TWO DAYS INDO-TAIWAN CONFERENCE ON

Chun-Cheng Lin is a distinguished organic chemist and academician in Taiwan. He received his Ph.D. from The Scripps Research Institute in 1997. He began his career at Academia Sinica, serving as Assistant Research Fellow from 1998 to 2003 and Associate Research Fellow from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, he joined National Tsing Hua University as an Associate Professor, was promoted to Professor in 2007, and became Distinguished Professor in 2016. Prof. Lin is recognized for outstanding research, earning the National Science Council Distinguished Research Award in 2011 and serving as FAOS Chair Professor from 2014 to 2017, with international impact.

Chai-Lin Kao is a Professor and Chairman of Global Affairs at Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU), Taiwan. He received his B.S. in Chemistry (1991) and Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry (2001) from National Taiwan University. He completed postdoctoral research at the School of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University (2001–2002), and at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin (2002–2005). He joined KMU in 2005 and has since contributed to academic leadership, international collaboration, and education.

Joaquín García-Álvarez is an Associate Professor at the University of Oviedo, Spain, since 2018 and Director of the Sustainable Synthetic Chemistry research group. He earned his chemistry degree in 2001 and Ph.D. in 2005 from the University of Oviedo, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Strathclyde. He returned to Oviedo in 2007 and later held the prestigious Juan de la Cierva (2009) and Ramón y Cajal (2012) appointments. An internationally recognized expert in green and organometallic chemistry, he received the GEQO Prize (2016) and BBVA Leonardo Grant (2017). His research emphasizes sustainable reaction media, including deep eutectic solvents and water.

Manuel Plaza finished his BS in Chemistry and master studies at the University of Oviedo in 2014. In 2018, he completed his PhD in Synthesis and Chemical Reactivity at the same university and subsequently undertook postdoctoral training in photochemistry for three years with Prof. Thorsten Bach at the Technical University of Munich. In 2021, he moved back to the University of Oviedo, where he started his independent career as a Margarita Salas group leader. Currently, he is a Ramóny Cajal assistant professor at the same university. His research focuses on the development of photochemical cross- coupling reactions and photobiocatalytic processes.

Prof. G. Sekar is a Professor of Chemistry at IIT Madras, where he has been advancing research in synthetic organic chemistry since 2004. He obtained his B.Sc. from the University of Madras, M.Sc. from Madurai Kamaraj University, and Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. His international experience includes postdoctoral fellowships as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the University of Göttingen, a JSPS Fellow at the Tokyo University of Science, and research work at Caltech. His research focuses on asymmetric and transition-metal catalysis and C–H functionalization for sustainable synthesis of bioactive molecules. He is an RSC Fellow and CRSI Bronze Medal awardee.

Prof. Mahiuddin Baidya was born and brought up in West Bengal. He studied chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), India and obtained his Ph. D in 2009 from Ludwig–Maximilians–Universität München (LMU), Germany under the supervision of Prof. Herbert Mayr. After postdoctoral studies with Prof. Hisashi Yamamoto at The University of Chicago, USA and Molecular Catalyst Research Center in Japan, he moved in 2014 to the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) as an assistant professor and was promoted to professor in 2022. His research interest includes the development of novel concepts on transition–metal-catalysis, organocatalysis, and visible-light photocatalysis.

Prof. T. Mohan Das is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Dean, School of Basic Sciences at the Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur. He earned his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Gandhigram Rural Institute and The American College, and obtained his Ph.D. from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay under Prof. C. P. Rao. He pursued postdoctoral research at National Chung Hsing University and National Tsing Hua University. He has guided over ten Ph.D. scholars,completed six funded projects, filed one Indian patent, and published more than 80 research articles. His research focuses on carbohydrate chemistry.

Dr. Jeyakumar Kandasamy is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Pondicherry University. He earned his PhD from IIT Madras and completed his MSc and BSc at the University of Madras. With over a decade of academic experience, he previously served as Associate Professor at IIT BHU Varanasi and Assistant Professor at NIT Warangal. His research focuses on synthetic organic chemistry, including transition-metal catalysis, carbohydrate chemistry, and sustainable methodologies. A dedicated researcher and mentor, he has supervised ten PhD scholars and published widely in leading journals, with emphasis on eco-friendly synthesis, complex molecules, and stereoselective glycosylation.

Dr. Durga Prasad Hari received his MSc degree from IIT Madras in 2010. He then moved to the University of Regensburg, Germany, where he pursued his Ph.D. with Prof. Burkhard König. In 2014, following his graduate education, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Jerome Waser at EPFL, Switzerland. In 2018, he joined the Aggarwal group at the University of Bristol as a Marie-Curie research fellow. Since March 2021, he is holding an assistant professor position at the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore.

Prof. Akella Sivaramakrishna is a Professor (Higher Academic Grade) in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry in 2000 and M.Sc. in 1994 from AU College of Engineering, Andhra University, and completed his B.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry in 1991 from S. R. A. & S. College, Kothagudem. His postdoctoral experience spans Baylor University (USA), University of Cape Town (South Africa), Ben-Gurion University (Israel), and IIT Madras. His research focuses on synthetic organic and organometallic chemistry, catalysis, nanomaterials, hypercoordinated silicon complexes, and functional polymeric foams.

