Parth V. Joshi

Prof. Michael Grove

English 21003- Writing for the Sciences

Scientist Profile Outline

9/24/2018

 

Professor Mahesh Lakshman, professor of organic chemistry at the City College of New York, has done his research in organic chemical synthesis pertaining to questions of biological interest. Having studied his tremendous career he has behind him, one can easily see his soft spot for cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, be it his research on purine derivatives in his latest published paper, or his work on peptide agents on benzotriazoles have a game-changing breakthrough in the field of biochemistry and clinical development.

His new methods show an interesting perspective to the field of biotechnology and would help us speed up process of identifying carcinogen-producing genes and isolate them from bacterial plasmids and use for medication to counter carcinoma risk-free medicines.

Professor Lakshman has done his bachelors and master’s in science from the University of Bombay in Mumbai and then come to the United States to so his MS and Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma. After Prof. Lakshman obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Oklahoma, he did postdoctoral work as a Fogarty Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK).  He then took up an industrial position as Senior Scientist before returning to academia 1998. Prof. Lakshman started his academic career at the University of North Dakota before joining CCNY. From 2008-2011, Prof. Lakshman was the Executive Officer for the CUNY Ph.D. program in Chemistry.

Even after coming to CCNY, Prof. Lakshman has steadily been a part of several research opportunities in his life, being interested in hydrocarbon complexities as potential mechanics to solve the many mysteries  

Prof. Lakshman has been an integral part of many research programs throughout his career, but listing just the major contributions from him in the past 5 years are listed as follows:

1. Basava, V.; Yang, L.; Pradan, P.; Lakshman, M. K.: A novel bis(pinacolato)diboron-mediated N–O bond deoxygenative route to C6 benzotriazolyl purine nucleoside derivatives, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2016, 14, 7069–7083.
2. Singh, M. K.; Akula, H. K.; Satishkumar, S.; Stahl, L.; Lakshman, M. K.: Ruthenium-catalyzed C–H bond activation approach to azolyl aminals and hemiaminal ethers, mechanistic evaluations, and isomer interconversion, ACS Catalysis 2016, 6, 1921–1928.  Featured on the front cover of the issue
3. Singh, M. K.; Lakshman, M. K.: Diarylmethanes via an unprecedented Pd-catalyzed C–C cross coupling of 1-(aryl)methoxy-1H-benzotriazoles with arylboronic acids, ChemCatChem 2015, 7, 4156–4162.
4. Thomson, P. F.; Parrish, D.; Pradhan, P.; Lakshman, M. K.: Modular, metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization approach to angularly fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their oxidized derivatives, The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2015, 80, 7435–7446.
5. Gurram. V.; Akula, H. K.; Garlapati, R.; Pottabathini, N.; Lakshman, M. K.: Mild and general access to diverse 1H-benzotriazoles via diboron mediated N–OH deoxygenation, and Pd-catalyzed C–C and C–N bond formation, Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis 2015, 357, 451–462.
6. Yedulla, V. R.; Pradhan, P.; Yang, L.; Lakshman, M. K.: Cycloaddition of arynes and cyclic enol ethers as a platform for access to stereochemically defined 1,2-disubstituted benzocyclobutenes, European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2015, 750–764.
7. Lakshman, M. K.; Singh, M. K.; Kumar, M.; Chamala, R. R.; Yedulla, V. R.; Wagner, D.; Leung, E.; Yang. L.; Matin, A.; Ahmad, S.: Facile synthesis of 1-alkoxy-1H-benzo- and 7-azabenzotriazoles from peptide coupling agents, mechanistic studies, and synthetic applications, Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry 2014, 10, 1919–1932.  DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.10.200
8. Chamala, R. R.; Parrish, D.; Pradhan, P.; Lakshman, M. K.: Purinyl N1-directed C-H oxidation in 6-arylpurines and 6-arylpurine nucleosides, The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2013, 78, 7423-7435.  DOI: 10.1021/jo4008282

And there are many more that follow this list and must be considered professional excellencies on behalf of its merit.

