Sanjai Karanth | Biophysics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sanjai Karanth | Biophysics | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Researcher at Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at Technical University Munich, Germany

Dr. Sanjai Karanth is a dynamic biophysicist with a multidisciplinary background that fuses biotechnology, software engineering, and cutting-edge biophysical chemistry 🔬💡. His professional journey spans globally acclaimed institutes in Germany and the USA, where he’s contributed to frontier research on mechanoreceptors, DNA-lipid nanodiscs, and nanoparticle-biomembrane interactions 🌱🧪. A blend of academic excellence and industrial expertise, Sanjai’s work reflects deep curiosity and technical dexterity. His transition from software engineering at Wipro to award-winning research demonstrates adaptability and passion for science 🔄🧠. With a poster prize at the Linz Winter Workshop and scholarships funded by the German Federal Ministry, Sanjai is emerging as a promising scientist in interface biophysics and sensory chemistry 🌍🏅. His collaborative spirit, cross-domain experience, and global exposure equip him to contribute to innovations in sustainable food systems and membrane biochemistry.

Professional Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Sanjai Karanth’s academic voyage began with a Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology from DSCE, Bengaluru, where he laid the foundation of his scientific interests 🧫🎓. Excelling with a 76.4% grade, he pursued a Master’s in Biophysics at Ulm University, Germany 🇩🇪, where his thesis on light transmission spectroscopy reflected early signs of his analytical depth 💡🔬. He graduated with a CGPA of 2.4 under the German grading system. His academic peak was reached during his PhD at the University of Greifswald, focusing on the physicochemical interactions of proteins and nanoparticles under nitric oxide stress—a niche and impactful topic in biophysical chemistry ⚗️🧬. Under Prof. Mihaela Delcea’s guidance, his doctoral research combined interface dynamics, nanoscience, and membrane biochemistry, forming the scientific bedrock of his postdoctoral work. Sanjai’s education trajectory reveals a commitment to science that is both deep and multidisciplinary.

🧪 Professional Experience

Dr. Sanjai Karanth has accumulated robust international research experience that spans the United States and Germany 🌍🔍. Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at TUM, he delves into the sensory realm of mouthfeel, focusing on plant-based texture-enhancers through biophysical identification of receptors 🌱👄. Previously, at Kent State University (USA), he worked on engineering DNA-lipid nanodiscs—a cutting-edge tool in structural biology 🧬🔬. At the University of Greifswald, he investigated how plastic nanoparticles interact with blood proteins and lipid membranes, contributing to the evolving field of environmental biophysics 🌐🧫. Earlier, Sanjai also served in the corporate realm at Wipro Technologies, evolving from Software Engineer to Quality Assurance Team Lead 🖥️🔧. His ability to lead teams, handle client deliverables, and translate business needs into code highlights an interdisciplinary aptitude uncommon in many academic researchers.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Sanjai Karanth’s research interests converge at the intersection of biomolecular interfaces, nanotechnology, and sensory biophysics 🔍🧪. His fascination lies in exploring how biomolecules behave under physical and chemical stresses—especially in lipid bilayers, membrane proteins, and nano-bio interactions. Whether it’s decoding how nanoparticles influence blood components or how texture is sensed at the molecular level in plant-based foods, Sanjai thrives on bridging fundamental science with real-world applications 🌾👨‍🔬. His postdoctoral studies have advanced the understanding of mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors, essential for innovating sustainable food systems 🌱🧠. Earlier, he explored nitric oxide-induced stress on biomimetic membranes during his PhD—laying the groundwork for his multidisciplinary approach. By integrating spectroscopy, nanodisc technology, and physicochemical assays, Sanjai seeks to demystify complex interactions that underlie both health and sensory science 🧬👅. His ambition lies in continuing to unravel molecular secrets that have societal, environmental, and nutritional relevance.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Sanjai Karanth’s scientific journey has been punctuated with notable recognitions 🏆📚. In 2025, he secured the 3rd Prize for his poster at the Linz Winter Workshop in Austria—a testament to the relevance and quality of his biophysical research ❄️🔬. Earlier, in 2016, he was honored with a prestigious scholarship from Ulm University, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), enabling him to pursue advanced biophysics research 💶🎓. His excellence wasn’t confined to academia—during his time at Wipro Technologies, he was celebrated as an Outstanding Team Player in 2014, a recognition of his leadership and teamwork skills in the IT sector 🌐💼. These accolades span both technical and interpersonal domains, demonstrating Sanjai’s rare ability to excel in collaborative environments across science and industry. Each award not only honors past achievement but also reflects his potential to contribute meaningfully to future scientific innovation.

