Speaker Profile

Prof. (Dr.) Jagadese J. Vittal, a renowned chemist, is a leader in solid-state chemistry and crystal engineering.  He is currently an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Prof. Vittal has an illustrious academic career. He did his B.Sc from University of Madras in 1975 and M.Sc from University of Madurai in 1977. He did his Ph.D from the renowned Indian Institute of Science in 1982. Then he went on to pursue his postdoctoral research work at University of Western Ontario.  He joined as Assistant Dean (Graduate Studies, Research and Infrastructure & Space), Faculty of Science, NUS, Singapore in 2007. 

Prof. Vittal has made significant contributions to the study of coordination polymers, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and materials with dynamic behaviors such as photosalient and mechanically responsive crystalline materials. His research is internationally acclaimed, with numerous highly cited publications and books.  Prof. Vittal’s research interests also include energy storage and nano materials, gels, and fibres.   His research group at NSU is also interested in designing multifunctional materials showing multi-photon absorption, second harmonic generation (SHG) and third harmonic generation (THG) properties and creating non-centrosymmetry via defects in MOFs. Prof. Vittal's career includes pioneering work on the structural transformations of solid materials, energy conversion in materials under UV light (e.g., photosalient effects), and materials with nonlinear optical and multi-photon upconversion properties. He also played a key role in advancing X-ray crystallography in Asia, establishing a state-of-the-art lab at NUS. He received innumerous accolades and recognitions including Fellowships in the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry, and the Indian Chemical Society. His awards include the Chemical Research Society of India Medal (2020), the G.V. Bakore Memorial Award (2019), and NUS's Outstanding Researcher and Scientist Awards. Additionally, Prof. Vittal has contributed extensively to scientific education and outreach globally. He worked as Visiting Professor at University of Western Ontario, Canada, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India and Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India.  He is also the editorial board member of various international journals like Scientific Reports, International Journal of Chemistry and Journal of Indian Chemical Society.

Dr. Joe Otsuki is a professor at the Department of Materials and Applied Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan. His research focuses on the development of molecular devices through the synthesis, design, and evaluation of novel molecules. These include molecular switching devices, artificial photosynthetic devices, single-molecule electronics, molecule sensing devices, and surface supramolecular chemistry. He works extensively with self-assembling molecules to create functional systems such as light-responsive materials and electronic devices at the molecular scale.

Dr. Otsuki's academic background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo in synthetic chemistry. He has published widely on topics like supramolecular chemistry, photochemistry, and nanotechnology, and has contributed to books and patents in his field. His work also explores applications in artificial photosynthesis, molecular switches, and coordination polymers. He is currently interested in studying how to make higher-functioning molecules through the cycle of the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel molecules.

Prof. (Dr.) Sivaji Chakravorti has been a full-time faculty member in the Electrical Engineering Department at Jadavpur University since 1985, currently holding the position of Professor of Electrical Engineering (currently on Lien). He has held various positions, including Visiting Fellow at the Indian National Science Academy, postdoctoral research at the Technical University of Munich, and Development Engineer at Siemens AG. He has also served as a US-NSF guest scientist at the Advanced Research Institute of Virginia Tech, AvH Guest Scientist at the Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, and Technical University Munich. He has authored over 105 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals, including 66 articles in IEEE Transactions and 26 articles in refereed Indian journals. He served as the Chairman of IEEE India Council from 2017-2018. Chakravorti holds one US patent, two Indian patents, and two copyrights for software. He has written three books and compiled three books, and created three online courses on computing numerical electric fields. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences in India, IEEE (USA), West Bengal Academy of Science & Technology, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers, and the Institution of Engineers (India).

Prof. Bimal Krishna Banik is a distinguished professor and researcher currently affiliated with Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia. He is recognized globally for his contributions to synthetic and medicinal chemistry, particularly in areas related to cancer treatment, antibiotics, catalysis, green chemistry, and drug discovery. His groundbreaking work has led to over 500 peer-reviewed publications and patents, including innovations in polycyclic β-lactam derivatives for cancer treatment. 

