Aravind Nesaragi | Organic Chemistry | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Aravind Nesaragi | Organic Chemistry | Young Scientist Award

Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, India

Profiles

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Aravind Nesaragi laid the foundation of his academic career in the field of chemistry, completing his undergraduate studies with distinction and progressing to earn a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry. He further enhanced his academic credentials with a Bachelor of Education, showcasing a parallel interest in teaching. His academic journey reflects a consistent commitment to excellence, culminating in a doctoral degree focused on nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles for pharmacological applications. His Ph.D. work involved synthetic and spectral studies under the supervision of an experienced mentor at a reputed Indian university.

Research Interests and Focus

Dr. Nesaragi’s research is deeply rooted in materials chemistry and organic synthesis, with a strong focus on the development of nanomaterials and conjugated luminescent molecules for applications in optics and energy devices. His interests span a broad spectrum, including fluorescence sensing, OLED applications, optoelectronics, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). He is particularly engaged in the design of nanocatalysts for organic transformations and the fabrication of functional materials for sensing and photovoltaic applications.

Professional Endeavors

Dr. Nesaragi has held postdoctoral research positions at premier Indian institutions. His most recent appointment was at the Indian Institute of Technology Dharwad, where he worked on π-conjugated molecules for sensing applications and conducted DFT computational studies. Prior to that, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Nano and Material Sciences, JAIN University, where he developed luminescent probes for heavy metal ion detection and OLED technologies. These postdoctoral experiences have strengthened his expertise in advanced molecular design, synthesis, and characterization for optoelectronic applications.

Research Contributions and Output

Over the course of his doctoral and postdoctoral research, Dr. Nesaragi has contributed significantly to the synthesis of highly conjugated molecules with potential applications in devices such as DSSCs, OLEDs, and supercapacitors. His work is distinguished by its practical relevance, bridging synthetic chemistry with material science and device engineering. His Ph.D. thesis focused on medicinally relevant heterocyclic compounds, combining both synthetic and spectral approaches to uncover their potential as pharmacological agents.

Awards and Fellowships

Dr. Nesaragi has received a prestigious Ph.D. fellowship from the Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society, recognizing the significance of his doctoral research. He also qualified the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), a highly competitive national examination, further establishing his academic credentials.

Technical and Computational Proficiency

He has developed strong technical skills across a wide range of instrumental techniques, including NMR, GC-MS, microwave-assisted synthesis, FT-IR (ATR and KBr), UV-visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectrophotometry. His computational experience includes the use of Gaussian for DFT studies, along with software such as Origin, ChemDraw, Geol NMR, Mendeley, and EndNote for data analysis, visualization, and manuscript preparation.

Teaching Experience

Dr. Nesaragi has hands-on teaching experience, having worked as a lecturer in a pre-university science college for two years. During this tenure, he contributed to classroom instruction in chemistry and developed foundational science skills in young learners. This experience complements his research career and reflects his ongoing commitment to academic mentorship and education.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking forward, Dr. Nesaragi aims to further his contributions to organic and materials chemistry by developing novel compounds for use in flexible electronic devices and energy storage technologies. His research is aligned with emerging global priorities in sustainable energy and advanced sensing technologies. Through a combination of synthetic innovation, applied material development, and academic mentorship, he aspires to make impactful contributions to both science and education.

Notable Publications

Microwave assisted regioselective synthesis of quinoline appended triazoles as potent anti-tubercular and antifungal agents via copper (I) catalyzed cycloaddition
Authors: AR Nesaragi, RR Kamble, PK Bayannavar, SKJ Shaikh, SR Hoolageri, …
Journal: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Year: 2021

Green synthesis of therapeutically active 1,3,4-oxadiazoles as antioxidants, selective COX-2 inhibitors and their in silico studies
Authors: AR Nesaragi, RR Kamble, S Dixit, B Kodasi, SR Hoolageri, …
Journal: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Year: 2021

WELPSA: A natural catalyst of alkali and alkaline earth metals for the facile synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans and pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidinones as inhibitors of …
Authors: AR Nesaragi, RR Kamble, SR Hoolageri, A Mavazzan, SF Madar, …
Journal: Applied Organometallic Chemistry
Year: 2022

Click chemistry based regioselective one‐pot synthesis of coumarin‐3‐yl‐methyl‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3(4H)‐ones as newer potent antitubercular agents
Authors: SM Somagond, RR Kamble, PK Bayannavar, SKJ Shaikh, SD Joshi, …
Journal: Archiv der Pharmazie
Year: 2019

