The Sharma Laboratory engages in the synthesis, assessment, and modification of potential therapeutic leads derived from or inspired by natural products for the treatment of cancer, bacterial infections, and neurological disorders. This work uses two complimentary approaches, isolation/semi-synthesis and method development/total synthesis to access a library of diverse analogues.

Dr. Indrajeet Sharma (Principal Investigator)
Associate Professor of Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, OU
Chair 2024 - American Chemical Society Oklahoma Section
email: isharma@ou.edu phone: (312)-363-9367
Indrajeet Sharma (Inder) was born in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India. He received his M.Sc. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 2006 where he worked with Professor Dipakranjan Mal studying the Hauser Annulation Reaction for the synthesis of anthraquinones. He then moved to the United States for his PhD degree. He began his PhD studies in glycopeptide chemistry with Prof. David Crich at the University of Illinois at Chicago and then moved with him to Wayne State University in 2007, where he completed his degree in 2011. After a post-doctoral position at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with Derek S. Tan, he began his independent career at the University of Oklahoma, Norman in 2014. His research focuses on the development of new synthetic methods based on metal-carbene chemistry and their applications in total synthesis and drug discovery. The impact of his carbene chemistry has been recognized as a recipient of the Doctoral New Investigator Award from the American Chemical Society as well as a recipient of the 2018 NSF Early Career Award.

Curriculum Vitae

Prakash Kafle - Prakash.kafle-1@ou.edu
4th Year Ph.D. Candidate
From Lumbini, Nepal, Prakash traveled to the United States to complete his undergraduate studies in Chemistry (minor in Biology) at Southwest Minnesota State University under the advisement of Dr. Noelle Beyer. During his studies, he also worked as an undergraduate research assistant at SMSU for Electroanalytical Studies (Dr. Jay Brown) and Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (Dr. Michael Stutelberg). After graduation, he joined the Ph.D. program at OU in 2021. His favorite things about OU are the positive research environment, diverse culture, and motivating lab members. Outside the lab, he loves to cook and watch soccer.
Random Fact: Prakash grew up in Lumbini, Nepal where the founder of Buddhism Lord Gautam Buddha was born.

Surya Pratap Singh - surya.pratap@msc2016.iitgn.ac.in
4th Year Ph.D. Candidate
From Bulandshahr, (Uttar Pradesh) India. Surya obtained his Bachelor's degree from the University of Delhi in 2016. Following this, he enrolled in the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat to pursue a Master's degree and graduated in 2018. He then joined the lab of Dr. Anand Singh at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and worked there until April of 2021.

Google Scholar

Deacon Herndon - deacon.a.herndon-1@ou.edu
3rd year Ph.D. Candidate
Deacon is a native of Oklahoma and alumnus of the University of Tulsa (B.Sc.) where he studied synthetic chemistry under the guidance of Dr. Syed R Hussaini. Deacon is interested in synthetic organic chemistry and quantum chemical methodology. Outside of lab, Deacon enjoys listening to podcasts, cooking, and hanging out with his wife.

Rishav Mukherjee - rishav.mukherjee-1@ou.edu
3rd year Ph.D. Candidate
Rishav hails from Kolkata, a city in India that has produced eminent scientists such as Satyendranath Bose (the Boson or “God particle” is named after Dr. Bose). Inspired by the rich scientific heritage of his city, he decided to take up science and more precisely, chemistry as his major during his Bachelor’s at the University of Calcutta, India. Following this, he earned a master's degree at Banaras Hindu University in India. Before starting his PhD, he decided to take up a research assistant position at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay under the guidance of Dr. Debabrata Maiti, working in the domain of C-H functionalization. He joined the Sharma Lab in the Fall of 2022 and is working on carbene and nitrene chemistry. He loves to cook and travel.

Upasana Chatterjee - Upasana.Chatterjee-1@ou.edu
2nd year Ph.D. Student
Upasana was born in Kolkata, India known as the “City of Joy”. She completed my Bachelor's at the University of Calcutta, India in 2020. She pursued my Master's degree in Organic Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, where she carried out her master’s research under Dr. Ashok Kumar Basak. Also, due to her interest in computational methods, she completed a summer project under the supervision of Dr. Indira Ghosh at Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. She joined the Sharma Group in the Fall of 2023 and is working on nitrene chemistry. When not working in the lab, she likes to travel, cook, and listen to music.

Umesh Chaudhary - umesh.c@ou.edu
2nd year Ph.D. Student
From Itahari, Nepal. Umesh completed his Bachelor's degree in 2017, majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Zoology, and his Master's degree in 2021, majoring in Organic Chemistry, both from Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. In 2023, he joined OU as a Ph.D. scholar. Umesh's favorite aspects of OU are the engaging lab work, the supportive faculty and culture, and the friendly environment. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, and cooking.
Random fact: Umesh is a good swimmer and enjoys playing soccer, cricket, basketball, and volleyball.

Adrienne Daróczi - Adrienne.K.Daroczi-1@ou.edu
Senior Undergraduate Student
From Alberta, Canada, Adrienne is currently working to obtain her B.Sc. in Chemistry. She found interest in the Sharma lab through her immense passion towards natural and conventional medicine, and the aim of bridging them together through chemistry. Outside of the lab, Adrienne loves to read, dance, and travel.
Random Fact: Adrienne completed her last two years of high school in the Netherlands.

Macy Henderson - macy.e.henderson-1@ou.edu
Senior Undergraduate Student
From Tulsa, OK, Macy is currently working to obtain her B.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry with a minor in German. She joined the Sharma Lab while she was taking Advanced Synthesis and Characterization with Dr. Sharma. Her favorite things to do outside of lab are working out and spending time with her friends and family.
Random Fact: Macy spent the summer in Germany taking classes in German.

Rylan C. Fox - Rylan.C.Fox-1@ou.edu
Undergraduate Student
From Edmond, OK, Rylan is currently working to gain a B.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry with future aspirations of attaining a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science, or an MD in Pathology. He joined the Sharma Laboratory to contribute and assist in the hopeful development and simplification of modern compounds to minimize cost and increase the availability of pharmaceuticals for those who are unable to afford them. His favorite things to do outside of the lab are either visiting his parents or working out.
Random Fact: I have been to New York over seven times