Department of Chemistry

University | A to Z | Departments

• 
• Department of Chemistry
• People
• Dr Krishna Sharma

• Study
• People
• Research
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• About us
• Contact us
• Current staff and students

Dr Krishna Sharma

Email: krishna.sharma@york.ac.uk
Postdoctoral Research Associate CRC Inst

Biography

Krishna is a postdoctoral research associate at the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) University of York working with Professor James Clark where his research work focusses on the discovery of sustainable organic chemical reactions utilising biorenewable solvents. Previously he completed his Masters by Research in Organic Chemistry at the University of Oxford, where he was awarded a commendation by the University for his exceptional performance. Following his Masters, he moved to the University of Cambridge for PhD in Chemistry where his research work was at the interface of Chemistry and Biology focusing on the development of effective molecules for inhibiting protein-protein interactions as an anticancer strategy. Before joining GCCE at York he was a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds where he enabled sustainable synthesis of pharmaceutically important organic molecules utilising water as the environmentally benign reaction media.

Education

University of Cambridge UK
PhD Chemistry
Department of Chemistry

University of Oxford UK
MSc (by Research) Organic Chemistry (Commendation Award for exceptional performance)
Chemistry Research Laboratory

University of Delhi India
BSc (Hons) Chemistry (Distinction and Mohan Katyal Memorial Prize for exceptional performance)

Scholarships and awards

• American Chemical Society Organic Division Travel Award 2023 to represent School of Chemistry, University of Leeds at the 2023 ACS Fall Meeting, San Francisco USA
• Royal Society of Chemistry Researcher Development Grant 2023 to participate and present postdoctoral research work at the 2023 ACS Fall Meeting, San Francisco USA.
• Poster Award Gordon Research Conference in Green Chemistry 2022 for best poster and flash talk presentation on my postdoctoral research work involving development of sustainable fluorination chemistry.
• American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable Travel Award 2022 to present postdoctoral research work at a special “Sustainability in Organic Chemistry” session at the 26 th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, Reston, Virginia, USA.
• First Prize for Research Poster Presentation at the Society of Chemical Industry Challenges in Catalysis VII Conference 2022, Royal Society of Chemistry, London.
• Selected as young researcher representative to present research poster at the ACS Green Chemistry Institute Industrial Roundtable poster event 2022 in Reston Virginia.
• STEM for BRITAIN Chemistry Finalist 2022 to give an insight of the outstanding research work being undertaken as an early-career researcher to the members of both Houses of the UK Parliament, House of Commons, UK.
• International Achiever Award for distinguished work in the field of Green Chemistry, by STE (Save The Environment - a society for research, awareness and social development based in India).
• Royal Society of Chemistry Researcher Development Grant 2022 to participate and present postdoctoral research work at the 9th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry, Athens, Greece.
• Royal Society of Chemistry early career scientist grant 2019 to present research work at the 47th IUPAC World Chemistry Congress, Paris, France and participate in the IUPAC 50th General Assembly.
• Young Scientist Award 2019, 6th World Congress on Nanomedical Sciences/Chemistry-Biology Interface Synergistic New Frontiers, India.
• American Chemical Society Organic Division Travel Award 2018 to represent Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University at the 255th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, USA.
• Trinity College Rouse-Ball and Eddington Research Fund Award 2018 to present PhD research work at the 255th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, USA.
• Cambridge Philosophical Society Research Studentship Award 2018 to complete an exceptionally promising piece of research work during PhD studies at the University of Cambridge.
• Best Oral Presentation Prize 2018 at the international conference on Emerging Trends in Drugs Development and Natural-Products, India.
• Infosys 35 under 35 UK India Young Leader Award 2018, 5th UK-India Conclave.
• Scholarships awarded in 2014 by Trinity College Cambridge, University of Cambridge Trust and the Jawaharlal Nehru Cambridge Trust to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge.
• MSc Thesis Commendation Award 2014, University of Oxford for producing an excellent thesis and receiving exceptional comments from the examiners.
• Commendation Award 2012, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford for the high standard of experimental work, written submission and viva voce at the first-year transfer interviews.
• American Chemical Society Organic Division Travel Award 2013 ($600) to represent Department of Chemistry, Oxford University at the 245th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, USA.
• Tutor for Graduates Award 2013, St Peter’s College, University of Oxford to present MSc research work at the 245th ACS National Meeting.
• J.N. Tata Endowment scholarship 2011 for postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.
• Mohan Katyal Memorial Prize 2011, St. Stephen’s College for overall academic performance, regularity, extra-curricular activities, moral character and selfless service.

