Saurja DasGupta

Saurja DasGupta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, where he leads the DasGupta Laboratory, established in March 2024. His research spans RNA structure, function, and evolution, with a focus on the origins of life and synthetic biology.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Chicago (2018)
• M.S. in Chemistry, University of Chicago (2013)
• M.Sc. in Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (2012)
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Calcutta (2010)

His research explores RNA's role in both ancient and modern biology, particularly ribozymes and their catalytic capabilities, using techniques such as in vitro selection, directed evolution, high-throughput sequencing, and structural biology. The lab aims to reconstruct the RNA World by engineering synthetic protocells capable of growth, division, and evolution.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in prebiotic chemistry, RNA catalysis, and the physical conditions enabling early life. His work bridges biochemistry, evolutionary biology, and geochemistry, aiming to uncover fundamental principles of life’s emergence.

Scientific Awards:

• Postdoctoral Fellow Career Development Grant (MGH, 2023)
• German Association for Synthetic Biology Best Presentation Award (2020)
• Sigma Xi Honor Society (2019)
• ACS Chemical Biology Outstanding Poster Award (2016)

Dr. DasGupta is actively mentoring graduate students and welcomes rotations from the Chemistry & Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biophysics, and IBMS programs. His lab is supported by independent research funding, though specific grants are not detailed. He is developing RNA-based technologies such as biosensors and tools for RNA crystallography.

The DasGupta Laboratory is dedicated to both fundamental discovery and technological innovation in RNA science, operating at the intersection of biochemistry, evolution, and synthetic biology.