His ongoing researched has Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as their aza- and sulfur- analogs are widely prevalent in the environment and many members of this family are metabolized to ultimate carcinogens.  These compounds therefore represent a health risk to humans with direct and indirect contact with the substances.

Upon asking why work with potential carcinogens

   All 4 diol epoxides interact with DNA and undergo a ring-scission of the epoxide moiety and the ensuing cationic intermediate is trapped by the exocylic amino groups of the purine bases in cellular DNA.  This modification of DNA is the first step in the mutagenic and carcinogenic responses eliced by the diol epoxides. Since the overall mechanism of DNA alkylation is SN1 like, each diol epoxide can produce 4 nucleoside adducts with each of the 2 purine nucleosides.  Thus, metabolism and DNA binding of any single PAH can result in the formation of a total 16 adducts.

   In order to understand better the biochemical processes involved in mutagenesis by diol epoxide-DNA adducts, research in his group is directed towards the stereoselective synthesis of individual diol epoxide-nucleoside adducts and incorporation of these into specific sites in DNA.  This entails in most cases development of new synthesis methodology. Once the site-specifically modified DNA are available, then a variety of physical measurements can be undertaken, as well as determination of their solution structures by NMR. Experimentation in collaboration with biochemists is aimed at understanding the cellular process that can then be related to the structures of the specific diol epoxide-DNA lesion.

Trying to understand more about his current project, the interviewer asked him about the preliminary procedure he goes with his research, to which he confirmed that almost all his researches have had something that would overlap and wouldn’t feel like doing something that he does not want to do. His research is conducted with the idea that Fundamental Understanding drives New Chemistry (FUNCy).  Thus, development of chemical methodology and synthesis of novel molecules require a sound understanding of mechanistic organic chemistry, as being integral to the research.

Considering why this concept is clearly important to single out the carcinogenic complexes, it also raises questions about more compounds that are optical and stereo-isomers. Of such PAH molecules, a lot of them are still ingredients in industrial solutions for a variety of purposes. This research has the high possibility of affecting economically the mass production of multiple product lines that use PAH and compounds.

Not only has the merits of his papers have reached to international eyes and ears but has led the CCNY to benefit from his administration expertise. The research has resulted in much of his work being awarded with the following accolades.

1. Elected Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016
2. “In Honor of Outstanding Scholarly Achievements and Contributions to the Creation and Transmittal of Knowledge” Certificate of Recognition from The City University of New York, 2014
3. Recipient of a 2014 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship.
4. Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, September-November 2013
5. “In Honor of Outstanding Scholarly Achievements and Contributions to the Creation and Transmittal of Knowledge” Certificate of Recognition from the City University of New York, 2012
6. The City College of New York President’s S.T.A.R. (Service, Teamwork, Action, and Results) Award 2011
7. “Excellent Service to the Editors and Authors of EurJOC European Journal of Organic Chemistry” Certificate of Recognition from Wiley-VCH and ChemPubSoc Europe
8. “In Honor of Outstanding Scholarly Achievements to the Creation and Transmittal of Knowledge” Certificate of Recognition from The City University of New York, 2007
9. Certificate of Appreciation from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for “Commitment to Advancing Underrepresented Minority Students in Mathematics, Science and Engineering and for Partnering with the Foundation’s Minority Program,” 2007
10. Profiled in the June 1 issue of India Abroad, 2007
11. “For Securing Major Institutional Grant Funds in 2005” Certificate of Recognition from The City University of New York, 2006
12. “In Honor of Outstanding Scholarly Achievements to the Creation and Transmittal of Knowledge” Certificate of Recognition from The City University of New York, 2004
13. “Outstanding Mentor Award” The City College of New York, 2003-2004
14. “In Honor of Outstanding Scholarly Achievements to the Creation and Transmittal of Knowledge” Certificate of Recognition from The City University of New York, 2002
15. “In Honor of Outstanding Scholarly Achievements to the Creation and Transmittal of Knowledge” Certificate of Recognition from The City University of New York, 2001.