Publications Top Notes 

1.Title: Biomolecular and biophysical AFM probing reveals distinct binding of bitter peptide VAPFPEVF to TAS2R16 without inducing an intracellular calcium response
Authors: Phil Richter, Sanjai Karanth, Rita dos Santos Natividade, Alessandro Nicoli, Małgorzata M. Kogut-Guenthel, Julia Benthin, Antonella Di Pizio, Melanie Koehler, Veronika Somoza
Year: 2025
Citation: Food Chemistry, Vol. 484, 2025, Article 144448
Source: DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144448
Summary:
This study used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to demonstrate that the bitter peptide VAPFPEVF binds specifically to the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R16 but does not trigger the typical intracellular calcium signaling. Instead, it affects cAMP pathways in gastric cells, suggesting alternative signaling mechanisms for taste perception.

2.Title: Fava Bean Protein Nanofibrils Modulate Cell Membrane Interfaces for Biomolecular Interactions as Unveiled by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2024
Citation: Foods, 13(21), 2024
Source: DOI: 10.3390/foods13213411
Summary:
Explores how fava bean protein nanofibrils interact with cell membranes, altering biomolecular interfaces. AFM imaging revealed the structural changes at the membrane interface, advancing understanding of plant protein interactions at the cellular level.

3.Title: The path to the G protein‐coupled receptor structural landscape: Major milestones and future directions
Authors: Not specified
Year: 2024
Citation: British Journal of Pharmacology, 2024
Source: DOI: 10.1111/bph.17314
Summary:
A comprehensive review summarizing significant progress in the structural biology of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), highlighting key milestones and potential future research directions in receptor pharmacology.

4.Title: Nanodisc Technology: Direction toward Physicochemical Characterization of Chemosensory Membrane Proteins in Food Flavor Research
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2024
Citation: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2024
Source: DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01827
Summary:
Discusses the use of nanodisc technology to stabilize chemosensory membrane proteins for physicochemical characterization, with applications in understanding flavor perception and food chemistry.

5.Title: Biophysical investigations using atomic force microscopy can elucidate the link between mouthfeel and flavour perception
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2024
Citation: Nature Food, 2024
Source: DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00958-3
Summary:
Highlights how atomic force microscopy can be employed to study biophysical interactions relevant to mouthfeel and flavor, shedding light on the molecular basis of sensory perception.

6.Title: Interaction of Polystyrene Nanoparticles with Supported Lipid Bilayers: Impact of Nanoparticle Size and Protein Corona
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2023
Citation: Macromolecular Bioscience, 2023
Source: DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200464
Summary:
Investigates how size and protein corona of polystyrene nanoparticles influence their interactions with model lipid membranes, providing insights into nanoparticle-biomembrane interactions important for nanotoxicology.

7.Title: Identification of a critical lipid ratio in raft-like phases exposed to nitric oxide: An AFM study
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2021
Citation: Biophysical Journal, June 2021
Source: DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.009
Summary:
AFM was used to reveal how nitric oxide exposure affects the lipid composition and organization in membrane raft-like domains, which has implications for cellular signaling under stress conditions.

8.Title: Biopolymer-coated gold nanoparticles inhibit human insulin amyloid fibrillation
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2020
Citation: Scientific Reports, December 2020
Source: DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64010-7
Summary:
Shows that biopolymer-coated gold nanoparticles can effectively inhibit the formation of insulin amyloid fibrils, offering potential therapeutic avenues for amyloid-related diseases.

9.Title: Changing surface properties of artificial lipid membranes at the interface with biopolymer coated gold nanoparticles under normal and redox conditions
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2020
Citation: Biophysical Chemistry, December 2020
Source: DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2020.106465
Summary:
Examines how the interaction between biopolymer-coated gold nanoparticles and lipid membranes changes under normal and redox stress, providing insights into nanoparticle–membrane dynamics.

