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Saravanan Matheshwaran

Also known as: Saran

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Indian Institute of Science, Madurai Kamaraj University, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Muthayammal College of Arts and Science

ORCID iD 0000-0001-6762-9928
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About

Dr. Saravanan Matheshwaran is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, IIT Kanpur, where he leads a dynamic research group focused on microbial adaptation and chromatin dynamics, to understand the emergence and mitigation of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). His groundbreaking doctoral research at IISc Bangalore on Klebsiella pneumoniae nuclease (KpnI) identified the HNH motif in restriction enzymes (REases), leading to the development of a high-fidelity version of KpnI, now widely distributed by New England Biolabs (NEB) and protected by a U.S. patent. This work has had a significant impact on molecular cloning and genetic research. Dr. Matheshwaran’s postdoctoral work at Cancer Research UK and EMBL Heidelberg, supported by prestigious EMBO and Marie Curie fellowships, expanded his expertise in chromatin biology, structural biochemistry, and chromosome dynamics. His research at IIT Kanpur focuses on stress biology, antimicrobial resistance, and the bacterial SOS response, a DNA repair mechanism that contributes to drug resistance. His lab aims to uncover novel therapeutic targets for pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Acinetobacter baumannii. Dr. Matheshwaran’s interdisciplinary collaborations with chemists and physicists have led to patented small molecules for disease treatment. His teaching spans a broad array of subjects, including Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Biology, integrating cutting-edge research with core concepts to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of biological sciences. His work has earned him numerous awards, including the INSA Young Scientist Award and the DBT-Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award. His dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific innovation extends beyond academia as the founder and president of BioGroup India. Through this initiative, he continues to inspire and lead efforts to advance life science research, fostering innovation and shaping the future of biological sciences and bioengineering. Dr Matheshwaran has been an Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports since 2025.

Employment

  • Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Associate Professor
    2023 - Present
  • Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Assistant Professor Grade I
    2013 - 2022
  • Indian Institute of Science Research Associate
    2012 - 2013
  • European Molecular Biology Laboratory EIPOD-Marie Curie Actions Fellow
    2012 - 2012
  • Institute of Cancer Research EMBO Fellow
    2010 - 2012
  • London Research Institute Clare Hall Laboratories CR UK Postdoctoral Fellow
    2008 - 2010

Education

  • Indian Institute of Science PhD (M Sreenivasaya Medal for Best PhD Thesis)
    2001 - 2008
  • Madurai Kamaraj University M.Sc
    1999 - 2001
  • Muthayammal College of Arts and Science B.Sc (Microbiology)
    1996 - 1999

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (52)