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Abhishek was born in West Bengal, India. He received M.Sc. in organic chemistry in 2014 with a distinguished silver medal from the University of North Bengal, India. He earned PhD in 2020 from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G), India, under Prof. Debasis Manna (Biological Chemistry Laboratory). In the same year, Abhishek joined as a postdoctoral researcher at Prof. Ashraf Brik’s Chemical Biology Laboratory, Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel; where his research was focused on modulating the activities of biologically relevant proteins and enzymes for developing new drug molecules for cancer and other diseases, chemical protein synthesis, developing new cell-penetrating peptides  and several other chemical & physical delivery system for the live cell delivery of synthetic proteins. In April 2024, Abhishek started his independent research carrier; working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad campus.

Research Experiences:

• Assistant Professor, BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, April 2024–Present
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Chemical biology lab, Supervisor: Prof. Ashraf Brik, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa (Israel), August 2020–March 2024
• Doctoral Fellow, Biological chemistry lab, Supervisor: Prof. Debasis Manna, Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (India), December 2014–October 2020
• M.Sc. Project Fellow, Synthetic organic chemistry lab, Supervisor: Prof. Basudeb Basu, University of North Bengal, Siliguri (India), February 2014–June 2014
• Project Fellow, Heterocyclic chemistry lab, Supervisor: Prof. Sajal Das, University of North Bengal, Siliguri (India), January 2013–April 2013

Teaching:

• Organic Chemistry-I (CHEM F212), M.Sc. (L1 and T1) @BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, 2025
• Physical Methods in Chemistry (CHEM G554), PhD @BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, 2025
• Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM F110), FD (Px) @BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, 2025
• General Chemistry (CHEM F111), FD (L1 and T1) @BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, 2025
• Organic Chemistry-IV (CHEM F342), M.Sc. (L1 and T1) @BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, 2025
• General Chemistry (CHEM F111), FD (T6) @BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, 2024
• Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM F110), FD (P3 & P4) @BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, 2024
• Teaching Assistant @Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (2016–2019)

Grants:

• ANRF-PMECRG (Govt. of India), 44.04 lakh (2025), 36 months
• BITS New Faculty Seed Grant (BITS-Pilani), NFSG/Phase-4, 20 lakh (2025), 24 months

Fellowship/awards:

• Best Poster Prize in ChemConvene, IIT Guwahati, Assam, India (2017)
• RSC Best Poster Prize in 19th Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI)-National Symposium in Chemistry, University of North Bengal, India (2016)

• Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) from Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, India (2016–2019)
• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) from Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, India (2014–2016)
• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in Chemistry (2014)
• Excellence and Silver Medal for First Class Second in M.Sc. (Chemistry), University of North Bengal, India (2014)
• Prof. Mihir Chowdhury Memorial Award for distinguish academic remark, Achariya Brajendra Nath Seal College, West Bengal, India (2012)
• Merit-cum-Means Scholarship, West Bengal State Government, graduation and post-graduation, India (2009–2014)  

Selected Publications:

• Saha, A.⁺; Mousa, R,⁺; Alalouf, Y,; Sadhu, P.; Hasan, M.; Mandal, S.; Mann, Guy.; & Brik, A* "Suspension Bead Loading (SBL): An Economical Protein Delivery Platform to study URM1’s behavior in live cells" Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202410135 (IF 16.6)
• Saha, A.; Bishara, L. A.; Saed, Y; Vamisetti, G. B.; Mandal, S.; Suga, H; Ayoub, N.*; & Brik, A* "Exocyclic and Linker Editing of Lys63-linked Ubiquitin Chains Modulators Specifically Inhibits Non-homologous End-joining Repair" Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202409012 (IF 16.6)
• Saha, A.; Suga, H.; Brik, A.* “Combining Chemical Protein Synthesis and Random Non-standard Peptides Integrated Discovery for Modulating Biological Processes”: Accounts of Chemical Research, 56, 2023, 1953–1965. (IF 24.466)
• Saha, A.⁺ ; Vamisetti, G. B.⁺ ; Huang, Y. J.; Vanjari, R.; Mann, G.; Gutbrod, J.; Ayoub, N.; Suga, H.*; & Brik, A* “Selective Macrocyclic Peptide Modulators of Lys63-linked Ubiquitin Chains Disrupt DNA Damage Repair” Nature communications, 13, 2022, 1-12. (IF 17.69)
• Saha, A.; Mandal, S.; Arafiles, J. V. V.; Gómez‐González, J.; Hackenberger, C. P.*; & Brik, A.* “Structure–Uptake Relationship Study of DABCYL Derivatives Linked to Cyclic Cell‐Penetrating Peptides for Live‐Cell Delivery of Synthetic Proteins” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 61, 2022, e202207551. (IF 16.6)
• Saha, A.⁺; Akhtar, N.⁺; Kumar, V.; Kumar, S.; Srivastava, K. H; Kumar, S.; Manna. D.* “pH-Regulated anion transport activities of bis(iminourea) derivatives across the cell and vesicle membrane”: Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 17, 2019, 5779-5788.
• Saha, A.⁺ ; Pradhan, N.⁺ ; Chatterjee, S.; Singh, K. R.; Trivedi, V.; Bhattacharyya, A.; Manna. D.* “Fatty-Amine-Conjugated Cationic Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles for Target-Specific Hydrophobic Drug Delivery”: ACS Applied Nano Materials, 26, 2019, 3671-3683.
• Saha, A.⁺ ; Akhtar, N.⁺ ; Kumar, V.⁺ ; Pradhan, N.; Panda, S.; Morla, S.; Kumar, S.; Manna. D.* “Diphenylethylenediamine-Based Potent Anionophores: Transmembrane Chloride Ion Transport and Apoptosis Inducing Activities”: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 10, 2018, 33803-33813. 
• Saha, A.⁺ ; Panda, S.⁺ ; Pradhan, N.; Kalita, K.; Vishal, T.; Manna. D.* “Azidophosphonate chemistry as route for a novel class of vesicle forming phosphonolipids”: Chemistry-A European Journal, 24, 2018, 1121-1127. 
• Saha, A.⁺ ; Panda, S.⁺ ; Paul, S.⁺ ; Manna, D.* “Phosphate bioisostere containing amphiphiles: a novel class of squaramide-based lipids”: Chemical Communications, 52, 2016, 9438-9441. 

