Varinder Aggarwal

Professor Varinder Aggarwal is a distinguished academic in the field of synthetic chemistry at the University of Bristol's School of Chemistry, where he has been a Professor in Synthetic Chemistry since 2000. Previously, he held academic positions at Sheffield University (1991-2000) and Bath University (1988-1991). His research has earned him international recognition, including election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2012, the Royal Society Davy Medal in 2019, and most recently, election as a Foreign Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India in November 2024.

Professor Aggarwal's research focuses on several key areas of synthetic chemistry including natural product synthesis, organoboron chemistry, asymmetric synthesis using sulfoxides, asymmetric catalysis, ylide reactions, organosulfur chemistry, and stereoselective synthesis. His work has pioneered innovative methodologies such as lithiation-borylation chemistry, which enables the controlled construction of complex organic molecules with precise stereochemistry. His research group at Bristol maintains an active international presence, regularly publishing in top-tier journals and attracting researchers from around the globe.

Professor Aggarwal's publication record is exceptional, with 339 primary publications, 32 reviews, 21 book chapters, and 9 patents, yielding an impressive H-index of 67. In the last five years alone, his group has published 90 papers including articles in Science, Nature, Nature Chemistry, JACS, and Angewandte Chemie. His recent work has focused on advancing stereoselective synthesis through innovative approaches to boronic ester chemistry, photochemical borylation, and assembly-line synthesis of complex organic molecules.

• 2025 Pedler Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry
• 2024 Foreign Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India
• 2019 Royal Society Davy Medal
• 2019 Yamada-Koga Award
• 2019 ACS Cope Scholar Award
• 2017 Humboldt Research Award
• 2012 Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
• 2009 RSC Stereochemistry Award

Professor Aggarwal has demonstrated exceptional mentorship throughout his career, having supervised 102 PhD students to completion and mentored 110 postdoctoral research fellows since beginning his academic career in 1988. Over 95% of his former trainees have remained in chemistry careers, with 37 securing academic positions in European universities and 17 in the Americas and Asia. His group actively participates in international conferences, including organizing the annual Bristol Synthesis Meeting since 2000, which regularly attracts over 500 participants.

The Aggarwal research group operates as a vibrant international hub for synthetic chemistry, characterized by its collaborative spirit and technical excellence. The group has established strong connections with industry through numerous consultancies with pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Celltech, and Aurobindo Pharma. Professor Aggarwal's laboratory is renowned for its contributions to methodology development, particularly in boron chemistry, and for tackling challenging total syntheses of complex natural products.