He has also been an integral part of administrative reforms and executive positions put by the CCNY and the institutions he used to work before. He is now looking up to his future research for the applications of his current research material to good use.

Works cited

1. Lakshman, M. P.hD.;Science Division Forum, Department of Chemistry and Biology, http://forum.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/people/science-division-directory/b013
2. City College of New York Directory; https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/profiles/mahesh-lakshman
3. Lakshman, Mahesh K., and Prasanna K. Vuram. “Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling and Oxidative-Amination Reactions of Ethers and Alcohols with Aromatics and Heteroaromatics.” Chemical Science, vol. 8, no. 9, 2017, pp. 5845–5888.
4. Thomson, Paul F, et al. “Modular, Metal-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Approach to Angularly Fused Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Oxidized Derivatives.” The Journal of Organic Chemistry, vol. 80, no. 15, 2015, pp. 7435–46.

 

 

 

Here is Professor Grove’s feedback:

Parth –

This draft showcases a lot of excellent research, and a sound comprehension of Lakshman’s work, and its importance in his field at large.  However, it lacks a strong narrative throughline, and many of the elements that you demonstrate such thoughtful research of are underdeveloped.  Consider your list of accolades, for instance, which show us that he’s recognized in America, at the school that he teaches at as both a researcher and a “service member,” (a term that’s applied to academics who engage in service practices, like fundraising and departmental administration), and recognized abroad as a researcher in both India, Britain, and Japan, while ALSO being recognized as a mentor at CCNY and ALSO being recognized for helping minority students at CCNY.  That’s a lot of really great information, but it needs to be unpacked, and placed into context with the rest of his research. You’ll need to get all of this material, along with his research, focused around a common theme, but once you start to do that, things should come together pretty easily. Also, if you’re hunting for a common theme, I can share the one I saw here: this man genuinely cares about people in a wonderfully inclusive way, and seems to want to use science as a way to help those people.

There are also some structural issues with this paper, and I think those might relate to concerns you voiced to me earlier in the semester about your ability to write a paper.  I think I can see your confusion coming through here more than I did in your last paper, and I’d like to help, as much as I can, though I do have to grade you with this issue in mind.  So, in short: don’t freak out when you see your grade. Plan to revise this paper, and work on employing some of these organizational techniques in your next draft.

First, I’d recommend finding a copy of Stunk and White’s Elements of Style.  It’s a weird little book that you can find in a number of places, but it has some great advice on how to craft paragraphs in it.  In short: think of paragraphs as units of thought, artifacts of text created to present ideas too complex to fit into sentences which, in turn, make up sub-components of the larger topic your essay addresses.  Within that paragraph, you’ll have additional information that will help your readers fully understand the relevance of the topic you’re discussing. For instance, in a paragraph about the variety of research accolades that Lakshman has received, you’ll want to address a number of aspects of that topics: where these accolades came from, when he received them, what his reception of these accolades says about him as a scholar, how these accolades tie in to his academic work in general, and, finally, how they relate to other accolades he’s received for his work in, say, mentoring students.  Then, once that paragraph is in place, you’ll start to develop a discussion of his accolades mentoring students, explaining its relevance, tying it in to his other work, and possibly considering how it reflects on his practices as a researcher, while you’re at it. It can get complex, but a good way to think of it is that if a topic will take between four and seven sentences to present in full, it’s sufficient for a paragraph. Length can vary beyond that, but you’ll want to avoid writing anemic, or disconnected paragraphs in the future.

If you want to discuss formatting papers, and generating plans for writing papers in more detail, I’d recommend stopping by during my office hours to talk further.  I can also extend them a bit, if you’re unable to make my usual hours. Just give me some lead time, so I can make arrangements accordingly. You’ve got the ideas down – you’re showing me that here, and you’re showing me that in class – but you need to work on expressing those ideas to your readers.

6.5/10 – D+

– Professor Grove