Invited Lectures:

• Title: "The Art of Intracellular Chemical Delivery"; Date of Presentation: 2024–04–30 organised by the Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai; event: “FUTURE OF CHEMISTRY" 15th Symposium in SYMPOSIUM SERISE.
• Title: “Recent Developments in Nanoparticle–Based Therapeutic Approaches for COVID–19”; Category of Event: International (within country) Date of Presentation: 2021-08-05 Alipurduar University, West Bengal, India on "INTERNATIONAL WEB-BASED CONFERENCE -COVID-19 CONSEQUENCES AND CHALLENGES"
• Title: “Applications of Nanoparticles in Anticancer Drug Delivery”; Category of Event: International (within country) Date of Presentation: 2021–06–24 Acharya B. N. Seal College, Cooch Behar, affiliated to North Bengal University, International web-based conference on “INTRODUCTION TO NANO CHEMISTRY: APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES”

Research Overview:

We are a young and highly motivated research group at the BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus. Our lab is focused on exploring and understanding 'THE ART OF INTRACELLULAR CHEMICAL DELIVERY'

For intracellular delivery of chemical and biological substances (ions, small molecules, supramolecules, peptides, proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, bioconjugates, bifunctional molecules, and others), we work on designing and developing various ORGANIC CARRIERS, which are tailored for assisting molecules to cross the biological membrane and unveil therapeutic applications. In addition to contributing to the advancement of targeted and effective therapeutic interventions, we aim to reveal the complex chemistry and biology underlying these processes. Also, by asking fundamental biological questions, our work seeks to bridge gaps in knowledge and foster innovative solutions in the realm of intracellular chemical delivery to further rigorous exploration, thereby making significant contributions in the fields of chemistry, biology, and medicine.

Current Research Interests

(combines the knowledge of organic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, and chemical biology)

• Synthesis of novel lipid, protein, & peptide-based drug carriers
• Synthesis of novel anionophores for Ion Therapy
• Synthesis of unique cell-penetrating peptides
• Unique strategies for bioactive cyclic peptides delivery
• Intracellular delivery of PROTACs and other bifunctional molecules 
• Artificial intelligence in chemical delivery
• Artificial cell construction
• Biomaterials and drug delivery
• Bioelectronics and drug delivery

Team Members

Post-Doctoral Researchers

•  Kavyashree P 

  Email: 2024proj088@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in

   PhD: IISER-Bhopal (completed in Dec 2023)

  Joined the group: April 2025; Research area: Development of Unique Cell-Penetrating Peptides

Doctoral Researchers

•  Rachel Anjous 

  Email: p20240012@hyderabd.bits-pilani.ac.in

   Academics: GATE qualified, M.Sc: Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, B.Sc.: Scottish Church College, Kolkata

   Joined the group: July 2024; Research area: Development of Synthetic Carriers for Biological Applications

Positions

We are hiring!

We are currently seeking highly motivated and driven students to join our research group.

Open positions are available for Doctoral programs. Candidates with NET (CSIR/JRF), DST Inspire, or any funded fellowship holders are welcome to apply for PhD positions anytime throughout the year. For institute fellowship, apply through the BITS portal against advertisement twice a year Click here.

We also encourage aspiring Postdoctoral fellows and Research Associates to apply by securing external fellowships (NPDF, CSRI-PDF, WISE-PDF, DBT-PDF/RA, and others).

Write your interest to Dr. Abhishek Saha via email only (abhishek.saha@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in) and attach your curriculum vitae

Article Reviewed:

• Review activity for Nature Communications (2024)
• Review activity for Nature Chemical Biology (2023)

Membership:

• Israel Chemical Society (ICS)
• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI), Lifetime
• Biophysical Society Deccan, Hyderabad, India
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Association (AMIEE), Lifetime
• Society for Materials Chemistry (SMC), Lifetime

Dept. of Chemistry, BITS-Hyd (miscellaneous)

• DAC member: K V L P Raju Manepalli (PI: Prof. Manab Chakrabarty), PhD proposal 2025
• Publications and Media Relations Unit (PMRU) in-charge, Chemistry, 2025
• Placement co-ordinator, Chemistry, 2025
• DAC member: Sai Keerthana H. (PI: Prof. Tanmay Chatterjee), PhD proposal 2024
• DAC member: Chaudhari Hrushikesh Shesharao (PI: Prof. KVG Chandra Sekhar), PhD proposal 2024
• Instructor-in-charge (Reading course I-II/BITS E593): Rachel Anjous (PI: Prof. Abhishek Saha), 2024-25
• Examiner (Lab Oriented Project/CHEM F366): 3 students, BITS 2nd-degree (PI: Prof. Sourav Bag), 2024 

News

• 2025/03/04 Kavyashree joined our team as a postdoc fellow.
• 2025/02/19 Indian Govt. approved ANRF-PMECRF research fund of 44.04 lakh to AICD Lab.
• 2024/07/26 Rachel joined our team as a doctoral fellow.
• 2024/04/05 Institute provided us a research laboratory space at 001/M, A-block, BITS-Pilani Hyderabad campus.

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