Kiranmai Nayani | Chemistry | Research Excellence Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Kiranmai Nayani | Chemistry | Research Excellence Award

CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) | India

Dr. Kiranmai Nayani is an accomplished synthetic organic chemist with extensive research experience in peptide chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, natural product synthesis, and process development for pharmaceutically relevant molecules. She earned her Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from CSIR–IICT, Hyderabad (2005–2010) under the supervision of Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar, receiving the prestigious Eli Lilly Asia Outstanding Thesis Award (2010). She holds an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry with Gold Medal from NIT Warangal, a B.Ed. (Institute Topper), and a B.Sc. with Distinction. Dr. Kiranmai currently serves as Senior Scientist at CSIR-IICT, following earlier roles including Project Scientist-III, WOS-A Principal Investigator (DST), Senior Research Associate (CSIR Pool Scientist), Postdoctoral Fellow at Université Paris Descartes (France), and industry positions at Chemveda Life Sciences, Sai Advantium Pharma, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. Her research contributions span organic synthesis, asymmetric dearomatization, foldamers, peptidomimetics, functional peptides, radical cascade reactions, Piancatelli rearrangements, and late-stage functionalization. She has significantly contributed to the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, including scalable routes to TLR7/8 agonists used as adjuvants in Covaxin, the antiviral drug Nirmatrelvir, and peptide drugs like Dalargin and Plitidepsin.

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Featured Publications

Fehmida Rashied | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Fehmida Rashied | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

NIT Srinagar, India

Ms. Fehmida Rashied is a promising researcher in the field of Analytical and Organic Chemistry, currently associated with the Department of Chemistry at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, India. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Kashmir (2022) and a Bachelor of Science degree from the same institution, with a strong academic foundation in chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Throughout her academic and research journey, she has developed extensive expertise in analytical instrumentation, including HPLC, GC, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, and ICP-MS/MS, with a focus on pesticide residue analysis, natural product extraction, and method validation for heavy metal detection in environmental and biological samples. Her professional experience includes hands-on training at premier research centers such as SKUAST-Kashmir and the Geological Survey of India, where she deepened her understanding of chromatographic and spectroscopic applications in food and environmental chemistry. Ms. Rashied’s research interests encompass chromatography, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, organic chemistry, toxicology, and the development of natural product-based antimicrobial polymer composites. She has contributed to impactful publications in reputed journals such as Fitoterapia and Journal of Biomedical Chromatography, reflecting her analytical proficiency and dedication to scientific advancement. Her research skills span sample preparation, extraction, quantification, and validation, demonstrating precision and reliability in chemical analysis. She has presented her work at multiple national and international conferences, showcasing her commitment to academic exchange and professional growth. Recognized for her enthusiasm, creativity, and analytical rigor, she continues to enhance her expertise in modern analytical technologies. With growing scientific recognition and a drive for innovation, Ms. Fehmida Rashied aspires to advance sustainable analytical methods for food safety, natural product research, and environmental protection, contributing significantly to the global field of applied and analytical chemistry.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publication

  1. Dudwal, R., Jakhar, B. L., Pathan, A. R. K., Kataria, A., Jan, I., Kakralya, B. L., Dhaka, S. R., Hussain, A., Bana, J. K., Babu, S. R., Yadav, A. K., & Rashied, F. (2023). The effect of different decontamination processes on the residues of Fipronil and its metabolites in chilli fruits (Capsicum annum). Journal of Biomedical Chromatography.

  2. Yatoo, G. N., Bhat, B. A., Zubaid-ul-Khazir, M., Asif, M., Bhat, S. A., Gulzar, F., Rashied, F., Wani, A. H., Ahmed, I., Zargar, S. M., Mir, M. A., & Banday, J. A. (2024). Network pharmacology and experimental insights into STAT3 inhibition by novel isoxazole derivatives of piperic acid in triple negative breast cancer. Fitoterapia.

  3. Jan, I., Rashied, F., Malik, N. A., Mukhtar, M., Dudwal, R., & Kataria, A. (2024). Detection of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables involving different chromatographic techniques (LC–MS/MS, GC–MS/MS, GC, and HPLC). Journal of Biomedical Chromatography.

Ms. Fehmida Rashied’s work advances scientific and societal progress through the development of reliable analytical methods for detecting pesticide residues and heavy metals, ensuring food and environmental safety. Her research bridges chemistry and public health, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and global innovation in analytical and environmental chemistry.

Yumiko Nakajima | Chemistry | Best Research Article Award

Prof. Yumiko Nakajima | Chemistry | Best Research Article Award

Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan

Professor Yumiko Nakajima is a distinguished chemist and a leading figure in the field of organometallic catalysis and precision synthesis, currently serving as Professor at the Institute of Science Tokyo. She earned both her Bachelor of Science (2000) and Ph.D. (2005) from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, establishing a strong academic foundation in coordination and catalytic chemistry. Her professional journey reflects an impressive trajectory through top-tier institutions — beginning as a Postdoctoral Fellow (Humboldt Fellow) at RWTH Aachen University, Germany (2005–2007), followed by appointments as Special Postdoctoral Researcher at RIKEN (2007–2008), Assistant Professor at Kyoto University (2008–2013), and progressive leadership roles at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) as Senior Researcher (2013–2017) and Team Leader (2017–2023) before assuming her current professorship in 2024. Her research interests lie in the design and mechanistic understanding of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions, sustainable synthetic processes, and chemical recycling, with a particular focus on Si–Cl bond activation, hydrogenolysis, and phosphorus compound transformation for green chemistry applications. Prof. Nakajima’s research skills span catalyst design, organometallic synthesis, reaction kinetics, and computational chemistry collaboration, enabling her to pioneer innovative catalytic systems that promote environmental sustainability. She has published extensively with 88 peer-reviewed papers, accumulating 2,503 citations and an h-index of 27, including influential works in JACS Au, Angewandte Chemie, ACS Catalysis, and Chemical Communications. Her outstanding contributions have earned her prestigious honors such as the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Award (Japan, 2024) and the KCS Award in Chemical Technology (2022). In conclusion, Professor Nakajima stands out as a visionary scientist whose research leadership, international collaborations, and commitment to advancing sustainable catalysis continue to shape the future of chemical innovation and inspire the next generation of researchers globally.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Naganawa, Y., Fujita, A., Sakamoto, K., Tanaka, S., Sato, K., & Nakajima, Y. (2023). Borane-protecting strategy for hydrosilylation of phosphorus-containing olefins. ACS Omega, 8, Article e2C07161.