Prof. Banik conducted his thesis work for Ph.D. degree in Chemistry at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Calcutta. Then, he conducted postdoctoral research at Case Western Reserve University, Ohio and Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey. He is a FRSC and Chartered Chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, and a Fellow of many scientific societies including Indian Chemical Society.  Dr. Banik was a Tenured Full Professor in Chemistry and First President’s Endowed Professor in Science & Engineering at the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA). He was also the Vice President of Research & Education Development at the Community Health Systems of Texas. He served as an Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He started his career as an Assistant Professor of Experimental Molecular Pathology at the University Texas-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. At present, he is a Full Professor and Senior Researcher of Natural Sciences & Human Studies at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prof. Chittaranjan Sinha, a renowned chemist, has been teaching at various universities since 1992. He joined Burdwan University's Department of Chemistry in 1992 and later joined Jadavpur University in 2004. Sinha has published over 350 original research articles in various journals, including ACS, RSC, Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, CSIR-NISCAIR, Indian Chemical Society, and Benthem Publishers. His research focuses on coordination chemistry and applications, sensor development, photophysical investigations, and metal-organic frameworks. Sinha's research has been funded by various government organizations and has received 24 government grants. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Engineered Science Society, Indian Chemical Society, and West Bengal Academy of Science & Technology (India). Sinha has been invited as a Visiting Scientist by universities like the University of Singapore, Nihon University, and National Dong Hua and Tsing Hua Universities in Taiwan. He has also received the International Lectureship Award from Erasmus Mundus Fellowship, Padova University, Italy. Sinha has organized 12 national and 5 international conferences and chaired numerous sessions at various workshops, symposia, and seminars. He serves as an Editor for the Journal of Indian Chemical Society and holds editorial positions with Chemistry – An Indian Journal, World Science Echo, Current Microwave Chemistry, and Current Organocatalysis. and mentored 20 programs on health, environment, and education under National Service Schemes a and supporting underprivileged students through 'Raksha Bandhan for Education'. 

Prof. Sudip Chattopadhyay is a prominent academic and researcher at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Durgapur, India. He specializes in biotechnology, molecular biology, and allied fields. Prof. Chattopadhyay is widely recognized for his contributions to plant biology, particularly in the study of gene regulation and stress responses. He has published extensively in high-impact journals and is actively involved in guiding research scholars and collaborating on interdisciplinary projects.

Prof. Anil Kumar Singh, an esteemed academician and researcher, is a former professor in the Department of Chemistry at IIT Bombay. He earned his PhD from IIT Kanpur and pursued post-doctoral research in prestigious institutions such as Florida State University, the University of Hawaii, and Columbia University. Prof. Singh has made significant contributions to organic and bioorganic chemistry, photochemistry, and nanoscience, including research on retinal-based biological photoreceptors and the development of biomedical and opto-electronic nanoparticles.

He has held leadership roles such as Head of the Chemistry Department, Chairman of IIT-JEE, and Dean of Academic Programs at IIT Bombay. Additionally, he has served as the Director of CSIR-Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat, and as Vice-Chancellor at Bundelkhand University and the University of Allahabad.

Professor K. George Thomas is a prominent faculty member at IISER Thiruvananthapuram, serving as a Professor in the School of Chemistry and holding the prestigious J.C. Bose National Fellowship. His research focuses on light-matter interactions at the nanoscale, particularly with molecular systems, plasmonic systems, and semiconductor quantum dots. Techniques like steady-state spectroscopy and single-molecule microscopy are integral to his work.

Prof. Thomas has received numerous accolades, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Chemical Sciences (2006), one of India’s highest science honors. He is also an elected Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and the Indian Academy of Sciences. At IISER Thiruvananthapuram, he has played a significant administrative role, including serving as Dean of Faculty Affairs and as a former Director.

Prof. Dr. Takashiro Akitsu is a prominent chemist at the Tokyo University of Science (TUS), where he serves as a professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science. He earned his Ph.D. in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry from Osaka University in 2000 and later conducted research at Stanford University before joining TUS in 2008 as a junior associate professor. He was promoted to full professor in 2016.

Dr. Akitsu's research focuses on coordination chemistry, chiral metal complexes, Schiff bases, and crystal structures. His innovative work includes applying deep learning to identify single-molecule magnets and developing biocompatible hybrid protein complexes for therapeutic applications. He has published over 250 articles and book chapters, contributed to international conferences, and serves on editorial boards of several scientific journals.

Prof. Dr. Sunirmal Jana is a distinguished Senior Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI) in Kolkata, India. He has a strong academic foundation with a Master's degree in Chemistry from the University of Kalyani (1991) and a Ph.D. from Jadavpur University (1998). He joined CGCRI as a Junior Scientist in 1997 and has since contributed extensively to the field of materials science.

