Sridhar Varadarajan
Professor
Dr. Sridhar Varadarajan earned BS degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Technology and a PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry. Subsequently, he conducted postdoctoral research in Alzheimer's Disease and cancer before joining the faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2003. His research involves using a multi-disciplinary approach to design, synthesize, and investigate biologically active molecules. He teaches organic, physical organic, and medicinal chemistry courses and has received multiple teaching awards.
Education
Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University
B.S. in Chemical Technology, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
B.S. in Chemistry, Bombay University, Mumbai, India
Specialization in Teaching
CHM 211: Organic Chemistry I
CHM 212: Organic Chemistry II
CHM 415: Physical Organic Chemistry
CHM 417: Medicinal Chemistry
CHM 517: Medicinal Chemistry (Graduate level)
Research Interests
Dr. Varadarajan synthesizes and investigates novel molecules that can selectively target cancer cells and cause site-specific DNA damage to destroy these cells. These molecules are designed to overcome the side-effects of current chemotherapy drugs such as hair loss, gastric irritation, suppressed immunity and secondary cancer. Dr. Varadarajan also synthesizes and investigates novel anti-inflammatory compounds that can used for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases.
Research website: http://people.uncw.edu/varadarajans
Honors & Awards
UNC Board of Governors' Award for Excellence in Teaching
UNCW Distinguished Teaching Professorship
UNCW Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award