Elumalai Gnanamani | Chemistry | Outstanding Scientist Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Elumalai Gnanamani | Chemistry | Outstanding Scientist Award

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | India

Dr. E. Gnanamani is a distinguished Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, with an impactful career in chemistry marked by innovation in microdroplet chemistry and asymmetric catalysis. He is also an Associate Editor for Current Indian Sciences, reflecting his leadership in the academic community. His research bridges the frontiers of organic synthesis and mass spectrometry, contributing significantly to both fundamental and applied chemistry.

Author Profile👤

Google Scholar

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Pioneering Research in Microdroplet Chemistry
    Dr. Gnanamani has carved a niche in microdroplet chemistry, a cutting-edge domain that accelerates chemical reactions, enabling greener, faster, and novel synthetic transformations. His collaborations with Prof. Richard N. Zare (Stanford University), a global leader in the field, have resulted in high-impact publications in JACS, Angew. Chem., Chem. Sci., and Nature Catalysis.

  • Consistent High-Impact Publications
    With over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals with impact factors ranging from 3.4 to 42.8, his work is not only prolific but also highly influential. Several publications are highlighted in Chemistry World, Nature Partner Journals, and other prominent science media outlets.

  • Global Research Exposure & Leadership
    His international research fellowships and visiting positions at Stanford University, Fudan University, ICCAS (Beijing), and IIT-Kanpur demonstrate strong cross-institutional engagement and recognition. Notably, his Fulbright Fellowship, awarded to only one chemist across India in 2014, underscores his global merit.

  • Inventive Mindset with Patents
    Dr. Gnanamani holds multiple international patents (USA, Europe, Mexico, China) reflecting innovation in catalysis and chemical synthesis.

  • Academic Influence and Outreach
    As an Assistant Professor at IIT-Roorkee and Associate Editor for Current Indian Sciences, he plays an active role in mentoring, academic publishing, and scientific dissemination. His numerous invited talks at international conferences show leadership in his field.

🎓 Education

Dr. Gnanamani earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Pondicherry University (2007–2013), where he worked on the design, synthesis, and resolution of conformationally rigid chiral pyridine N-oxides under the supervision of Dr. C. R. Ramanathan. Prior to this, he completed an M.Phil. in Chemistry from Pondicherry University (2006–2007) and an M.Sc. in Chemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University (2004–2006), both with first-class honors, showcasing early academic excellence.

💼 Experience

Dr. Gnanamani has served as Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee since March 2020, specializing in microdroplet chemistry and analytical techniques. He has held several prestigious international positions, including Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University under Prof. Barry M. Trost and as a Visiting Faculty at Fudan University and IIT-Kanpur, collaborating with renowned chemists like Prof. Richard N. Zare and Prof. Vinod K. Singh. His career demonstrates an ongoing commitment to global scientific exchange and innovation.

🔬 Research Interests On Chemistry

Dr. Gnanamani’s research is pioneering in microdroplet chemistry, focusing on accelerating organic reactions and elucidating mechanisms via mass spectrometry. He designs novel chiral molecules for organometal and organocatalysis, engages in the total synthesis of bioactive natural products, and explores classical resolution techniques for determining absolute configuration. His work consistently merges synthetic elegance with practical application.

🏆 Awards

Dr. Gnanamani has received numerous accolades, including the ChemComm Emerging Investigator 2024, the Patent Innovator Award 2021 (PROFOPI, Mexico), and the Fulbright Award 2014 (the only chemist selected from India). Other honors include the Developing Country Fellowship (China), CSIR-SRF, UGC Meritorious Fellowship, and Best Oral Presentation Award at NCFAC, among others. His early success in GATE (2007) reflects a consistent trajectory of excellence.

📚 Publications

  • Can all bulk-phase reactions be accelerated in microdroplets?
    S. Banerjee, E. Gnanamani, X. Yan, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2017 Citations: 213

  • Direct enantio- and diastereoselective vinylogous addition of butenolides to chromones catalyzed by Zn-prophenol
    B. M. Trost, E. Gnanamani, C. A. Kalnmals, C. I. J. Hung, J. S. Tracy
    Year: 2019 Citations: 88

  • Chemoselective N-alkylation of indoles in aqueous microdroplets
    E. Gnanamani, X. Yan, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2020 Citations: 78

  • Branched aldehydes as linchpins for the enantioselective and stereodivergent synthesis of 1,3-aminoalcohols featuring a quaternary stereocentre
    B. M. Trost, C. I. Hung, T. Saget, E. Gnanamani
    Year: 2018 Citations: 62

  • Direct C(sp3)–N bond formation between toluene and amine in water microdroplets
    Y. Meng, E. Gnanamani, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2022 Citations: 58

  • Zn-ProPhenol catalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective direct vinylogous Mannich reactions between α, β- and β, γ-butenolides and aldimines
    B. M. Trost, E. Gnanamani, J. S. Tracy, C. A. Kalnmals
    Year: 2017 Citations: 57

  • 1,4-Benzoquinone antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis derived from scorpion venom
    E. N. Carcamo-Noriega, S. Sathyamoorthi, S. Banerjee, E. Gnanamani, …
    Year: 2019 Citations: 54

  • Controlling regioselectivity in the enantioselective N-alkylation of indole analogues catalyzed by dinuclear zinc-ProPhenol
    B. M. Trost, E. Gnanamani, C. I. Hung
    Year: 2017 Citations: 53

  • One-step formation of pharmaceuticals having a phenylacetic acid core using water microdroplets
    Y. Meng, E. Gnanamani, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2023 Citations: 46

  • Catalyst-free decarboxylative amination of carboxylic acids in water microdroplets
    Y. Meng, E. Gnanamani, R. N. Zare
    Year: 2022 Citations: 46

  • Tuning the reactivity of ketones through unsaturation: Construction of cyclic and acyclic quaternary stereocenters via Zn-ProPhenol catalyzed Mannich reactions
    B. M. Trost, C. I. J. Hung, E. Gnanamani
    Year: 2019 Citations: 45

🧾 Conclusion

🌟 Dr. E. Gnanamani stands out as a visionary chemist whose groundbreaking research in microdroplet chemistry has redefined reaction paradigms and accelerated green and sustainable synthetic methodologies. His global collaborations, patent innovations, and high-impact publications make him a highly deserving candidate for any prestigious research award. With his unwavering commitment to chemical sciences and mentorship, Dr. Gnanamani continues to inspire the next generation of scientists.

