Welcome to my digital realm! I’m excited to pull back the curtain and give you a glimpse into my life as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at USC’s Warshel Center for Multiscale Simulations. Picture a rollercoaster ride through the realms of physics, chemistry, and biology—that’s my daily grind! I’m currently on a mission to decode the Renilla Luciferase enzyme, Nature’s very own neon light, with the help of advanced QM/MM methods. Additionally, I’m focused on discovering effective PETase enzymes for plastic degradation, addressing a critical global environmental challenge.
But wait, there’s more! My scientific curiosity extends to unraveling the secrets of amyloid fibrils, proteins with links to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In my collaborative research endeavors, I am engaged in the search for potential inhibitors to combat SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (Coronovirus). Concurrently, I am also involved in enzyme design, leveraging the advanced capabilities of machine learning and artificial intelligence to drive innovation in this field. It’s a high-stakes challenge, but I’m all in, fueled by the promise of breakthroughs and deeper insights.
Flashback to my roots: I’m a product of Ben-Gurion University in Israel, where I plunged headfirst into the fascinating world of computational physical organic chemistry, graduating in 2021. My love affair with science took me to the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science where as a Dean’s Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow, I continued my deep dive into the world of Quantum tunneling and Organocatalysis.
Thank you for stopping by, and I’m eager to share my scientific journey and discoveries with you!
Professional Experience
2022-Present: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Southern California, USA.
Advisor: Dr. Arieh Warshel (Distinguished Professor and 2013 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry).2021-2022: Postdoctoral Fellow, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
Advisor: Dr. Gershom (Jan) Martin (Professor and 2023 Schrödinger Medalist).
Education
- MS-Ph.D. in Chemistry (Summa cum Laude), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, 2021.
Advisor: Dr. Sebastian Kozuch (Professor). - M.Sc. in Chemistry (Gold Medalist), North-Eastern Hill University, India, 2015.
Awards and Honors
- 2024: Selected as a Mars Fellow for the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany.
- 2024: Invitation as a Young Scientist to the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Germany.
- 2024: DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship Award, Government of India, Ministry of Science & Technology, India.
- 2021: Dean’s Excellence Postdoctoral Fellowship, Weizmann Institute of Science.
- 2021: University’s Rector Prize for Excellence in Ph.D. (Summa cum Laude), Chemistry.
- 2017-2021: Negev-Tsin Scholarship for Ph.D., Chemistry.
- 2017: Invitation as an Exceptional Doctoral Student to meet the Prime Minister of India in Tel Aviv, Israel.
- 2017: ADAMA Prize for Excellence in M.S. Thesis.
- 2015: Rector Gold Medal for M.Sc., Chemistry.
- 2013-2015: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) India Scholarship for securing the First Rank in M.Sc. Chemistry at the University.
- 2013: Honored by St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, for securing First Class with Sixth Rank in the state for the B.Sc. Degree University Examination.
Academic Contributions
Reviewer for:
- Chemistry - A European Journal
- Inorganic Chemistry
- European Journal of Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
- Canadian Journal of Chemistry
- Helvetica Chimica Acta
- ChemPlusChem
- Journal of Organic Chemistry
- Molecular Catalysis
- Chemical Communications
- ChemPhysChem
In the News
- June 2024: Featured in the USC’s News Briefs for my selection for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Link
- June 2024: Featured on Prof. Warshel’s website for my selection for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Link
- August 2017: Featured in Ben-Gurion University News for Winning the Negev-Tzin Fellowship. Link