About Me
I have a strong academic background with three years of experience lecturing at the undergraduate level.
For the past two years, I have held a postdoctoral position at The University of Kwazulu Natal, focusing on synthesizing ResourceNet[4]arene derivatives to study pore formation in phospholipids bilayers and investigate ion channel activity. Currently, I am a research affiliate with the GGKM group at the School of Chemistry/School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UKZN.
During my postdoctoral tenure, I had the opportunity to deliver a course module on Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. This allowed me to gain experience lecturing in a culturally diverse environment. My previous work in the industry has also helped me make the subject interesting for students by sharing real-world experiences and highlighting the subject’s importance in the industry.
With over five years of industrial experience, I have managed groups of chemists, worked on synthetic projects, conducted research and development, and processed pharmaceutical compounds and intermediates. I have a strong background in organic synthesis, crystallization techniques, and spectroscopic instruments.
As a technical resource person for Registration of Specialty Chemicals with the EU, I have led a team of EHS specialists and toxicologists. I have also received training on Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Laws, including a Post Graduate Diploma in Patent Law from WIPO, Geneva. These skills will be beneficial for interpreting and drafting patents for our research group’s future inventions. Additionally, I have experience working with a team at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, on the technology transfer of pharmaceutical compounds.
I have gained strong communication skills through liaising with management and troubleshooting technical issues for customers in Singapore, Malaysia, and China. I have also collaborated with the industry to develop generic pharmaceutical active compounds and their intermediates, successfully delivering on funded projects as both a team member and leader.
In terms of research, I have published 10 research papers and have co-supervised M.Sc and Ph.D students. Below are the projects I have worked on, along with a list of publications resulting from these investigations.
Education Achievements
2012:
Post Doctorate Research Fellow at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, Westville Campus in Durban, South Africa.
2007:
Post Graduate Diploma in Patent Law from Nalsar Institute of Law in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh State, India.
2001:
1999:
M.SC. (Organic Chemistry) with First Division from Sardar Patel University in Vallabh VidyaNagar, Gujarat State, India.
B.SC. (Chemistry) with First Division from Sardar Patel University in Vallabh VidyaNagar, Gujarat State, India.