Prof. Gautam R. Desiraju is an internationally renowned chemist, crystallographer, and academic leader, currently serving as Dean of SAStech at Rishihood University. A pioneer in the fields of crystal engineering, hydrogen bonding, and supramolecular chemistry, he has made foundational contributions that have shaped modern structural chemistry. He earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry from St. Xavier's College, Bombay, and completed his doctoral studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

With a distinguished academic career spanning over four decades, Prof. Desiraju has held prestigious positions at institutions including the University of Hyderabad, IIT Mandi, and UPES. He has authored more than 475 research papers and several influential books, including Crystal Engineering: The Design of Organic Solids, The Weak Hydrogen Bond, and Crystal Engineering: A Textbook, which are widely regarded as landmark contributions to the field.

In 2026, he was awarded the prestigious 14th Ewald Prize by the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), one of the highest honors in crystallographic sciences. His many accolades also include the Alexander von Humboldt Forschungspreis, the TWAS Award in Chemistry, the Acharya P.C. Ray Medal, the ISA Medal, and the Van der Waals Prize. A former President of the International Union of Crystallography (2011–2014), he has played a significant role in advancing global scientific collaboration and research. Through his scholarship, leadership, and mentorship, Prof. Desiraju continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers worldwide