Dr. Jana's research focuses on advanced materials, including dielectric and metal oxide semiconductors, nano-patterned sol-gel thin films, graphene-based nanocomposites for energy and biomedical applications, and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. He has delivered numerous keynote addresses at international conferences and has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers, more than 100 conference proceedings, 10 book chapters, and holds 4 Indian patents.

Prof. Dr. Rajiv Ganguly serves as the Dean of the University of Engineering and Management (UEM), Kolkata. With a background in science and leadership within the academic realm, he has contributed significantly to advancing the university's vision of providing global-standard education. Dr. Ganguly has also emphasized using modern technological advancements to bridge the digital divide, ensuring education reaches even the remotest areas.

He has actively participated in academic and research initiatives, such as inaugurating the International Seminar on Artificial Intelligence and Optimization in 2018. This event, organized by UEM Kolkata in collaboration with the Operations Research Society of India, brought together global experts to discuss innovative topics in AI and optimization techniques.

Prof. (Dr.) Nimai Chand Pramanik is a Senior Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) in Kolkata, India. His expertise lies in advanced materials and applied chemistry, focusing on nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and inorganic-organic hybrids. Dr. Pramanik has led significant research in areas such as aerogel-based supercapacitors, flexible high-dielectric PCBs, and materials for energy storage and environmental sustainability. Some of his notable contributions include developing aerogel electrodes for supercapacitors and creating anti-reflective coatings for nuclear power plant applications. Additionally, he has contributed to prototype devices like supercapacitor-powered emergency lights and solar energy harvesting systems. He has an impressive record of academic contributions, including over 40 publications in high-impact journals and more than 100 conference presentations. Dr. Pramanik has also been recognized as a Life Fellow of the Indian Chemical Society, reflecting his influence and dedication to the field.

Prof. (Dr.) Ranjan Jana is a Senior Principal Scientist in the Organic and Medicinal Chemistry Division at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata. His expertise includes innovative methodologies in synthetic organic chemistry, particularly in C-H activation, asymmetric catalysis, and visible-light-mediated photoredox catalysis. He also works on environmentally friendly transformations involving CO2 and green chemistry approaches. Dr. Jana completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Utah, USA, in 2012, focusing on advanced synthetic strategies. Since joining CSIR-IICB, he has significantly contributed to the development of new synthetic methodologies, targeting heterocyclic compounds with potential therapeutic applications .His research has garnered substantial academic recognition, with over 61 publications and an h-index of 36, reflecting the impact of his work in the scientific community. Dr. Jana has also contributed to the development of bioactive molecules and strategies for the design of medium-ring heterocycles for applications such as cancer therapy and antimicrobial agents. 

Dr. Pawan Gupta is a prominent surgical oncologist specializing in head and neck cancer, currently serving as the Senior Director of Surgical Oncology at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Vaishali, New Delhi, and Noida. He has over 28 years of experience and has performed more than 11,000 successful surgeries. Dr. Gupta's expertise includes treating cancers of the oral cavity, thyroid, salivary glands, and breast, with a focus on minimally invasive techniques and personalized care plans.Dr. Gupta is also an advocate for cancer prevention and tobacco cessation. He founded the I Can Care Pvt. Ltd. and the I Can Win Foundation, both of which aim to educate and empower individuals in cancer prevention and rehabilitation. His dedication extends to leadership roles, such as being a member of the advisory committee on tobacco cessation under India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Prof. Kamakhya Prasad Ghatak is a prominent academician, serving as the Research Director and Senior Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at IEM UEM Group. Professor Ghatak is a pioneering figure in the field of nanotechnology, whose illustrious career spans decades of groundbreaking research and academic excellence. With an h-index of 33, an i-10 index of 166, and a remarkable 4,991 total citations, Professor Ghatak has made an indelible impact on his field, with his most cited paper receiving 354 citations. In 1991, he became the first recipient of the Doctor of Engineering (D. Engg.) degree from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, a prestigious milestone since the university's founding in 1955. That same year, he was honored with the INSA Visiting Fellowship to IIT Kharagpur, further cementing his status as a leading scholar. He is the principal co-author of more than 400 research papers in SCI journals, 7 research monographs on various topics of Nano Technology from Springer-Verlag Germany and vol. 1 in Nano-materials series of De Gruyter, Germany. He is the solo Author of Vols. 262 and 265 in TMP of the Springer-Verlag, Germany and two research monographs in the Series on the Foundations of Natural Science and Technology of World Scientific. He is the Principal Editor of the two edited monographs in series in Nanotechnology of NOVA, USA. 

