Karthik Devaraj Email & Phone Number

I am a synthetic organic chemist. I have significant expertise in organic synthesis ranging from classical to modern transition-metal- and organocatalyzed synthetic stereoselective transformations. In addition, I have extensive experience and an in-depth understanding of lead optimization using modern drug discovery and multi-parameter optimization principles. Aside from that, I am well versed in drug development, from identification of hit to clinical candidates based on structural-activity relationships (docking), pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics principles. I am currently working as a scientist at Paraza Pharma, Inc., where I have gained expertise in designing and synthesizing of small-molecule inhibitors for oncology. My postdoctoral research at Prof. Cathleen Crudden's lab at Queen’s University, Canada focused on transition-metal catalyzed enantioselective cross-couplings, borenium-ion catalysis, and biosensors for detecting pathogens. My previous postdoctoral at Prof. Jean-Rodriguez and Dr. Xavier Bugaut's lab at Aix-Marseille University (AMU), France is centred around the organocatalyzed enantioselective dearomatization of pyridines and preparation of pyrylium atropisomers. My PhD work in Dr. Lukasz Pilarski’s research group at Uppsala University, Sweden was focused on C-H functionalization and aryne-based methodology. Prior to my Ph.D., I did my International Masters in Catalysis, Molecules and Green Chemistry at the University of Rennes 1, France and General Chemistry Masters at the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India. Prior to my Masters, I worked as a production officer in Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited, Chennai, India, where we converted non-sterile APIs to sterile.Thinking thoroughly from the start to end of the scientific projects, synthesizing, purifying, and characterizing air- and moisture-sensitive organic compounds (Argon atmosphere, Schlenk tube techniques), multinuclear NMR, flash column chromatography, HPLC, GCMS, cyclic voltammetry, FT-IR, supervising bachelor and master students, writing scientific papers to publish in high-impact journals, and presenting scientific works at international conferences.