Parmanand Ahirwar, PhD

Welcome to my ePortfolio! My name is Parmanand Ahirwar, and I am a passionate Chemical Biologist dedicated to exploring innovative therapeutics at the interface of chemistry and biology. My work combines the tools of organic chemistry, microbiology, and synthetic biology to tackle some of the most challenging diseases. Alongside my research, I have a deep commitment to teaching and sharing scientific knowledge.

I grew up in India, completed my schooling at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, and earned an integrated BS-MS in Chemistry from IIT Bombay, focusing on organic and computational chemistry. My Master’s thesis on antibacterial drugs sparked my interest in therapeutic research. In 2018, I moved to the U.S. for a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where I developed novel drugs and delivery systems to combat tooth decay, resulting in multiple publications. Post-PhD, I worked at Cerflux Inc., testing pan-RAS inhibitors for colorectal cancer, expanding my expertise in therapeutic research.

Apart from research, teaching is another cornerstone of my professional I dentity.  I have served as a credentialed instructor for an introductory chemistry course for first-year undergraduates at UAB, a full-time position I held after completing my PhD. This role, along with several years of teaching assistantship at UAB, honed my skills in creating engaging and effective learning environments. Currently, I am a Teaching Assistant for a graduate-level Chemical Biology course at Columbia University. I find immense satisfaction in employing innovative teaching methods to keep students engaged and make learning enjoyable.

From a small village in India to Columbia University today, my journey has been one of growth, learning, and discovery. Each step has fueled my excitement for the challenges and achievements ahead. My ultimate goal is to contribute to the advancement of science while fostering scientific curiosity and collaboration among future generations. I envision a world where flourishing collaborations and innovations drive transformative progress.