Dr. Cheralathan K. K. is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Heterogeneous Catalysis from Anna University, Chennai, in 2003, following an M.Sc. from Madurai Kamaraj University and a B.Sc. from Sri Vasavi College, Erode. He has extensive postdoctoral experience in Japan and South Korea, including research at the University of Tokyo and KRICT. His research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis, biomass conversion, zeolites, photocatalytic hydrogen production, and carbon nanomaterials. He has led funded DST-SERB projects and holds published patents in catalysis.

Dr. Manju S. L. is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Kerala in 2007, after completing her M.Sc. in Chemistry in 1997 and B.Sc. in Chemistry in 1995 from the same university. Her research interests include synthetic organic chemistry, the synthesis of functional materials, and chemical biology. Dr. Manju is actively engaged in research, teaching, and consultancy, and is currently involved in an ongoing consultancy project on spectral characterization funded by Ultramarine Pigments Ltd.

Prof. Rajagopal D. is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with specialization in asymmetric synthesis from the University of Madras in 2000, after completing his M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry in 1995 and B.Sc. in Chemistry in 1993. He gained international postdoctoral experience at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and the University of Washington, Seattle. His research focuses on organic synthesis using phytochemicals for cardiovascular applications, heterocyclic anticancer agents, liposome-based drug delivery, and drug repurposing for corrosion protection and advanced coatings.

Dr. Thirumanavelan G. is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in 2005 under the mentorship of Prof. Balaji R. Jagirdar. He completed his M.Sc. in General Chemistry from Muthurangam Government Arts College, Vellore, and B.Sc. from C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvishram. He gained postdoctoral research experience at The Johns Hopkins University, USA, with Prof. Kenneth D. Karlin. His research interests include organometallic chemistry, organic synthesis, and homogeneous catalysis.

Dr. Kannadasan S. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Madras in 2002, after completing his M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry in 1995 and B.Sc. in Chemistry in 1993. He gained international postdoctoral research experience at National Chiao Tung University and National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. His research expertise lies in synthetic organic chemistry, with a focus on the design and development of novel organic molecules. He is actively involved in teaching, research, and mentoring students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Dr. Kali Kishore Reddy Tetala is an Associate Professor (Grade 2) at the Centre for Bio Separation Technology, Department of Biotechnology. He earned his Ph.D. in Bioanalytical Chemistry from Wageningen University, The Netherlands (2009), focusing on microfluidic devices for biological sample clean-up and screening. He holds an M.Phil. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Southampton, U.K., and an M.Sc. from Andhra University. His postdoctoral research at the University of Twente and Wageningen University covered membrane technologies and bioseparation. His research interests include polymer and hybrid materials, biomolecule separation, microfluidics, sensors, and surface chemistry.

Dr. Abir Sarbajna is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis from IIT Kanpur in 2017, following an M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University and a B.Sc. (Honors) from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He has extensive postdoctoral experience in Germany, the USA, and Japan, including as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow. His research focuses on organometallic catalysis, small-molecule activation, ligand design, green chemistry, and catalytic mechanisms. He currently leads a DST-SERB–funded project on molecular catalysts for water oxidation.

Dr. Arup Sinha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from IIT Kanpur in 2011, following an M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Kalyani and a B.Sc. from Krishnagar Government College. He has over six years of postdoctoral research experience at Lund University (Sweden), the National University of Singapore, and the Australian National University. His research interests include inorganic and organometallic chemistry, biomimetic catalysis, de/hydrogenation and LOHC chemistry, small-molecule activation, and C–H, C–C, and C–F bond functionalization.

Dr. Tapas Ghatak is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry from IIT Kanpur in 2014, after completing his M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Kalyani and a B.Sc. with honors in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. He gained four years of postdoctoral research experience at the Israel Institute of Technology . His research interests include inorganic and organometallic chemistry, catalysis, organic transformations, and small-molecule activation. Dr. Ghatak is actively involved in research, teaching, and mentoring in advanced chemical sciences.

Dr. Pratheepkumar Annamalai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, in 2019, following an M.Sc. from NIT Tiruchirappalli and a B.Sc. from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli. He has undertaken postdoctoral research at leading institutions in Taiwan and CSIR-CECRI, India. His research focuses on sustainable catalysis, C–H bond functionalization, polymer upcycling, and nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications.

Akshay M. Nair is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellow at CIQUS, University of Santiago de Compostela. He earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (2015–2020), following an M.Sc. from Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (2012–2014) and a B.Sc. from University of Calicut (2009–2012). His research focuses on transition-metal catalysis, C–H functionalization, and sustainable synthesis, with particular emphasis on visible-light photocatalysis and the valorization of gaseous feedstocks.

Prasanna Kumar Ganta is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU), Taiwan, where he also obtained his Ph.D. in Medicinal and Applied Chemistry. He holds an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Gayatri Vidya Parishad, India. His research interests lie in inorganic and organometallic chemistry, with a particular focus on the development of metal-based catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters to produce biodegradable polymers. Dr. Ganta has published in leading journals, including Coordination Chemistry Reviews and Dalton Transactions. His work bridges coordination chemistry and sustainable materials, contributing to the advancement of catalytic systems for environmental and healthcare applications.

C. B. Rajashekar Reddy earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Vellore Institute of Technology (2011–2015), with doctoral research on the selective oxidation of amines and alcohols and bioactivity studies of N-chloramines. He completed his M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry (2003–2005) and B.Sc. in Chemical Process Technology (2000–2003) from Loyola Academy, Telangana. He is currently working as Technical Head at Lotus Botanicals LLP, where he applies his expertise in organic synthesis, oxidation chemistry, and applied research to industry-focused product development.