A North Dakota State University professor who is seeking to develop environmentally benign ways to synthesise chirals, molecules that cannot be superimposed in their mirror images, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation worth over half a million dollars for his research.

Dr Sivaguru Jayaraman, assistant professor of chemistry and molecular biology, has been named a recipient of the Faculty Early Career Development Award by the NSF under which he will receive the $575,000 award to conduct research outlined in his proposal to the NSF. This was Dr Jayaraman's first career submission to the NSF.

"Almost all chemical compounds we encounter in our day to day life from food to medicine are chiral. Chiral compounds are non-superimposable on its mirror image. Our research effort is to synthesise one of the mirror image forms with light," Dr Jayaraman told India Abroad, explaining the concept.

He said chemists are very interested in this because in nature, amino-acids are present only in one of the mirror image forms - the S form of amino acid occurs naturally whereas the other mirror image, the R form, does not.

He cited the case of ibuprofen. "Only the S form of ibuprofen is active as a pain and fever reliever and the mirror image, the R form, is usually inactive. In other drugs, the form that is inactive quite often leads to side effects," he said.

"It is an uphill challenge to synthesise only one of the two mirror image forms as they have same physical and chemical properties. Our effort is to synthesise one of the two mirror image form using light in an environmentally friendly way," he said.

The National Science Foundation Career program recognises and supports the early career-development activities of scholars who are likely to become academic leaders of the 21st century. Recipients are chosen on the basis of creative career development plans that integrate research and education within the context of their university's mission.

"This is a highly-prestigious award that recognises a faculty member's work and potential to become a leading national researcher," NDSU President Joseph A Chapman said. "Through this award, the National Science Foundation has recognised the quality research conducted at NDSU," he said.

When developed, Dr Jayaraman's work could be applied to various light-induced transformations to the synthesis of a number of chiral molecules. Students trained during the course of this research will gain skills needed by the pharmaceutical industry, which now produces a number of single enantiomer (a compound non-superimposable on its mirror image) compounds, according to Jayaraman.

His research plan integrates scientific research, educational training and public outreach. The research program will help train graduate and undergraduate students. As part of the outreach program, he has developed a program called PICNICS (Parents' Involvement in Children, Nurturing Intellectual Curiosity in Science).

In a previous seminar, he brought together parents and high school students to learn about recent scientific advancements and their impact on everyday life. The PICNICS program is an excellent way to inform students and parents about science and technology.

Dr Jayaraman joined the faculty at the NDSU in August 2006. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia University, New York, after receiving his PhD from Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.