Saravanan Matheshwaran 

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Saravanan Matheshwaran is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, IIT Kanpur, where he leads a dynamic research group focused on microbial adaptation and chromatin dynamics, to understand the emergence and mitigation of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). His groundbreaking doctoral research at IISc Bangalore on Klebsiella pneumoniae nuclease (KpnI) identified the HNH motif in restriction enzymes (REases), leading to the development of a high-fidelity version of KpnI, now widely distributed by New England Biolabs (NEB) and protected by a U.S. patent. This work has had a significant impact on molecular cloning and genetic research. Dr. Matheshwaran’s postdoctoral work at Cancer Research UK and EMBL Heidelberg, supported by prestigious EMBO and Marie Curie fellowships, expanded his expertise in chromatin biology, structural biochemistry, and chromosome dynamics. His research at IIT Kanpur focuses on stress biology, antimicrobial resistance, and the bacterial SOS response, a DNA repair mechanism that contributes to drug resistance. His lab aims to uncover novel therapeutic targets for pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Acinetobacter baumannii. Dr. Matheshwaran’s interdisciplinary collaborations with chemists and physicists have led to patented small molecules for disease treatment. His teaching spans a broad array of subjects, including Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Biology, integrating cutting-edge research with core concepts to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of biological sciences. His work has earned him numerous awards, including the INSA Young Scientist Award and the DBT-Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award.

EDUCATION

B.Sc. - Microbiology (University of Madras- 1999)

M.Sc. - Integrated Biology (Specialization: Microbial Technology) Madurai Kamaraj University- Madurai (2001)

PhD. - Science (Protein-Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Cell biology) - Indian Institute of Science- Bangalore (2008)

EXPERIENCE / SKILLS

2023- Present : Associate Professor, BSBE, IIT Kanpur, India

2013- 2022 : Assistant Professor, BSBE, IIT Kanpur, India

2012-2013 : Research Associate IISc, Bangalore, India

2012-2012 : EIPOD- Marie Curie Fellow, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany

2010-2012: EMBO Fellow, Institute of Cancer Research, London- UK

2008-2010: CR UK Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer Research UK, Herts, UK

2008: Visiting Scientist, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany

AWARDS / RECOGNITION

Member, Board of Studies in Biological Sciences, CHARUSAT University , Gujrat

Steering Committee Member, Asian Federation of Biotechnology, India

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) International Development Peer Review College Member (2018-2021) 

Member, Executive Committee, Society of Biological Chemists (SBCI) India (2020 onwards)

Convenor, Kanpur Chaper, Society of Biological Chemists (SBCI) India  (2020 onwards)

DBT-Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award (IYBA-2016)

EIPOD-Marie Curie fellowship -EMBL (2012)

INSA Medal for Young Scientists (2010)

EMBO Fellowship (2009)

M. Sreenivasaya Medal for Best PhD Thesis IISc, Bangalore (2008)

Cancer Research UK Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008)

CSIR-JRF (2002)

Founder Biogroup India A group of young and aspiring biologists, chemists, Physicist and clinicians get together to discuss recent advancements in modern biology. (https://biogroupindia.weebly.com)

TEACHING AREA

BSE611A- Instrumental methods in Modern Biological Sciences

LIF101- Introduction to Biology

BSE311A-Cell and Molecular Biology

BSE221A- Biochemistry

BSE612- Biochemical Engineering

BSE642A- Microbiology and Immunology