Biography: He completed a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Calcutta (1998), an M.S. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (2001), and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Geneva, Switzerland (2001-2005). After completing a Postdoc from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA (2005-2006), he worked as a Senior Research Scientist at AMRI Global (Presently Curia Global), Hyderabad (2006-2007) and then at the Institute of Life Sciences (Presently Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences), Hyderabad (2007-2009). He joined the Chemistry Department at IISER Pune as an Assistant Professor in 2009. He was re-appointed as Associate Professor in 2015 and Professor in 2020. He is also an Adjunct Professor (Visiting) in the School of Natural Sciences at Shiv Nadar University (Visit his SNU Profile). Additionally, he has served as the Dean of Faculty at IISER Pune (2021-2026).

Awards: 

• DAE Young Scientist Research Award (2010)

• DBT National Bioscience Award for Career Development (2016)

• CRSI Bronze Medal (2018), SERB DIA Award (2019)

• Rahul Bajaj Chair Professor at IISER Pune (2021-2024)

• Fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (2021)

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) through the ‘Leaders in the Field’ scheme (2023)

• National Prize for Research in Bio-Physical Chemistry by C. N. R. Rao Education Foundation (2023)

• JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan (2024)

• Fellow of the West Bengal Academy of Science & Technology (2024)

• C. N. R. Rao National Prize by the Chemical Research Society of India (2025)

• Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (FNA) (2025)

Editorial Roles: 

• Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry 

• Editorial Advisory Board Member of ACS Organic & Inorganic Au

• Appointed as a Guest Editor for the Thematic Collection by Wiley on Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery in India. 

Debarati has joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in August 2020 after obtaining a CSIR-JRF fellowship. She completed her B.Sc. from The University of Burdwan, in 2015 and her M.Sc. from Central University of Gujarat, in 2018. Her research focuses on supramolecular self-assembled systems for ion transport and therapeutic applications.

Umesh joined the Ph.D. program at the IISER Pune in January 2022 after qualifying for the UGC(NFOBC)-JRF fellowship. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in 2017 and Master’s degree in 2019 from P. D. V. P. College, Tasgaon, affiliated with Shivaji University, Kolhapur. His current work involves designing stimulus-responsive anion transporters and artificial water channels, with a particular focus on their potential applications in water purification and desalination.

Ranjeet ​has joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in January 2023 after obtaining a CSIR-JRF fellowship. He is working on the development of artificial anion transporters.

Debraj joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in January 2023 with a CSIR-UGC JRF fellowship. He completed his B.Sc. from St. Paul's Cathedral Mission College, Calcutta University, in 2018 and his M.Sc. from RKM Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara, Kolkata, in 2020. His research focuses on the development of artificial membrane fusion systems.

Soumyajit is an Integrated Ph.D. student at IISER Pune. He completed his M.S. Project in 2023 (Jan-Apr) and presently pursuing Ph.D. with an Institute fellowship. His current work is based on the development of supramolecular polymeric ion channel system and discrete synthetic ion transporters.

She joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in January 2023 after obtaining a DST-INSPIRE fellowship. She is working on the development of stimuli-responsive artificial ion transporters.

He has joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in January 2023 after obtaining a CSIR-JRF fellowship. He is working on the development of artificial anion transporters.

Payel has joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in August 2023 with an Institute fellowship. She completed her B.Sc. from R.N.L.K. Women’s College, Vidyasagar University in 2020 and her M.Sc. from NIT Durgapur in 2022. She is working on the development of semicages and cages as artificial anion transporters.

Tanvi has joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in November 2023 after obtaining a CSIR-UGC JRF fellowship. She completed her B.Sc. from Shree M. & N. Virani Science College, Saurashtra University in 2019 and her M.Sc. from St. Xavier’s College, Gujarat University in 2021. She is working on the development of artificial anion transporters for improved anticancer activity.

Sanghamitra has joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in August 2025 with an institute fellowship. She completed her B.Sc. from Serampore College, Calcutta University in 2023 and her M.Sc. from IISER Kolkata in 2025. Her research focuses on the development of artificial water channels.

Agnivo joined the Ph.D. program at IISER Pune in August 2026 with an Institute fellowship. He completed his B.Sc. from the University of Kalyani in 2024 and his M.Sc. from IISER Thiruvananthapuram in 2026. His research focuses on designing artificial ion transporters for improved anticancer activity. 

Shinjin is a first year M.Sc. student at IISER Pune. She has completed her B.Sc. in Chemistry from Calcutta University. She has done semester projects and a summer project in our lab. She is currently doing her Master's project in our lab.

Arjab joined the BS-MS program at IISER Pune in 2023 and joined our lab in August 2024. He has completed a Semester project from January to April 2025, Summer Project from May to July 2025, and a second Semester project from August to December 2025. Presently, he is working on the development of CEST MRI contrast agents. 

Subhransu joined the BS-MS program at IISER Pune in 2024. He joined our lab in July 2026. He is currently working on a semester project.

Jhanvi joined the BS-MS program at IISER Pune in 2022. She joined our lab in August 2026. She is currently working on a semester project.

Aswathi completed her BS-MS in chemistry from IISER Bhopal in 2026. She joined our lab in July 2026. She is currently working as a Project Assistant in an ANRF-funded project.