Professor Polshettiwar is based at the Prestigious Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) (https://www.tifr.res.in). Prof Polshettiwar was educated at a number of institutions across India, before he moved to France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. In 2013 he joined the TIFR. Prof Vivek is a Leading researcher in a nanotechnology. He runs a nano-catalysis Laboratory in TIFR, integrated into the Division of Chemical Sciences (DCS). He uses principles of nanochemistry to make new materials which have widespread applications. Prof Vivek has published many papers in international journ ..read more

Terms used If you’re not familiar with some of the terms used in this discussion – some key ones are described here for your reference: C rate – the charge and discharge rates of a battery. This varies by battery, but a 1C rate will be a defined current over a particular period of time.  Cell – The smallest form of a battery – best considered in consumer terms as a single AA or AAA, etc battery. Module – A number of individual cells connected together. Multiple modules will be used in a pack. Pack – A collection of battery cells, OR battery modules connected together to form the full pow ..read more

Episode 16 of the Modern Chemistry podcast dives back into glycobiology and its practical application with Benjamin Schumann. Ben is a chemical biologist who studies the biology of carbohydrates (glycans). After completing his undergraduate biochemistry studies in Tübingen, Germany, he was trained in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry in the lab of Peter H. Seeberger at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Potsdam and the FU Berlin. Developing vaccines against pathogenic bacteria based on synthetic glycans, Ben learned to apply his compounds in biological settings in vivo and in v ..read more

Monica Is a group leader at ICIQ (Institut Català d’Investigació Química / Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia), Tarragona, Spain. Her group focuses on the ‘Development of new chemical transformations: From organometallic mechanistic studies to catalysis’. Prior to her current position, Monica conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, which followed awarding of her Ph.D. from the University of Valladolid, Spain – where she also earnt her B.Sc. and M.Sc. In 2018, Monica was selected as one of the ‘Talented 12’ by Chemical & Engineering News (C&am ..read more

Elisa Fadda obtained her PhD in 2004 from the Department of Chemistry at the Université de Montréal under Professor Dennis R. Salahub. From May 2004 to May 2008, she worked as a post-doctoral fellow in Dr Régis Pomès group in Molecular Structure and Function at the Hospital for Sick Children (Sickkids) Research Institute in Toronto. From June 2008 until May 2013, Elisa worked as a research associate and honorary research lecturer in Prof Robert J. Woods group in the School of Chemistry at NUI Galway. In 2013 she was awarded a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Educati ..read more

You will hear the following terms used during the interview. I've included some descriptions here.  Chirality – Chirality is a feature where an object can be distinguished from a mirror-image version of itself (for instance left and right gloves, or shoes). In chemistry, chirality is often due to the presence of an asymmetrical carbon atom. Chiral isomers are identified as either L-type or D-type, based on how polarized light is rotated when passing through a molecule. Superstructure – In the context of this discussion “When the structures become way, way bigger than the building bl ..read more

You will hear the following terms used during the interview. I've included some descriptions here.  PCR - The Polymerase Chain Reaction is a technique for amplifying DNA sequences using a thermostable DNA polymerase enzyme and a cycling reaction temperature profile of heating and cooling. Dedicated instruments typically provide the temperature cycling mechanism. LAMP reaction – The Loop-mediated isothermal AMPlification reaction is also used to amplify DNA sequences. Unlike PCR, LAMP reactions occur at a single temperature (typically ~60 oC – 65 oC). Therefore, they do not require d ..read more

During the show, ee mention Kevin – Dr. Kevin Lam, a previous podcast guest on episodes 5 and 6 – accessible at https://helgroup.com/knowledge/podcasts/ . Again, Thanks to Kevin for making the connection to Steve. You will hear the following terms used during the interview.  I’ve included some descriptions and links to deeper reading.  Arduino – An open source electronics and software platform – more details at  https://www.arduino.cc/ Raspberry Pi – Similar to Arduino, Raspberry Pi is an accessible electronics and programming platform – more details at https://www.raspber ..read more

During the discussion, we mention a few terms- • Batch reaction/batch reactor – A batch reaction is one where all the ingredients are placed in a single vessel, often heated to allow the reaction to take place.  Once the reaction is finished, the end products are collected and usually further purified.  A batch reactor is the vessel used.  More information can be read here - http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/processes/chemical-reactors.html • Flow reactor/Flow Chemistry – Flow chemistry or continuous chemistry is where the ingredients for the reaction are continually pump ..read more

You will hear the following terms used during the interview.  I’ve included some descriptions and links to deeper reading.  Lactic acid – an organic (carbon-based) acid, with chemical formula CH3CH(OH)COOH Biopolymer – In this case, biopolymer refers to a polymer manufactured from biologically produced subunits.  The subunits are specifically lactic acid in this case. A polymer is a molecule composed of repeating subunits. Biofuel – a fuel produced by processing biomass such as plant material, or plant or food waste. Biochemical engineering – the use of biological processes (ei ..read more