2024 MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific: Assistant Professor Prashant Kumar

A Candid Conversation with Assistant Professor Prashant Kumar on his Research and Personal Journey, 24 January 2025

Prashant Kumar, 2024 MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific, is an Assistant Professor at the NTU School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). His research group focuses on materials characterisation, colloidal chemistry, and diagnostic; it uses chirality to couple organic-inorganic materials with biological matter at multiple length scales, thereby enabling novel routes for detection of viruses, proteins and amino acids. 

In this interview, Asst Prof Prashant Kumar shared his exciting journey as a researcher, delved into the fascinating world of chirality and its profound impact on fields like drug discovery, nanotechnology, and optical computing. He also reflected on his experiences across different academic cultures, the challenges he faced while moving across continents, and the lessons he learned along the way. For aspiring researchers, he offered valuable insights on staying curious, embracing challenges, and finding fulfilment in scientific discovery.

 

Can you explain what chirality is and what chiral objects are? How can we understand these two terms, and why are they significant?

It is quite simple to understand chirality in a material. If you place a mirror next to an object and its reflection cannot be superimposed onto the original, then the object is chiral. The most common chiral object is our hand, and therefore chiral objects are casually referred to as left-handed vs right-handed.

The simplest chiral object that one can imagine is the screw, where windings on a screw determine whether it moves upward or downward depending on the direction of rotation. The same principle applies at the nanoscale, where chemists have designed helical left- and right-handed objects. When materials exhibit chirality at this level, their electronic and mechanical properties change, making them particularly intriguing for scientific research. Today, these principles are actively leveraged to engineer materials with tailored properties for various applications.

That’s fascinating! Could you share your insights into where chirality has been used to achieve significant advancements?

Certainly! Chirality has led to some really exciting advancements across both technology and biology. One fascinating example is in the development of optical computers, which are systems that use light instead of electricity to process information. These computers promise to be much faster than traditional ones because they operate at the speed of light. Chiral materials play a key role here. When light passes through a helical or chiral structure, its electromagnetic field twists in a specific way. This twisting effect, driven by the material’s chirality, can be harnessed to perform computations more efficiently. It is a completely different way of thinking about computing, one where chirality helps push the boundaries of speed and performance.

What aspect of chirality excited you the most and motivated you to work in this field?

What really got me excited about chirality was the feeling that I was uncovering something hidden, unable to be seen by the naked eye. Using an electron microscope for the first time felt like a superpower. I could actually see atoms and understand how they are arranged in a material. I would spend hours looking at electron microscopy images, trying to spot tiny differences in how atoms are arranged, especially when there is a defect or something unusual. What I love most is the puzzle-like nature of it. In chiral materials, these small asymmetries tell a fascinating story, and finding them felt like solving a mystery.

I was also really curious about how these materials actually form. So I started digging into the synthesis side trying to understand what makes chiral structures appear and how we can control that process. Being able to tweak the way a material grows based on what I saw at the atomic level made it all feel very connected and hands-on. The combination of seeing things no one else can, understanding how they work, and then using that knowledge to actually shape materials, that keeps me excited about this field.

[From left] Pritish Mishra, Shangcheng Yan and Rohit Duvyuri from Prof Prashant’s group using the powerful transmission electron microscope at the FACTS Characterisation Facility in NTU.

What are the benefits of having control over the process of manipulating the synthesis of chiral materials?

By carefully controlling certain factors, such as introducing specific chemicals, adjusting the pH, or changing the solvent, we can alter the interactions between atoms. This, in turn, allows us to manipulate the synthesis process and achieve desired material properties.

One remarkable application of this approach was in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. In collaboration with my postdoc supervisor and researchers in China, we developed chiral materials that were used to deactivate the virus in mice. The key mechanism behind this was the interaction between chiral nanoparticles in the drug and the virus itself. Due to their chiral nature, these nanoparticles interlocked with the virus and transformed its structure, effectively deactivating it.

This breakthrough has significant implications for drug design. Unlike many current antiviral treatments that require continuous refrigeration during development and transportation, chiral-based drugs could offer a more stable and efficient alternative, potentially reducing logistical challenges and improving accessibility.