10.Title: Nitrosative stress affects the interaction of integrin alphaIIbbeta3 with its ligands
Authors: Sanjai Karanth
Year: 2020
Citation: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Biomembranes, May 2020
Source: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183198
Summary:
Studies how nitrosative stress modifies the binding of integrin alphaIIbbeta3 to its ligands, which can affect platelet function and blood coagulation processes.

🎯 Conclusion 

Dr. Sanjai Karanth exemplifies a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists—those who comfortably straddle the realms of computation, chemistry, and biology to solve complex problems 🌐🔬. From developing membrane models in Germany to crafting nanodiscs in the USA, and now shaping food texture perception in Bavaria, his trajectory illustrates global competence, scientific curiosity, and translational vision 🌍🧠. Backed by academic accolades and industrial experience, Sanjai brings both intellectual rigor and a practical mindset to every project he undertakes. As he continues to decode sensory and molecular systems at the forefront of science, Sanjai’s future looks rich with collaborative potential, societal relevance, and scientific breakthroughs 🚀🌿. His story is one of reinvention, cross-border achievement, and unwavering passion for biophysical chemistry. With each milestone, he reinforces his role as a researcher committed to understanding the invisible interactions that make our world work—right from the nanoscale to the sensory scale.

Maricel Agop | Biophysics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Maricel Agop | Biophysics | Best Researcher Award

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Educational Details

Prof. Dr. Maricel Agop has an impressive academic background, marked by significant achievements in physics. He earned his PhD in Physics from the Faculty of Physics “Al. I. Cuza” in Iași in 1983. His educational journey began with exceptional performance at the same faculty, where he specialized in “Solid Body for Research Institutes” and graduated at the top of his class with an average of 9.98. In 2013, he was honored with the Doctoral degree “HONORIS CAUSA” from the University “Vasile Alecsandri” in Bacău. Dr. Agop’s early education includes attendance at George Bacovia Theoretical High School in Bacău and Elementary School no. 5, laying a strong foundation for his illustrious career in academia and research.

 

Professional Experience:

Prof. Dr. Maricel Agop is a distinguished physicist with a long academic career at multiple Romanian institutions. Since 1997, he has served as a Professor of Physics at “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași. He is also an Associate Professor and Ph.D. supervisor at “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iași since 2002, and holds a similar role at “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău since 2011, where he is a member of the Doctoral School. His earlier experience includes roles as a physicist at the Institute of Energetic Nuclear Reactors and the Romanian Academy’s Iași Branch. Dr. Agop has been actively contributing to the field of physics since the 1980s, with a focus on both academic and research endeavors.

Awards and Honors:

Prof. Dr. Maricel Agop has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. He received the Prize of Excellence from the Union of Armenians in Romania (1995) and was named Doctor Honoris Causa by “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău (2013). He is also a Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists (since 2018). Among his accolades are Romanian Academy Awards for his contributions to scale relativity physics and radiomics, as well as international recognition, including an “Honorable Mention” from the American Gravity Research Foundation (1986) and two gold medals at Brussels Eureka ’94 for his inventions.

Top Notable Publications

S. Gurlui, M. Agop, P. Nica, M. Ziskind, C. Focsa (2008). “Experimental and theoretical investigations of a laser-produced aluminum plasma,” Physical Review E, 78(2). 137 citations.

I. Merches, M. Agop (2015). “Differentiability and fractality in dynamics of physical systems,” World Scientific. 131 citations.

S. Bungau, D.M. Tit, K. Fodor, G. Cioca, M. Agop, C. Iovan, D.C.N. Cseppento, et al. (2018). “Aspects regarding the pharmaceutical waste management in Romania,” Sustainability, 10(8), 2788. 105 citations.

C. Bujoreanu, F. Nedeff, M. Benchea, M. Agop (2017). “Experimental and theoretical considerations on sound absorption performance of waste materials including the effect of backing plates,” Applied Acoustics, 119, 88-93. 104 citations.

