About Anant

Prof. Kapdi has worked extensively in the field of research of synthesis and catalysis, publishing more than 130 research publications & high impact reviews in various reputed international journals (Organic Letters, Chemical Communications. Journal of Organic Chemistry, Chemical Record, Chemical Society Reviews, and Organometallics to name a few), and has 4 edited books in his name. He has also served as an Associate Editor of the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, RSC Advances. He is currently serving as an Associate Editor of Thieme Publishers' Journal, Sustainability & Circularity Now. His international scientific contributions have been recognized by the international community, allowing him to present his research work in countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Japan, Hong Kong, Sweden, etc. He has also received invited professor positions in France (2019 and 2024). Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has also supported Anant’s scientific endeavors by providing him with several book grants, equipment grants, and the Research Cooperation Programme funding (in collaboration with Prof. Carola Schulzke in 2015-18 and Prof. Sabine Muller in 2024-27).

Anant’s group has developed a caged phosphine ligand that is highly water soluble (PTABS or KapdiPhos) and has been employed extensively in the modification of heteroarenes and nucleosides. Several reports have been published and also applied to a few commercial processes. Strem Inc. (USA), Sigma Aldrich (Merck), Tokyo Chemical Industries, and BLD Pharm have all recognized the potential of the ligand and have commercialized it for the past few years. Another milestone in his research is the commercialization of another Palladium-based phosphine-free water-soluble complex, SERRKAP Palladacyclewith Sigma Aldrich (Merck). Another fluorescent reagent developed by his lab (PhenoCarbora) will soon be commercialized by Tokyo Chemical Industries.  

Given his extensive contribution to chemical sciences in terms of research and outreach, Anant was elected as a Fellow of RSC under the Leader in Field category. Anant has also received several other recognitions for his scientific contributions as well as extensive administrative and outreach activities such as Royal Society of Chemistry Best teacher award (ICT Mumbai, 2024 & 2025), 2024 Horizon Prize for Education (for the creation of VR platforms in ISCC), C. B. Murarka Best Assistant Professor Award 2018-19, Prof. M. M. Sharma Science and Technology Award 2023 from Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, Thieme Journal Awardee 2024, British Council UK education alumni award (finalist), Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance Early Career Fellow for 2021, DAAD Fellowship for Scientists (not availed), Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2008-2010) and Return Fellowship (2013), Prof. N. R. Kamath Book Award.  

ADMINISTRATIVE & PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS HELD

• Founding Deputy Director of Institute of Chemical Technology-Indian Oil Campus Odisha, Bhubaneswar from 1st September 2018 to 31st December 2019 (On deputation from ICT, Mumbai)
• Central Placement Chief Coordinator, ICT Mumbai from 1st April 2021 (for 3 years) 
• Founding Coordinator of the India-UK Virtual Innovation & Sustainability Chemistry Consortium (Supported by British High Commission and Royal Society of Chemistry with 100k pounds)
• Associate Editor of RSC Advances: Royal Society of Chemistry journal from November 2015 till May 2017.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• Former Deputy Director of ICT-IOC Bhubaneswar from 1st September 2018 till 31st December 2019.
• UGC-Appointed Assistant Professor of Chemistry in ICT (January 2014 onwards)
• DST INSPIRE Faculty Award (October 2012 till September 2017)
• DST-SERC Fast Track Fellow(March 2011 to September 2012).
• Lecturer and Researcher (1st July 2010 to 28th February 2011)

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

•  Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (1st June 2008 to 31st March 2010) – with Prof. Lutz Ackermann on The development of P-stereogenic air stable chiral secondary phosphine oxides for catalysis and C-H activation.
• PhD., in Organic Chemistry, University of York, United Kingdom – (Received on 11th July 2008)- Under the supervision of Prof. Ian Fairlamb and Co-supervision of Prof. Richard Taylor (Title: The Application of Palladium-Catalysed Cross-Coupling Processes in Synthesis: Towards the Synthesis of Likonide B)
• MRes., Chemistry. University of York, United Kingdom. (Received on 14th July 2005- Distinction) – Under the Supervision of Prof. Ian Fairlamb (Title: Novel Palladium(II) Precatalysts for Cross-Coupling Processes.)
• MSc., Organic Chemistry. Institute of Science, Mumbai University, India. (Received on December 2002-Distinction)
• BSc., Chemistry. Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai University, India. (Received on December 2000-Distinction). 

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London as the Leaders in the Field category, 2021 
• Royal Society of Chemistry 2024 Horizon Prize for Education (For the development of VR Institute for ISCC)
• British Council UK Education Alumni award finalist 2021-22. 
• Horizon Prize for Education 2024 by the Royal Society of Chemistry for creating 3DI and ISCC Virtual Reality Institute. 
• Awarded the Prof. M. M. Sharma Award for Science and Technology by the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad Dec 2023
• Thieme Journal Awardee for 2024
• Late Shri S V Limaye-Best teacher award 2024 at ICT Mumbai
• CMP Endowment Best Teacher Award 2025 at ICT Mumbai
• Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry (Wiley) Lecture Award 2023
• C. B. Murarka Best Assistant Professor Award 2018-19: Rolling trophy
• Fellow of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, 2016
• Prof. N. R. Kamath Book Award for publishing a book on the topic of Strategies for Palladium-Catalyzed Non-Directed and Directed C-H Bond Functionalization. Volume 1: Latest Trends in Palladium Chemistry) Eds. A. R. Kapdi, D. Maiti, Elsevier, New York, 2017 (Rs. 30,000/- award prize)
• Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance Early Career Fellow for 2021: Africa-India Research mobility grant fund award: Jan 2021 till Dec 2021 for up to ₹ 3,54,004.00 over 1 month and made to Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai for your project titled “Flow-Chemistry Assisted Expedient Synthesis of Antiviral and Anticancer Nucleoside analogues.
• DAAD Fellowship for Scientists with Prof. Moniek Tromp in Catalysis Research Centre, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany.(not availed)
• Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research for carrying out postdoctoral research under the supervision of Prof. Lutz Ackermann in Georg-August-UniversitaetGoettingen, Germany (June 2008 to March 2010).
• Alexander von Humboldt Return Fellowship(25th May 2013 to 25thJuly 2013) - with Prof. Moniek Tromp in Catalysis Research Centre, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany.
• Book Fund Award by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation worth Eur 1,000 (2013). 
• Book Fund Award by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation worth Eur 1,000 (2010). 
• Young Associate of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences 2012.
• Alexander von Humboldt Equipment Grant 2013 (Euros 16000)