Shyam Kumar Banjare completed his Bachelor of Science degree from Government M.M.R.P.G. College, Champa, and his Master of Science degree in Chemistry from Government Autonomous Science College Bilaspur, both affiliated with Bilaspur University, in 2013 and 2015, respectively. After completing his master’s degree, he qualified for the CSIR–NET. He subsequently served as a temporary faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (a Central University) in Bilaspur from 2016 to 2017. He later joined the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, as a Junior Research Fellow under the supervision of Prof. Ponneri C. Ravikumar, where he completed his doctoral degree in March 2023. His PhD research focused on cobalt-catalysed C–H bond functionalization and the construction of N-heterocyclic molecules. Following his doctoral studies, he joined the University of Münster, Germany, as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. Armido Studer, where he focused on radical reactions involving imidoyl and ketyl radicals, NHC-catalysis and photo-redox chemistry. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, working in transition-metal and organocatalysis, asymmetric organic synthesis, isotope labelling, and the development of heterocyclic systems involving P, B, Si, and metallo–carbene, metallo–nitrene, and metallo–enzyme chemistry.

Recipient of the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award (Best Thesis) from the Homi Bhabha National Institute HBNI, Mumbai, India, in 2024.

His research program, which collectively focuses on emerging areas of chemistry, aims to design, understand, and control complex molecular systems for advanced applications in synthesis, medicine, and materials science. Targeted and asymmetric synthesis emphasises the strategic construction of complex molecules using retrosynthetic planning, with precise control over stereochemistry (enantio- and diastereo-selectivity), which is especially important in drug development and natural product synthesis. Isotope labelling complements this by using stable isotopes such as ¹³C, ²H, and ¹⁵N to trace reaction pathways, enabling detailed insights into reaction mechanisms and metabolic processes. Catalysis is a central theme, advancing through organocatalysis, including N-heterocyclic carbenes, iminium-based systems, organoboranes, phosphines, and transition-metal catalysis, particularly with earth-abundant base metals, to develop more efficient and sustainable synthetic methods. Heterocyclic chemistry focuses on constructing diverse ring systems containing nitrogen and other heteroatoms, including boron, phosphorus, and silicon, which are widely important in pharmaceuticals and functional materials. Finally, metal-carboid, nitrenoid and enzyme chemistry explores reactive metal-carbon frameworks, which are crucial for understanding organometallic reactivity and for developing new catalytic processes. Together, these fields drive innovation in modern synthetic and mechanistic chemistry.

1. Organo and Metal Catalysis: (a) Organo-catalysis, especially N-heterocyclic carbene, iminium catalysis, organoboron, phosphines. (b) Transition metal catalysis and bond activations (c) Cooperative transition metal and organo-catalysis. (d) Efficient systems and ligands designed for modern synthetic chemistry.

2. Metallo-Carbene, Metallo-nitrene and Metallo-enzyme Chemistry: (a) Study of metal-carbon frameworks and reactive intermediates. (b) Includes carbene-like and cluster-based species. (c) Important for catalysis and organometallic reactivity (d) Metalloenzymes containing bound metal ions (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn) in catalysis.

3. Isotope Labelling: (a) Synthesis and Use of ¹³C, ²H, ¹⁵N for tracing reaction pathways. (b) Essential for mechanistic and metabolic studies.

4. Targeted and Asymmetric Synthesis: (a) Design of molecules includes Indole alkaloid multi-cyclic derivatives (b) Method development for controlling enantio- and dia-stereoselectivity in synthesis. (c) Key applications in drug and natural product synthesis.

5. Heterocyclic Synthesis with Phosphorus (P), Boron (B), Silicon (Si) Molecules: (a) Construction of N-heterocycles and functional heteroatom systems including boron-, phosphorus-, and silicon-containing rings. (b) Widely used in pharmaceuticals and materials science.