Apparao (Appu) received his master's degree from the University of Hyderabad, India, and subsequently completed his PhD at the University of Groningen, Netherlands (2009-2013), under the supervision of Prof. Wesley R. Browne and Prof. Bernard L. Feringa. His doctoral research centered on investigating the electrochemical and photochemical properties of inorganic metal complexes with biological relevance. Following his PhD, Appu pursued postdoctoral research with Prof. Lawrence Que, Jr. at the University of Minnesota, USA, focusing on biomimetic iron chemistry. He is now an Associate Professor at IIT Kanpur and was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2024.

Appu’s research addresses key challenges in chemical transformations important to industry, emphasizing the development of synthetic metalloenzymes to catalyze abiological reactions. His group strives to emulate high-valent metal species observed in biological systems, employing advanced spectroscopic techniques to elucidate fundamental mechanistic processes. By advancing our ability to stabilize and control high-valent metal intermediates, his research offers critical insights for biomimetic catalysis and, more recently, for electrochemical energy applications.