Curiosity First, Application Always
I grew up fascinated by the idea that molecules could be designed rather than simply discovered — that a chemist could sit down with a blank page and engineer a route no one had walked before. That fascination hasn't really left me; it's just found sharper questions to chase.
Today I lead the Catalysis & Synthesis Laboratory at CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, where our group works on asymmetric catalysis, C–H activation, and the total synthesis of bioactive natural products. Underneath the publications and patents is a simpler goal: build chemistry rigorous enough to trust and useful enough to matter — particularly for the health and sustainability challenges India faces.
Outside the lab, I spend a good part of my week mentoring young researchers, reviewing proposals for DST–SERB, and — usually good-naturedly — debating with my students about whether a mechanism really needs one more control experiment.
Academic Foundations
Formal training that shaped a research philosophy grounded equally in mechanism and application.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay — doctoral thesis on Pd(0)-catalysed C–C bond-forming reactions for complex molecule assembly.
2002 – 2006Massachusetts Institute of Technology — advanced training in organocatalysis and the total synthesis of architecturally complex natural products.
2006 – 2009University of Hyderabad — specialisation in organic and physical chemistry, graduating at the top of the department.
2000 – 2002Presidency College, Kolkata — foundational training in the chemical sciences and first exposure to research through undergraduate projects.
1997 – 2000Core Scientific Domains
Six interlocking areas of methodology and application that define the lab's research programme.
Chiral transition-metal and organocatalytic systems for enantioselective synthesis, routinely reaching up to 99.5% ee.
17 YearsDirected functionalisation strategies with Pd, Rh, and Ir catalysts for step-economical access to complex scaffolds.
15 YearsTotal synthesis of bioactive terpenoids, alkaloids, and polyketides relevant to tropical disease research.
16 YearsAtom-economical, solvent-free, and photocatalytic methodologies aligned with national sustainability goals.
12 YearsStructure–activity relationship studies and lead optimisation for anti-malarial and anticancer candidates.
10 YearsDFT-guided mechanistic studies and ML-assisted reaction outcome prediction for accelerated discovery.
6 YearsCareer Highlights
A selection of the honours and recognitions along the way — the full list lives on the Research page.
The Journey So Far
From joining CSIR–IICT as a young scientist to building a 22-member research group.
Secured a 4-year Core Research Grant for a photoredox/chiral phosphoric acid programme; lab reaches 22 members across postdocs, Ph.D. scholars, and project staff.
Conferred the National Science Chair in recognition of sustained contributions to catalysis and synthetic methodology.
Promoted to Grade IV; began a long-running mechanistic programme on copper-catalysed aerobic Chan–Lam amination.
Recognised nationally for early-career contributions; established the lab's first formal international collaboration with MIT.
Promoted to Senior Scientist and established the independent Catalysis & Synthesis Laboratory at CSIR–IICT.
Returned from postdoctoral training at MIT to join CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology as Scientist.
Interested in Joining the Lab?
We're always looking for curious, rigorous researchers — from Ph.D. scholars to industry collaborators.