Publications

• Sharma, K.; et al. (2015), J. Am. Chem. Soc., 137 (41), 13414–13424.
• Sharma, K.; et al. (2018): CHAPTER 8, in Cyclic Peptides: From Bioorganic Synthesis to Applications, The Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 164-187.
• Sharma, K.; et al. (2019): Org. Biomol. Chem., 17, 8014-8018.
• Sharma, K.; et al. (2020): ACS Omega, 5 (2), 1157-1169.
• Knighton, R. C.; Sharma, K.; et al. (2019), ACS Omega, 4 (1), 2160-2167.
• Strizhak, A. V.; Sharma, K.; et al. (2018), Org. Biomol. Chem., 16, 8559-8564 (highlighted in Synfacts 2019).
• Strizhak, A. V.; Babii, O.; Afonin, S.; Bakanovich, L.; Pantelejevs, T.; Xu, W.; Fowler, E.; Eapen, R.; Sharma, K.; et al. (2020), Org. Biomol. Chem., 18, 5359-5369.
• Boobier, S.; Liu, Y., Sharma, K.; et al. (2021), J. Chem. Inf. Model., 10, 4890.
• Maltby K.; Sharma, K.; et al. (2023), ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 11, 8675.
• Sharma, K.; et al. (2024), Activation of Fluoride Anion as Nucleophile in Water with Data-guided Surfactant Selection (accepted in Chemical Science).

Leadership Roles

• Chair, Green Chemistry Gordon Research Seminar 2024 (Election took place at the 2022 Green Chemistry GRC)
  2-day symposium of the Gordon Research Conference that focusses on early career researchers.
• Lab Captain, School of Chemistry, University of Leeds (2021-present)
  Overseeing and ensuring day-to-day safety of the lab and liaising with the School of Chemistry officials.
• Sustainability Committee Postdoc Champion, School of Chemistry University of Leeds to achieve a green lab certification from the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) (2022-onwards).
• Chair of the Chemistry Graduate Social and Networking Committee, University of Cambridge (2015-2016).
  Organised academic and social events for the graduate students at the Department of Chemistry, Cambridge. These included symposiums, conferences, and social events throughout the year.
• President of the Graduate Students (BA Society), Trinity College, University of Cambridge (2015-2016).
  Represented 300 graduate students at Trinity College, Cambridge. Chaired committee meetings and liaised with the university and college officials. Organised a wide-range of academic and social events throughout the year.
• President of the Chemistry Society, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, India (2010-2011).
  Chaired committee meetings and organised conferences, lectures by eminent scientists, paper presentations, quizzes, and educational trips.
• Co-founder and Mentor, Cambridge University Bharatiya Society (2019 onwards).
  Mentoring the society to provide a home away from home for Indian students at Cambridge University.

Outreach Activities

• Co-organiser of York Pint of Science Festival (Theme: Planet Earth) 13 May 2024.
• Selected to showcase my Research Journey by the University of Leeds 2023.
• Trained 21 young leaders selected from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka on “Sustainable Practices: An urgent need of the hour” as part of Young Leaders Neighbourhood Fellowship Programme in India 2022.
• Organised National RSC Conference in India "Inauguration of the International Year of Chemistry 2011".
• Organised University of Cambridge Chemistry Undergraduate Symposium 2016.
• Organised 8 Graduate Research Seminars, Trinity College University of Cambridge 2014-2015.

Volunteering

• Member of the Green Impact Team (a United Nations award-winning programme designed to support environmentally and socially sustainable practices in the Green Chemistry Centre University of York).
• Mentor for the University of York PGR mentoring scheme (a mentoring programme for the postgraduate researchers at the University of York to create a positive research culture and promote the professional development of researchers).