Xueen Fang | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Xueen Fang | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Fudan University | China

Dr. Xueen Fang is a distinguished male professor at Fudan University and a doctoral supervisor. He is a jointly appointed professor under the Ministry of Education’s prestigious “Changjiang Scholars” program and recognized as a young top-notch talent under the national “Ten Thousand Talents Program.” Since joining Fudan University in 2014, Fang has been deeply involved in teaching, research, and fostering industry-academia collaborations, specializing in micro-nano clinical chemistry. His pioneering work in rapid nucleic acid testing has made significant contributions to public health and national security.

Professional profile👤

Scopus

ORCID

Strengths for the Awards✨

  1. Outstanding Academic and Professional Credentials
    Fang Xuen holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from a prestigious university (Fudan University) and serves as a professor and doctoral supervisor. His joint appointment as a “Changjiang Scholar” and recognition as a top talent under the national “Ten Thousand Talents Program” highlight his academic excellence and national prominence.

  2. Pioneering Research Contributions
    He was among the earliest researchers globally to apply microfluidic confinement systems to point-of-care testing (POCT) molecular diagnostics. His leadership in developing rapid, on-site nucleic acid testing systems has direct and critical public health impact, especially in combating pandemics and zoonotic diseases.

  3. Significant Research Funding and Project Leadership
    Fang Xuen has successfully secured and led major national research projects funded by top agencies such as the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation, underscoring his capability to manage high-impact, cutting-edge research.

  4. High-Impact Publications and Patents
    With over 60 publications in prestigious international journals, multiple cover stories, and over 1,500 citations, his scientific output is both prolific and influential. Furthermore, he has secured more than 60 invention patents (national and international), including award-winning innovations, demonstrating his prowess in translating research into practical technologies.

  5. Successful Technology Commercialization
    He has led the registration and approval of important diagnostic reagents and automated testing devices, with patented technology generating significant economic value (over 16 million yuan), bridging the gap between academia and industry.

  6. Professional Service and Leadership
    Serving on national committees and editorial/review boards of top journals indicates his respected status in the scientific community. His role in authoring chapters in key monographs also reflects his expertise and leadership in the field.

🎓 Education

Fang Xuen earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from Fudan University in 2012. Following his doctoral studies, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 2012 to 2013, where he further refined his expertise in cutting-edge chemical and biological research.

💼 Experience

In March 2014, Fang joined the Department of Chemistry at Fudan University through a talent introduction program. He has led major national research projects, including key R&D programs funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation. Fang has served as a reviewer for leading journals and is an inventor on more than 60 national and international patents, including several that have been transformed into commercially valuable technologies.

🔬 Research Interest On Chemical Engineering

Fang’s research primarily focuses on micro-nano clinical chemistry, with a particular emphasis on microfluidic confinement systems for point-of-care testing (POCT) in molecular diagnostics. His work addresses the urgent need for rapid nucleic acid testing technologies to detect emerging pathogens, playing a critical role in combating infectious diseases such as African Swine Fever and COVID-19.

🏆 Awards

Fang Xuen’s innovative contributions have earned him numerous accolades including the Shanghai Youth Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award, the Silver Award at the 48th Geneva Exhibition of Inventions, the Third Prize of the Shanghai Higher Education Students’ Invention and Creation, and multiple awards at the National Challenge Cup Entrepreneurship Competition.

📚 Publications

  • Rapid differential diagnosis of the B.1.617.2 (delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2 using an automated Cas12a–microfluidic system

    • Authors: Pintao Li, Jin Zhang, Qiuyuan Lin, Jilie Kong, Xueen Fang

    • Year: 2021

  • Wearable chem-biosensing devices: from basic research to commercial market

    • Authors: Bin Yang, Xingyu Jiang, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong

    • Year: 2021

  • Loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique: principle, development and wide application in food safety

    • Authors: Tianzeng Huang, Linzhi Li, Xing Liu, Qi Chen, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong, Mohamed S. Draz, Hongmei Cao

    • Year: 2020

  • Rapid and simultaneous analysis of twelve virulence factor genes by a microfluidic-CFPA chip for identifying diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

    • Authors: Bin Yang, Yiling Fan, Yang Li, Jun Yan, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong

    • Year: 2020

  • A hybridization chain reaction coupled with gold nanoparticles for allergen gene detection in peanut, soybean and sesame DNAs

    • Authors: Dan Yuan, Xueen Fang, Yongxin Liu, Jilie Kong, Qin Chen

    • Year: 2019

  • A novel exonuclease-assisted isothermal nucleic acid amplification with ultrahigh specificity mediated by full-length Bst DNA polymerase

    • Authors: Xin Ye, Yang Li, Lijuan Wang, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong

    • Year: 2018

🔚 Conclusion

Professor Fang Xuen stands at the forefront of micro-nano clinical chemistry, combining academic excellence with impactful innovations that have enhanced pathogen detection and public health responses globally. His commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and talent cultivation continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers at Fudan University and beyond.