Prof. Ghatak has successfully supervised more than 30 PhD students. The AICTE has selected the first R & D project in his life for the best project award in electronics and second best research project award considering all the branches of engineering for the year 2006 and he is the first recipient of the academic excellence award of the University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata from the present Governor of West Bengal in its first convocation in 2017. His dedication to education and research continues to inspire future generations of engineers and researchers. 

Prof. Pradipta Purkayastha, Professor at IISER Kolkata, is a leading researcher in host-guest interactions, nanomaterials, and bioengineering applications. His work explores how guest molecules bind to host structures in biological environments, altering their morphology to create suprastructures that can trap ions, studied through advanced spectroscopic techniques. He also focuses on the synthesis of metal nanoparticles and nanoclusters for drug delivery, where these nanoparticles act as bio-compatible markers with fluorescence properties. Additionally, his research on carbon nanoparticles investigates photoinduced energy transfer for energy harvesting applications, and he works on developing crystalline polymorphs for uses in light guides, OLEDs, and phosphorescent materials. Utilizing techniques like Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), he explores complex biological processes and advances nanotechnology applications in medicine and energy.

Over the years, Professor Purkayastha has authored numerous highly influential publications in prestigious international journals, making significant contributions to the integration of physics, biology, and mathematics. His work has provided novel insights into a range of biological phenomena, from cellular processes to broader ecological systems, and has been widely recognized in the academic community. Beyond his research achievements, Professor Purkayastha has played a key role in shaping the academic landscape at IISER Kolkata, where he mentors graduate students, leads interdisciplinary research initiatives, and fosters a collaborative environment that encourages innovation. His exceptional academic track record and leadership in the field continue to inspire students and researchers alike. 

Prof. Agnishwar Girigoswami has been a distinguished Professor at the Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE) since 2010. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Kalyani in 2004, after earning an M.Sc. in Biochemistry. Driven by a passion for scientific innovation, Dr. Girigoswami advanced his research as a postdoctoral fellow at the prestigious Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in 2006, where he contributed to the development of zip-code microarray technology for diagnosing human genetic mutations. This experience sparked his interest in nanotechnology, which he began to explore in tandem with DNA engineering.

Today, his research is at the forefront of nanomedicine, with a focus on developing nanoparticle-based theranostic tools, targeted drug delivery systems, photodynamic therapy, and bio-molecular spectroscopy. Dr. Girigoswami’s work seeks to integrate the power of nanotechnology with cutting-edge medical applications, offering transformative solutions in diagnostics and treatment. Through his visionary research, he continues to push the boundaries of science, creating innovative tools that bridge the gap between technology and healthcare.

Dr. Shivendu Ranjan is a distinguished researcher and academic affiliated with IIT Kharagpur, one of India's premier institutes of higher education and research. Known for his expertise in nanotechnology, biotechnology, and food engineering, Dr. Ranjan's work often explores the interface between advanced materials and their applications in health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. He has contributed significantly to the development of nanomaterials and their innovative applications in food safety, drug delivery, and sustainable technologies. Dr. Ranjan is widely recognized for his contributions to scientific research, including over 55 peer-reviewed publications, 34 edited books, two authored books, and a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent. He also serves as an Associate Editor for Environmental Chemistry Letters and has editorial roles in various scientific journals. His honors include fellowships with prestigious societies such as the Indian Chemical Society, The Linnean Society of London, and the Bose Science Society. His research focuses on the development of nanostructured materials for advanced biomedical applications, such as wound healing and cancer treatment.

Dr. Arabinda Mallick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol, West Bengal. His expertise lies in photophysics, chemical dynamics, and molecular device research. Dr. Mallick has an extensive academic background, having completed his Ph.D. from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in 2006, and has held postdoctoral research fellowships at Florida State University, USA, and Osaka University, Japan.

With over 70 publications, he has made significant contributions to the fields of supramolecular chemistry and sensor design. Dr. Mallick is also a life member of the Chemical Research Society of India and the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science.