July 2022 for the final year M.Sc. project. She’s currently enrolled in PhD Chemistry under Prof. Jérôme Lacour at the University of Geneva.
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Supriya Singha
is from Kharagpur, West Bengal. He completed his 3-year B.Sc. in Chemistry with honours from Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur under the University of Calcutta in 2021. He joined Prof. Krishna P Kaliappan's lab at IIT Bombay in July 2022 for his M.Sc. project. He’s currently enrolled in PhD Chemistry at University of Alberta, Canada.
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Riya Sinhamahapatra
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Mr. Naresh Theddu
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Dr. Saneel Sreekumar
worked as a Research Assistant at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 2005. His academic journey includes a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. He currently holds the position of Principal Scientist - Process Research at Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States, where he has been involved in designing novel asymmetric routes to challenging API targets, executing proof of concept studies, and conducting process development of new synthetic routes.
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Dr. Nagarjuna Gavvalapalli
worked as a research assistant with Prof. Krishna P. Kaliappan at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay in 2006-2007, after his master's in chemistry from the University of Hyderabad. Wishing to pursue his interest in organic materials and solving energy-related problems, he attended graduate school at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he worked with Prof. D. Venkataraman. His graduate research was focused on developing pi-conjugated polymers and nanoparticles for organic electronics, solar cells and sensors. Dr Nag later joined Prof. Jeffrey Moore's research group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, wherein he developed redox active macromolecular architectures for energy storage applications. Dr Nag currently holds a joint position in Chemistry and Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology at Georgetown University.
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Dr. Mahesh Vishe
worked as Junior Research Fellow in Prof KPK’s lab in 2009. He holds a PhD from the esteemed University of Geneva, Switzerland, where he showcased his passion for research and academic excellence. Following his doctoral studies, Mahesh pursued postdoctoral research at renowned institutions such as Vanderbilt University and Harvard University, where he honed his skills and made significant contributions to cutting-edge research projects. Currently, Mahesh serves as a Research Scientist II at C4 Therapeutics, Inc., a leading biotechnology company based in Watertown, Massachusetts. His role at C4 Therapeutics showcases his expertise in translational research and the application of scientific discoveries to real-world applications. Additionally, he has previously contributed to the innovative team at Snapdragon Chemistry, Inc.
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Dr. Sankar Rao
earned valuable experience as a Research Assistant at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, in 2010-12 contributing to the synthesis of glycosyl iminocoumarins and natural products. His PhD at the University of Bern led to significant breakthroughs in the carbohydrogenation reaction. During his time as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at The University of Texas at Austin, Sankar Rao made notable advancements in enantioselective metal-catalyzed cycloadditions and natural product synthesis. Currently serving at Syngene International Limited & NuChem Sciences Canada, Sankar Rao contributes to cutting-edge research in chemistry. His previous role as a Scientific Manager at GVK BIO showcased his exceptional leadership skills, guiding a team of scientists and ensuring safety protocols.
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Dr. Sudipta Pal
worked as an Intern Research Assistant at IIT Bombay in Prof. KPK’s lab in 2012. Her academic journey includes 5 years and 1 month as a Graduate Student at Purdue University, where she honed her research skills and developed a strong foundation in chemistry. She is currently an Associate Research Scientist at Dow, where she has been contributing to cutting-edge projects for the past 1 year and 1 month. Prior to this, Sudipta served as a Senior Chemist at Dow for 3 years and 3 months, showcasing her dedication to the organization and her ability to excel in challenging roles. Before joining Dow, Sudipta worked as a Scientist I at PTC Therapeutics, Inc., where she contributed her expertise for 8 months, further enriching her scientific experience.
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Mr. Punith Gowda
worked as a research assistant at IIT Bombay in Prof. Krishna P Kaliappan’s lab after his master’s from St. Philomena's College, University of Mysuru, Karnataka. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad with Prof. D S Sharada.
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Dr. Mothi Mohammed
worked as Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow at IIT Bombay in the year 2008. He obtained his PhD from the School of Chemistry, Bharathidasan University. He had research stints at the Universite de Neuchatel, Switzerland and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Presently he is an Associate Professor at PSN College of Engineering and Technology, Tirunelveli.
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Dr. Prashant Lathe
worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, working on the synthesis of novel anthelmintic drugs under the guidance of Prof. K.P. Kaliappan in 2005-2006. Dr. Lathe's academic journey includes a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Karnataka University Dharwad, India, where he focused on the synthesis of Nitrogen-containing Heterocycles of Biological Interest under the mentorship of Prof. B.V. Badami. He is currently serving as a Senior Lead Investigator in the Synthetic Chemistry OU at Syngene. In this role, he manages a team responsible for handling multiple projects for various clients, including major US pharmaceutical companies and small biotech firms. Committed to professional development, Dr. Lathe earned certifications from Syngene, including Green Belt Program certification in 2020 and the Syngene Gemba Champion certification in 2022.
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Dr. Georg Rudolf
did his Postdoctoral studies with Prof. Dr. Krishna P. Kaliappan at IIT Bombay on “Total Syntheses of Natural Product Hybrids”- in 2014-15 after his doctoral studies at Technische Universität München with Prof. Dr. Stephan A. Sieber. He is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in the agricultural industry. He has held key roles at BASF, starting as a Research Scientist in Crop Protection and later becoming a Lab Team Leader and Senior Marketing Manager for Business Management Alcohols & Solvents. Currently serving as the Global Coordinator for Digitalisation & Strategy Projects in Agricultural Solutions, Dr Georg combines his expertise in fungicide chemistry and research with strategic leadership to drive innovation and advancements in the field.
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Dr. Matthias Brendel
completed a Postdoctoral Research position at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, where he worked on natural product synthesis and methodology development for organic synthesis in 2015-16. He pursued a PhD at the University of Heidelberg, where his research focused on the synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles of biological interest. Currently, he holds the position of Global Vice President for Innovation Management & Innovation Strategy at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, a renowned company in the filtration industry. In this capacity, Matthias is responsible for driving innovation initiatives and shaping the strategic direction of the organization. With a strong track record of success, Matthias has held several key roles within Freudenberg Filtration Technologies and the Freudenberg Group. He served as the Director of Innovation Management & Innovation Strategy, where he played a crucial role in overseeing strategic projects and supporting the CEO. Additionally, he excelled as the Team Leader for Future Technologies, contributing to the corporate strategy project "Odyssey," aimed at diversifying the company's portfolio through forward-looking acquisitions and technology advancements
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Dr. Rahul Telore
is a highly skilled and accomplished scientist with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry, specializing in Organic Chemistry and Fluorescent Chemistry from the Institute Of Chemical Technology (2010-2015). He worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay from February 2016 to February 2019, where he further honed his research expertise and scientific acumen. He has made significant contributions in the field of research and is currently serving as the Principal Scientist at NJBio India Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd. (formerly Amar Chemistry Pvt. Ltd.) since July 2022.
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Dr. Raghupati
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Dr. Polu Vijay Kumar
joined IIT Bombay as Institute-Post Doctoral Fellow (I-PDF) in 2019 after the submission of his thesis to the Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry University. Presently he is working as Research Scientist at Jubilant Biosys CIRC Ltd, Noida.
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Dr. Deepa Rawat
completed her master's at Kumaun University Nainital, Uttarakhand in 2015. She qualified for CSIR-NET in June 2016 and joined CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar Gujarat for Ph.D. in organic chemistry (February 2017) under the supervision of Dr. S. Adimurthy. She worked in IIT-B as I-PDF with Prof. Dr. K.P. Kaliappan’s research group in 2022. Currently, she is working as a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame, IN, USA since April 2023.
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