A comprehensive overview of coumarinyl-triazole hybrids as anticancer agents
Authors: AR Nesaragi, JS Algethami, M Alsaiari, SA Alsareii, BS Mathada, …
Journal: Journal of Molecular Structure
Year: 2024

Nicholas White | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nicholas White | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Genentech, Inc., United States

👨‍🎓Profiles

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Nicholas A. White’s passion for chemistry began during his undergraduate years at Loyola University Chicago, where he earned a B.S. in Chemistry, graduating magna cum laude in 2010. During this time, he conducted research under Prof. James Babler, focusing on chemoselective Ru(III)/NaBH4 reductions. He further advanced his academic career by pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Colorado State University under Prof. Tomislav Rovis, specializing in asymmetric N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed reactions.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Dr. White is currently a Sr. Principal Scientist in the Department of Synthetic Molecule Process Chemistry at Genentech, Inc., where he leads the development of innovative and phase-appropriate processes for producing high-quality Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). His industry experience also includes a formative internship at TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, where he contributed to pharmaceutical manufacturing and process development.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Throughout his career, Dr. White has contributed to advancing synthetic organic chemistry, with a particular emphasis on catalysis and process chemistry. His postdoctoral work at MIT with Prof. Stephen L. Buchwald was centered on developing Pd-catalyzed C–N couplings using amine bases, providing valuable methodologies for pharmaceutical synthesis.

🌍 Impact and Influence

At Genentech, Dr. White’s work directly supports the delivery of safe and effective medicines. His ability to translate cutting-edge synthetic chemistry into scalable, robust manufacturing processes plays a key role in the company’s mission to bring novel therapeutics to patients.

🧪 Technical Skills

Dr. White has a diverse technical skill set that includes: Asymmetric catalysis, Pd-catalyzed C-N bond formation, N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis, API process development, Pharmaceutical formulation and troubleshooting, Process scale-up and manufacturing support.

📚 Academic Contributions

Dr. White has actively published in high-impact journals, contributing to the fields of synthetic organic chemistry and process development. His research bridges fundamental catalysis with practical applications in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

👨‍🏫 Mentorship & Training

In addition to his research and industry roles, Dr. White has mentored junior scientists and interns, fostering talent development within Genentech and beyond, reflecting his commitment to building future leaders in chemistry.

🚀 Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. White continues to innovate at the interface of synthetic chemistry and pharmaceutical development. His ongoing work aims to refine and optimize chemical processes that can accelerate drug development timelines while ensuring quality and sustainability in pharmaceutical production.

📖Notable Publications

Fit-for-Purpose Synthesis of a KRASG12C Covalent Inhibitor, via a Diastereoselective Hayashi Arylation
Authors: C. Molinaro, N. Wong, N.A. White, S. Malhotra, F. Gosselin
Journal: Organic Process Research and Development
Year: 2024

Streamlined Synthesis of SHP2 Inhibitor GDC-1971 Enhanced by a Telescoped Schotten-Baumann SNAr and Reactive Crystallization Cascade
Authors: L.E. Sirois, N.A. White, J. Shen, F. St-Jean, F. Gosselin
Journal: Organic Process Research and Development
Year: 2024

Aryl Halide Cross-Coupling via Formate-Mediated Transfer Hydrogenation
Authors: Y. Cho, Y.-H. Chang, K.P. Quirion, Z.H. Strong, Z.J. Dubey, N. Nguyen, S. Lee, N.S. Taylor, J.M. Hoover, N.A. White, P. Liu, M.J. Krische
Journal: Nature Chemistry
Year: 2025

Manufacturing Process for 6-Bromo-N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-amine, a Key Intermediate in the Synthesis of KRAS G12C Inhibitor Divarasib
Authors: J. Shen, N.A. White, Q. Tian, L.E. Sirois, H. Zhang, F. Gosselin
Journal: Organic Process Research and Development
Year: 2024

Second-Generation Atroposelective Synthesis of KRAS G12C Covalent Inhibitor GDC-6036
Authors: J. Xu, N-.K. Lim, J.C. Timmerman, J. Shen, K. Clagg, U. Orcel, R. Bigler, E. Trashsel, R. Meier, N.A. White, J.A. Burkhard, L.E. Sirois, Q. Tian, R. Angelaud, S. Bachmann, H. Zhang, F. Gosselin
Journal: Organic Letters
Year: 2023