Dr Saikrishnan Kayarat, Associate Professor in Biology at IISER Pune, has won Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India’s S. Ramachandran National Bioscience Award for Career Development for the year 2019.

The award is given each year by the DBT to scientists below 45 years of age engaged in research on basic or applied biological sciences. It recognises their significant contributions in their domain with potential for product and technology development. The award comprises a cash prize, a citation & trophy, and a research contingency grant for three years.

Dr. Kayarat who is among this year's awardees, has also been conferred the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize recently. He studies the mechanisms of macromolecular machines. He works on understanding how complex enzymes coordinate their action by using tools in structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics. His group's research on an enzyme that can cut DNA has revealed a new mechanism of double-strand DNA-break formation. You can learn more about his work here. The National Bioscience Award commends his work in the field.

Our congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Saikrishnan Kayarat on this award.