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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Liverpool, UK (Jan 2022 – present)
PI: Prof. Paul. M. O'Neill
Led synthesis, SAR and PK optimisation of small-molecule and peptidomimetic inhibitors targeting PLA2 and SVMP toxins, advancing projects towards preclinical candidates.
Established predictive QSAR modelling integrating Explainable AI (XAI) and Applicability Domain (AD) for AI‑guided analogue design and potency prediction.
Currently establishing and implementing generative AI (REINVENT 4) for de novo design and multi‑objective optimisation in SVMP inhibitor discovery.
KTP Associate | University of Liverpool, UK (Jan 2019 – Jan 2022)
PI: Prof. Xiao Jianliang
Developed enantio- and diastereoselective synthetic routes for chiral piperidines using asymmetric transfer hydrogenation, applicable in biocatalytic synthesis pathways.
Collaborated on scale-up and industrial application of novel catalytic methodologies.
Translated lab-scale reactions to scalable industrial protocols; technology commercialised.
Optimised chemo-catalytic cycles and translated lab-scale reactions into commercially viable processes. Published in Nature Catalysis; methodology now commercialised.
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship | Nagoya University, Japan (Mar 2015 – Nov 2018)
PI: Prof. Masato Kitamura
Pioneered chiral ligand development for Cu-catalysed oxidative allylic alkylation targeting sp³ C–H bonds.
Developed efficient 5-step synthesis of sphingosine using enantioselective catalysis and mechanistic insights into oxidation-based transformations via methylene-bridged chiral modules.
Investigated transition metal catalysis with emphasis on green and sustainable reaction pathways.
EDUCATION:
PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (2009 – 2014), at VIT University, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India; Thesis entitled “Design, synthesis, biological and photophysical studies of lactams, [1, 3] Oxazines, Quinolines, and triazatricyclo [6.2.2.01, 6] dodecanes: Mechanistic Insights and DFT calculations” (Research Supervisor: Dr. K. Sathiyanarayanan, Registrar of VIT University)
Master’s Degree (2007 – 2009) in Chemistry at Presidency College, Chennai-600005, Tamil Nadu, India (Affiliated to University of Madras, Chennai-600005, India), with first-class
Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry at Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur-635601, Tamil Nadu, India (Affiliated to Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore-632004, India), with first-class & distinction (2004 – 2007). B.Sc. DISSERTATION TITLE: “Estimating the amount of sodium present in the various laboratory reagents and to cross-check the percentage of sodium impurities printed on the bottle using FLAME PHOTOMETER”.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
Junior Research Fellow (IGCAR Project) at VIT University, India, from June 2010 to May 2011.
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP
1. Participated in the Indian Council of Chemists, 28th Annual Conference Held in November 2007, at Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan.
2. Participated in workshop “Cheminformatics and Approaches in Drug Design” by Schrodinger, held in December 2009 at VIT University, Vellore, India.
3. Participated in FDP on “Multidimensional NMR: Basic Principles and its Application” organised by the Academic Staff College & SAS during 2010 at VIT University, Vellore.
4. Participated in FDP on “Frontier areas in Chemistry and NMR” organised by SAS during 2012 at VIT University, Vellore.
INVITED TALK
1. Delivered an invited talk on “Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Its Research Avenues” at Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Tirupattur-Tk & District in 2020.
2. Delivered an invited talk on “AI in Drug Discovery” at Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Tirupattur-Tk & District in 2024.
KEY SKILLS AND TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES
Synthetic Organic Chemistry: Expertise in asymmetric reactions for multistep synthesis of life-saving drugs and complex bioactive molecules.
Medicinal chemistry: HTS, Hit to lead, lead optimization, In-depth SAR, PK profiling, ADME profiling, in-vitro and in-vivo assessment.
Synthesis and Scale-Up: Demonstrated expertise in performing multi-step syntheses, ranging from milligram to large-scale production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for new chemical entity (NCE) discovery and development.
Laboratory Techniques: Skilled in high-pressure reactors and moisture-sensitive reactions.
Analytical Equipment Proficiency: Competent in operating NMR, HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, FT-IR and UV-Visible.
Spectroscopic Characterization: Expert in interpreting and characterizing new chemical entities through spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, GC-MS, LC-MS, single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy.
Instrumentation: 1D/2D NMR, HPLC(Normal phase, Reverse Phase, semi-prep), LC-MS, GC-MS, FTIR, UV-Vis, Single crystal XRD
Software: CCDC, MestRenova NMR, ELN, SciFinder, Reaxys, StarDrop Python (pandas, scikit-learn, RDKit), QSAR, GOLD Docking, AutoDock, PyMOL, Chimera, AI/ML model validation, Data curation, REINVENT 4 (AI generative design – upskilling).
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