Vennapusa Sivaranjana Reddy

Dr. Vennapusa Sivaranjana Reddy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM). With a career spanning theoretical and computational chemistry, her research focuses on ultrafast excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), intersystem crossing (ISC), and triplet state formation in organic molecules. She leads a dynamic research group investigating these phenomena through quantum molecular simulations and computational techniques.

• Education: M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Hyderabad (2003-2010); B.Sc. from Government Arts College, Kadapa (2000-2003).
• Professional Experience: Associate Professor (2022–present) and Assistant Professor (2013–2022) at IISER TVM; postdoctoral fellowships at Nagoya University (Japan), Heidelberg University (Germany), and CSIR-HRDG/SERB-funded projects.

Her research group explores ESIPT mechanisms in 5- and 6-membered proton transfer cycles, ultrafast ISC pathways in naphthalene and pyrene derivatives, and triplet formation in ESIPT tautomers. The 15 most recent articles highlight her expertise in designing optoelectronic materials, fluorescent probes for H2S detection, and computational modeling of spin-vibronic dynamics. She has secured significant grants from CSIR and SERB and collaborates with institutions across India and abroad. Her students have received prestigious PMRF fellowships and presented award-winning work at international conferences.

• Scientific Awards: Early Career Research Award (SERB, 2016), Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship, GATE-2005 (All India Rank 6), UGC-CSIR qualification, and merit scholarship during M.Sc.

Dr. Reddy’s group utilizes advanced computational tools like GAUSSIAN 09, TURBOMOLE 7.4, and MCTDH for electronic structure calculations and quantum nuclear dynamics. She mentors Ph.D. students and alumni, including those now at institutions like the University of Vienna and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in physical chemistry, quantum chemistry, and computational methods.