Minami, Y., Matsuyama, N., Takeichi, Y., Watanabe, R., Mathew, S., & Nakajima, Y. (2023). Depolymerization of robust polyetheretherketone to regenerate monomer units using sulfur reagents. Communications Chemistry, 6(1), Article 8148.

Mathew, S., Naganawa, Y., Jiang, F., Wischert, R., Streiff, S., Metivier, P., & Nakajima, Y. (2023). One-pot synthesis of polymers containing P–C bonds in the main chain. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 44(6), Article 2200921. https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202200921

Kameo, H., Tanaka, Y., Shimoyama, Y., Izumi, D., Matsuzaka, H., Nakajima, Y., Lavedan, P., Le Gac, A., & Bourissou, D. (2023). Square-planar anionic Pt(0) complexes. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 62(25), Article e202301509.

Tanaka, S., Nakajima, Y., Ogawa, A., Kuragano, T., Kon, Y., Tamura, M., Sato, K., & Coperet, C. (2022). DNP NMR spectroscopy enabled direct characterization of polystyrene-supported catalyst species for synthesis of glycidyl esters by transesterification. Chemical Science, 13(10), 274–282.

Professor Yumiko Nakajima’s pioneering research in organometallic catalysis and precision synthesis drives transformative advancements in green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing. Her innovative catalytic systems not only deepen scientific understanding of chemical transformations but also contribute to environmental preservation, industrial efficiency, and global progress toward cleaner, resource-efficient technologies.

Rahul Kadu | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rahul Kadu | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune, India

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rahul Kadu is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of chemistry, currently serving as Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Science and Humanities, School of Engineering & Sciences, MIT Art, Design & Technology University, Pune, India. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2015 from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, under the guidance of Dr. Vinay Kumar Singh, with his doctoral research focusing on Metal Directed Self-Assembled Structures: Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Studies, and subsequently pursued a prestigious post-doctoral fellowship at IISER Bhopal (2015–2017) under Dr. Sangit Kumar, specializing in organoselenium chemistry and antioxidant research. His professional career spans more than a decade, including earlier roles as Assistant Professor and Board of Studies Member, where he contributed significantly to curriculum design and academic leadership. Dr. Kadu’s research interests lie in organometallic, supramolecular, material, and medicinal chemistry, with a focus on macrocyclic coordination compounds, catalytic processes, and potential therapeutic applications. He possesses strong research skills in synthetic chemistry, crystallography, supramolecular assembly, computational chemistry, and analytical techniques including NMR, HPLC, UV-visible spectroscopy, and single-crystal XRD. With over 20 indexed publications, 487 citations, and an h-index of 13, he has published extensively in high-impact Q1 and Q2 journals such as Journal of Organic Chemistry, Dalton Transactions, RSC Advances, and Journal of Molecular Structure. His excellence has been recognized through multiple honors, including the InSc Young Researcher Award (2023), UGC-JRF and SRF Fellowships, and Best Poster Awards at national conferences. As a Ph.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | LinkedIn | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

  1. Jana, S., Verma, A., Kadu, R., & Kumar, S. (2017). Visible-light-induced oxidant and metal-free dehydrogenative cascade trifluoromethylation and oxidation of 1,6-enynes with water. Chemical Science, 8(9), 6633–6644.

  2. Kadu, R., Roy, H., & Singh, V. K. (2015). Diphenyltin (IV) dithiocarbamate macrocyclic scaffolds as potent apoptosis inducers for human cancer HEP 3B and IMR 32 cells: Synthesis, spectral characterization, density … Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 29(11), 746–755.

  3. Singh, V. K., Kadu, R., Roy, H., Raghavaiah, P., & Mobin, S. M. (2016). Phenolate based metallomacrocyclic xanthate complexes of Co II/Cu II and their exclusive deployment in [2:2] binuclear N,O-Schiff base macrocycle formation and in vitro … Dalton Transactions, 45(4), 1443–1454.

  4. Bhandary, S., Sirohiwal, A., Kadu, R., Kumar, S., & Chopra, D. (2018). Dispersion stabilized Se/Te··· π double chalcogen bonding synthons in in situ cryocrystallized divalent organochalcogen liquids. Crystal Growth & Design, 18(7), 3734–3739.

  5. Batabyal, M., Upadhyay, A., Kadu, R., Birudukota, N. C., Chopra, D., & Kumar, S. (2022). Tetravalent spiroselenurane catalysts: Intramolecular Se···N chalcogen bond-driven catalytic disproportionation of H2O2 to H2O and O2 and activation of I2 and NBS. Inorganic Chemistry, 61(23), 8729–8745.