_edited.png){kind=logo}
Department of Chemistry, IISER TIRUPATI
Meet our Speakers
ISAC 2026 · IISER TIRUPATI
We bring together leading researchers and innovators from across chemistry and materials science. Each speaker was selected for their pioneering contributions to their field.
ACADEMIA SPEAKER
Prof. Sabu Thomas
PhD · FRSC · FEurASc · WAAS Fellow · DSc
Director, International and Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology · Chairman, TrEST Research Park · Former Vice Chancellor · Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala
His research centres on polymer science and nanotechnology — pioneering work in polymer blends, elastomers, and high-performance green bionanocomposites with applications across automotive, energy storage, aerospace, and medicine. His collaboration with Apollo Tyres produced barrier rubber nanocomposite membranes that revolutionised tyre inner liner efficiency.
Nanomaterials · Polymer blends · Nanocomposites · Water purification · Energy storage · Tissue engineering
ACADEMIA SPEAKER
Prof. G. Narahari Sastry
FNA · FNASc · FASc · FRSC ·
Professor, Department of Biotechnology · Dean SRC IIT Hyderabad
Former Director · CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat, Assam, India
Prof. G. Narahari Sastry is a distinguished scientist renowned for his pioneering work in computational chemistry and the development of indigenous drug discovery software to reduce academic overdependency on expensive commercial tools. His research topics strongly connect and bridge the four paradigms of science: experimental, theoretical, modelling and data science research.
Computational Chemistry· Computational Biology · Drug Discovery · Non-Covalent Interactions
INDUSTRY SPEAKER
Dr. Thomas John Colacot
FRSC · Ph.D. · MBA
Vice President of Research & Development · Hindustan Platinum Former Global R&D Leader · MilliporeSigma & Johnson Matthey
Dr. Thomas J. Colacot is a globally recognized leader in catalysis, organic synthesis, and process chemistry. He has driven innovation in homogeneous catalysis for sustainable active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) synthesis and fine chemicals manufacturing, resulting in numerous patented technologies and successful commercial product launches. His ability to translate fundamental science into industrial application led C&EN News to describe him as an “academician in industrial clothing”.
Catalysis · Organic Synthesis · Process Chemistry · Homogeneous Catalysis
ACADEMIA SPEAKER
Dr. Geetharani K
Associate Professor, Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
Dr. Geetharani K specializes in Main Group chemistry, catalysis, and small molecule activation. Her group designs novel FLPs and bench stable Lewis acids to convert molecules like CO2, H2, and N2 into value-added products. She also studies the photoisomerization of azoarenes for catalyst-free functionalization since they have application in photoswitches, dyes, antibiotics and molecular machines.
Homogeneous Catalysis · Organometallic Chemistry · Palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions · Catalyst and Ligand Design · Industrial Catalysis and Process Chemistry
INDUSTRY SPEAKER
Dr. Koushik Kasavajhala
PhD (Stony Brook) · MS (IIIT-H)
Principal Scientist I, Schrödinger, Bangalore
Koushik is an experienced computational biologist and chemist focused on designing algorithms and computational models to understand biological processes and interactions at the atomic level. His research is highly influential in the scientific community, with over 20,000 total citations. He currently serves as a lead Applications Scientist for several Schrodinger clients, helping bridge the gap between computational research and clinical drug discovery.
Biomolecular Modeling · Drug Discovery · Machine Learning
ACADEMIA SPEAKER
Prof. Rajadurai Chandrasekar
PhD (Max-Planck) · FNASc. · FASc. · FRSC ·
School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad
His research explores the transformative potential of Mechanophotonics. He is leading the development of Organic Photonic Integrated Circuits (OPICs) using polymer particles and molecular crystals. By combining the subjects of Chemistry, Physics, and Materials Science, his lab has spent a decade creating key micro-components, such as passive waveguides, resonators, and modulators.
Advanced Organic Photonic Materials· Crystal-photonics Foundry · Mechanophotonics
ACADEMIA SPEAKER
Prof. Srabanti Chaudhury
Professor and Rahul Bajaj Chair · Dean (Academics)
IISER Pune
Dr. Srabanti Chaudhury uses methods of statistical mechanics and stochastic processes to study problems in chemical/biological physics, and soft condensed matter. At the theoretical level, the group develops analytical models to understand physiochemical processes where stochasticity and randomness play an important role. Further, they develop mathematical techniques and theoretical models to probe stochasticity that is inherent in the dynamics of such physiochemical processes.
Chemical physics· Theoretical biophysics
INDUSTRY SPEAKER
Dr. Vidya Ramadas
PhD (Univ of Hyderabad) · Post-doc (Univ of Kansas, USA) VP, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Enveda Biosciences
Vidya Ramadas has around twenty-five years of post-PhD experience in Medicinal Chemistry and Novel Drug Discovery. Having held leadership roles at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, TATA-Advinus Therapeutics, and Lupin Ltd, she has delivered several pre-clinical candidates across therapeutic areas such as oncology, metabolic disorders, and anti-inflammation. Her career is distinguished by 19 publications and 17 WO patents, with specialized expertise in novel drug design, SAR analysis, and IP generation.
Medicinal Chemistry · Novel Drug Discovery · Lead Optimization · IP Generation
ACADEMIA SPEAKER
Prof. Rajesh Viswanathan
Professor of Chemistry and Biology · Former Dean, Academics IISER Tirupati
Prof. Rajesh Viswanathan holds a Master's from IIT Kanpur and a Ph.D. from Indiana University Bloomington, with postdoctoral experience at the University of Utah. Following an award-winning tenure as an Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University, he joined IISER Tirupati in 2018, eventually serving as the Dean of Academic Affairs. His research program—supported by agencies like the NSF, NIH, and SERB—focuses on medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, natural product biosynthesis, and developing enzyme inhibitors as anticancer agents. Alongside his academic roles, he serves as the CSO of the start-up Avian Biovolatiles and consults for the synthetic biology firm Gingko Bioworks.
Medicinal Chemistry · Organic Synthesis · Natural Product Biosynthesis · Enzyme Inhibitors
More speakers to be announced
More distinguished speakers coming soon; follow our Instagram for updates