Uttam K. Tambar

Dr. Uttam K. Tambar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He holds the distinction of being a W. W. Caruth, Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research. Originally from India, he moved to the U.S. in 1982 and earned his A.B. from Harvard University (2000) and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology (2006) under Professor Brian Stoltz. He completed an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship at Columbia University with Professor James Leighton (2009) before joining UT Southwestern.

His research focuses on:

• Developing novel synthetic chemistry strategies for biomedical challenges
• Asymmetric catalysis for complex molecule construction
• Total synthesis of biologically active natural products
• Medicinal chemistry applications through UT Southwestern's collaborative environment

His publications (2015–2020) predominantly explore organic synthesis, catalysis, and medicinal chemistry, with recurring themes of reaction design, stereoselectivity, and natural product synthesis. Over 75% of recent articles involve copper/photocatalysis or complex molecule assembly.

Awards & Honors:

• W. W. Caruth, Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research

Dr. Tambar leads an independent research group (Tambar Lab) focused on reaction discovery, natural product synthesis, and therapeutic agent development. The lab emphasizes rigorous science and an inclusive environment, leveraging UT Southwestern's resources for interdisciplinary collaborations in drug discovery and cell biology.