Indian-origin scientists have consistently pushed the boundaries of biological research, with many building incredibly successful careers in the United States. Their academic paths have taken them through esteemed institutions across the globe, and their impactful research has influenced numerous scientific disciplines, including genetics, immunology, biochemistry, and plant biology.
From pioneering the deciphering of the genetic code to advancing cutting-edge stem cell research, these biologists have made truly groundbreaking discoveries. This article shines a spotlight on six such Indian-origin biologists, detailing their educational backgrounds and significant career achievements.
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
Born in 1952 in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan grew up in a family deeply rooted in science; his father led a biochemistry department in India, and his mother earned a PhD in psychology from McGill University. After completing his early education in India, Ramakrishnan moved to the US for postdoctoral research at Yale University. Despite facing initial challenges in securing a faculty position—applying to around 50 universities—he persevered. He dedicated over a decade to research at Brookhaven National Laboratory before becoming a professor at the University of Utah. Since 1999, Ramakrishnan has served as a distinguished group leader at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK. His pivotal research into the structure and function of ribosomes earned him a share of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, a testament to his crucial role in unraveling the mysteries of protein synthesis.
Har Gobind Khorana
Har Gobind Khorana was born on January 9, 1922, in Raipur, a small village in Punjab, British India. Despite his family’s humble background, education was highly valued. He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Punjab University, Lahore. He then pursued a PhD from the University of Liverpool, followed by postdoctoral studies at ETH Zurich. Finding limited immediate employment opportunities in India, Khorana ventured abroad and eventually established himself in North America. He held positions at the University of British Columbia and later the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he conducted monumental work that helped decode how nucleotides in nucleic acids determine the genetic code. This groundbreaking achievement earned him the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Khorana later joined MIT, where he continued his innovative research until his retirement. He passed away in 2011, leaving an indelible legacy in the fields of biochemistry and genetics.
Inder Verma
Inder Mohan Verma, born on November 28, 1947, in Sangrur, Punjab, India, earned his PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. He then conducted postdoctoral research at MIT under the guidance of Nobel laureate David Baltimore before joining the Salk Institute in California in 1974. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a professor and eventually the editor-in-chief of the esteemed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Verma made vital discoveries in cancer biology, immunology, and gene therapy. His research led to the identification of several oncogenes, such as c-fos, and the development of viral vectors for gene transfer that are fundamental to modern gene therapy approaches. However, despite his significant scientific contributions, Verma’s career later faced controversy due to allegations of gender discrimination, which ultimately led to his resignation from prominent positions.
Utpal Banerjee
Born in 1957, Utpal Banerjee began his academic journey in India, securing a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and a Master of Science in physical chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He earned his PhD and completed postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology. Joining UCLA in 1988, Banerjee quickly ascended the academic ladder, becoming a full professor and later a department chair. His primary research areas include genetics, developmental biology, and stem cell biology. Banerjee holds a joint appointment at the David Geffen School of Medicine and serves as co-director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center. His contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including election to the US National Academy of Sciences and the highly prestigious NIH Director’s Pioneer Award.
Shruti Naik
Shruti Naik, born in India, moved to the US at the age of twelve. She completed her undergraduate studies in cell and molecular biology at the University of Maryland, College Park, and went on to earn a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. Following this, she conducted a postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where her interdisciplinary research explores how the immune system maintains tissue health and responds to inflammation. Her laboratory skillfully integrates immunology, microbiology, and stem cell biology to deepen understanding and develop treatments for inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. She has received many awards, including the Regeneron Prize for Creative Innovation and the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award.
Venkatesan Sundaresan
Born in 1952, Venkatesan Sundaresan’s early education was in physics, earning degrees from the University of Poona and the Indian Institute of Technology. He then pursued graduate studies in the US, obtaining a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a PhD in biophysics from Harvard University. At the University of California, Davis, Sundaresan’s research focuses on the crucial areas of plant reproduction and crop improvement, particularly through synthetic apomixis—a technique aimed at cloning hybrid strains of vital commercial crops such as rice and maize. His significant contributions were recognized with his induction into the US National Academy of Sciences in 2023 and the prestigious Wolf Prize in Agriculture in 2024.