P. Nica, P. Vizureanu, M. Agop, S. Gurlui, C. Focsa, N. Forna, P.D. Ioannou, et al. (2009). “Experimental and theoretical aspects of aluminum expanding laser plasma,” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 48(6R), 066001. 64 citations.

G.V. Munceleanu, V.P. Paun, I. Casian-Botez, M. Agop (2011). “The microscopic-macroscopic scale transformation through a chaos scenario in the fractal space-time theory,” International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos, 21(02), 603-618. 60 citations.

E.S. Bacaita, B.C. Ciobanu, M. Popa, M. Agop, J. Desbrieres (2014). “Phases in the temporal multiscale evolution of the drug release mechanism in IPN-type chitosan based hydrogels,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 16(47), 25896-25905. 59 citations.

M. Agop, N. Forna, I. Casian-Botez, C. Bejenariu (2008). “New theoretical approach of the physical processes in nanostructures,” Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience, 5(4), 483-489. 58 citations.

M. Agop, V.P. Păun (2017). “On the New Perspectives of Fractal Theory: Fundaments and Applications,” Editura Academiei Române. 56 citations.

C. Focsa, S. Gurlui, P. Nica, M. Agop, M. Ziskind (2017). “Plume splitting and oscillatory behavior in transient plasmas generated by high-fluence laser ablation in vacuum,” Applied Surface Science, 424, 299-309. 55 citations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antonios Kolocouris | Computational Biophysics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Antonios Kolocouris | Computational Biophysics | Best Researcher Award

Professor Antonios Kolocouris is a faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is an expert in medicinal chemistry, focusing on the design and synthesis of antiviral agents, particularly targeting influenza and coronaviruses. His research includes structure-based drug design and molecular modeling, aiming to discover new therapeutics for viral infections. Prof. Kolocouris has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been involved in international collaborations to advance pharmaceutical science and antiviral drug development.

PROFILE

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Orcid Profile

Educational Details

Professor Antonios Kolocouris earned his degree in Chemistry (MSc equivalent) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 1989, graduating with distinction (8.6/10). He pursued his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, NKUA, from 1990 to 1995. Following his doctoral work, he conducted post-doctoral research at the same institution in 1997, focusing on synthetic medicinal chemistry. From 1997 to 2000, Prof. Kolocouris served as a post-doctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation. His research there involved studying the conformation of Angiotensin II and its agonists and antagonists using NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, as well as the interactions of drug-lipid conjugates like AZT with model membranes. He also contributed to the structure elucidation of natural products using various biophysical methods.

Academic Positions:

Professor Antonios Kolocouris has had a distinguished academic career at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), where he has been a faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He began his tenure as a Lecturer in October 2000, advancing to Assistant Professor in April 2006. In March 2010, he secured tenure as an Assistant Professor in the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry. By May 2011, he was promoted to Associate Professor, and in May 2020, he attained the rank of full Professor. Throughout his career, Prof. Kolocouris has made significant contributions to the field of medicinal chemistry, particularly in drug design and development.

Research Visits: 

Professor Antonios Kolocouris has engaged in numerous international research collaborations throughout his career, contributing to advancements in medicinal chemistry and drug design. In September 1999, he conducted dynamic NMR studies on hindered ring inversion and nitrogen inversion at University College London’s Department of Chemistry. In 2002 and 2004, at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Biochemistry, he utilized NMR and 19F NMR techniques to study the interactions of aminoadamantanes with influenza A M2 protein in liposomes and micelles. His work on docking calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations continued at the University of Pisa in 2008 and 2009, focusing on aminoadamantane interactions with the influenza A M2 protein using AMBER software. In 2010, at the University of Zurich’s Department of Biochemistry, he applied MM-PBSA and LIE calculations with the CHARMM force field. His research expanded to include MM-PBSA calculations with AMBER at the University of Düsseldorf in 2012, deepening his exploration of influenza A M2 protein interactions with aminoadamantanes.

