Prof Ashis K Mukherjee from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of TU was presented the prestigious Visitor’s Award for research in the field of Basic and Applied Science by Ram Nath Kovind, President of India during the meeting of Vice Chancellors of Central Universities at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The other academician who was honoured with the award is Prof Sanjay K Jain of Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.
The Visitor’s Awards aim to promote healthy competition amongst Central Universities and motivate them to adopt best practices from around the world in the pursuit of excellence.
Prof Mukherjee was honoured with the award for his research leading to clarity on the molecular complexity and toxicity of the components of the snake venom from different locales of India. He is among the few notable scientists who have been pursuing research in this exceedingly specialized but neglected area of snake venom from the past 24 years.
The research contribution is expected to significantly improve the current status of people’s knowledge on pathophysiology and the mechanism of action of several novel/previously uncharacterized toxins of snake venoms. He has also pinned down the problems associated with commercial anti-venom and suggested measures for improving the quality and efficacy of the same.
He was recently honoured with the highest academic honorary degree, Doctor of Science (D. Sc.) by the University of Calcutta for the same research work. Prof. Mukherjee has received several national as well as international awards and medals such as ISCA Young Scientist Award, National Bioscience and CREST awards from DBT, BOYSCAST fellowship from DST, and Best Researchers Award from TU for his academic and research excellence.