Research Activity:

Professor Antonios Kolocouris specializes in medicinal chemistry with a focus on membrane protein-ligand interactions. His research employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and advanced free energy calculation methods, including MM-PBSA, FEP/MD, and TI/MD, as well as NMR spectroscopy, to study these interactions in detail. He is also experienced in virtual screening of chemical libraries, using both structure-based and ligand-based approaches to identify potential bioactive compounds. Additionally, his work emphasizes the development of structure-activity relationships (SAR) and 3D quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D QSAR) to optimize ligand efficacy. His expertise extends to the chemical synthesis of bioactive ligands, further contributing to the field of drug discovery and design.

Research Areas:

Professor Antonios Kolocouris has conducted extensive research on the interactions of aminoadamantanes with the influenza A M2 protein, employing a variety of methods including NMR spectroscopy, ITC, electrophysiology, ssNMR, DSC, and antiviral assays. His studies have focused on both wild-type and amantadine-resistant strains of influenza A, utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy calculations (FEP/MD, TI/MD, MM-PB(GB)SA) since 2002. Additionally, he has applied computational drug design techniques and synthesized aminoadamantanes and polar head heterocycle conjugates to combat these strains. His work in structure-based drug design includes virtual screening of chemical libraries for bioactive molecules targeting Adenosine Receptors, leading to the development of new selective antagonists. He has also mapped the orthosteric binding area of A3AR through mutagenesis, kinetic studies, and computational approaches. More recently, Prof. Kolocouris has focused on designing and synthesizing SQ109 analogues to inhibit the Mmpl3 bacterial transporter for treating neglected diseases, alongside earlier work on peptide conformational analysis using MD simulations and NOE experiments.

Top Notable Publications

Huang, X., Chorianopoulou, A., Kalkounou, P., Lougiakis, N., Ladds, G. (2024). “Hit-to-Lead Optimization of Heterocyclic Carbonyloxycarboximidamides as Selective Antagonists at Human Adenosine A3 Receptor.” Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67(15), 13117–13146.

Zorba, L.P., Stylianakis, I., Tsoureas, N., Kolocouris, A., Vougioukalakis, G.C. (2024). “Copper-Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of Thiazolidin-2-imines.” Journal of Organic Chemistry, 89(11), 7727–7740.

Stampelou, M., Ladds, G., Kolocouris, A. (2024). “Computational Workflow for Refining AlphaFold Models in Drug Design Using Kinetic and Thermodynamic Binding Calculations: A Case Study for the Unresolved Inactive Human Adenosine A3 Receptor.” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 128(4), 914–936.

Georgiou, K., Konstantinidi, A., Hutterer, J., Gauglitz, G., Kolocouris, A. (2024). “Accurate Calculation of Affinity Changes to the Close State of Influenza A M2 Transmembrane Domain in Response to Subtle Structural Changes of Adamantyl Amines Using Free Energy Perturbation Methods in Different Lipid Bilayers.” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta – Biomembranes, 1866(2), 184258.

Watson, S.J., van der Watt, M.E., Theron, A., Oldfield, E., Birkholtz, L.-M. (2024). “The Tuberculosis Drug Candidate SQ109 and Its Analogs Have Multistage Activity against Plasmodium falciparum.” ACS Infectious Diseases.

Stylianakis, I., Zervos, N., Lii, J.-H., Pantazis, D.A., Kolocouris, A. (2023). “Conformational Energies of Reference Organic Molecules: Benchmarking of Common Efficient Computational Methods Against Coupled Cluster Theory.” Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, 37(12), 607–656.

Stylianakis, I., Zervos, N., Lii, J.-H., Pantazis, D.A., Kolocouris, A. (2023). “Correction to: Conformational Energies of Reference Organic Molecules: Benchmarking of Common Efficient Computational Methods Against Coupled Cluster Theory.” Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, 37(12), 657.

Tan, B., Liu, C., Li, K., Liu, W., Wang, J. (2023). “Structure-Based Lead Optimization of Enterovirus D68 2A Protease Inhibitors.” Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66(21), 14544–14563.

Stampolaki, Μ., Hoffmann, A., Tekwani, K., Schmidtke, M., Kolocouris, A. (2023). “A Study of the Activity of Adamantyl Amines Against Mutant Influenza A M2 Channels Identified a Polycyclic Cage Amine Triple Blocker, Explored by Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Solid-State NMR.” ChemMedChem, 18(16), e202300182.