Chiral twisted object synthesised in Prof Prashant’s lab, highlighting the synthetic control over micrometer sized objects.

At present, there is a common buzzword that comes to mind for all things technology and innovation, i.e. Artificial Intelligence (AI). Do you think AI can assist in your research, particularly in the development of new drugs or new treatments?

Absolutely, AI can play a crucial role in advancing research. Nature is constantly evolving, and so are viruses, their mutations enable them to adapt and survive. To effectively combat these ever-changing threats, our vaccines and treatments must also evolve rapidly. This is where AI becomes invaluable.

AI can analyse vast amounts of historical data, identify patterns in molecular synthesis, and assist in designing drugs tailored to fight emerging virus mutations. Many researchers are already leveraging machine learning to study drug-virus interactions using existing datasets. This approach allows for predictive modelling, significantly accelerating the drug discovery process. By simulating and optimising potential treatments before physical trials, AI can reduce the time and cost associated with traditional drug development while improving overall effectiveness.

What are your future plans for advancing research on chiral materials, and what applications of chirality could we potentially see in future?

If you look at science fiction movies, they often depict seemingly impossible ideas, yet many of them eventually become reality. Similarly, one of my future aspirations is to develop a method where I can place an object in front of me, shine light on it, and precisely control how much it twists. This capability could revolutionise drug delivery systems.

Imagine injecting nanoparticles into the body and using light to control their shape and movement. These nanoparticles could dynamically respond to the presence of a tumour or infection, changing shape, detecting the affected area, and even deactivating harmful cells. This level of precision would open new frontiers in medical treatment.

Beyond healthcare, chirality also has the potential to transform data storage. While the research community is making strides in this area, we have yet to fully demonstrate the dynamic control and structuring of chirality at the nanoscale. If we can achieve that, it would be a groundbreaking advancement with wide-ranging applications.

You began your research career at IIT Madras, then moved to the United States of America (USA), and are now at NTU Singapore. Could you share some of the various challenges you faced throughout this journey and how you overcame them?

Moving across continents was a challenge in itself. Science may seem purely objective, but the environment in which you conduct research plays a significant role in shaping your work. The academic culture, available resources, and even the way problems are approached can differ greatly from one place to another. The transition from India to the U.S. exposed me to contrasting educational styles, and adapting to these differences required a great deal of mental flexibility.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was adjusting to the academic culture. In many Asian institutions, there is a strong hierarchical structure; where students address professors by their titles and maintain a formal relationship. However, when I moved to the U.S., my PhD supervisor encouraged me to call him by his first name and engage in open discussions, even if my questions seemed naive. Shifting from a structured, instructor-led approach to a more open, exploratory learning environment was initially difficult.

However, with the support of my supervisor, mentors, and peers, I gradually adapted. Over time, I realised the value of this new academic culture, which encouraged creativity, independent thinking, and a deeper appreciation for diverse perspectives. This experience ultimately helped me develop the adaptability and open-mindedness essential for thriving in international research environments.

Asst Prof Prashant Kumar with Sourabh Kumar (MAE Graduates’ Students Club) for a insightful chat on his research and personal experiences.

Lastly, what advice would you give to students who aspire to make a notable impact in their fields? What should they focus on?

A common pitfall I see is the rush to achieve high metrics, such as the number of papers published or citations earned. This pressure is often felt early on in a PhD journey, where students set arbitrary targets for themselves. While these metrics can be important, I believe that PhD students should look beyond them and focus on finding what truly excites them.

For undergraduate or master's students, my advice is to explore different problems and work on short projects with various people. This not only helps you discover what fascinates you, but it also allows you to assess the types of collaborators you work well with and the environments where you thrive. This process will help you choose the right PhD group and define the problem you want to pursue.

The PhD years can be tough, and many of the projects you start with may not turn out as expected. It can get rather discouraging when things do not seem to work, but if you have chosen a topic that genuinely excites you, the outcome won’t matter as much. For example, my own work focuses on developing advanced sensors. If a sensor doesn't work for one application, like glucose sensing, I’m not deterred. I will pivot and apply it to another problem. The joy lies in the process, not just the result. Don’t chase metrics. Focus on learning, growing, and pursuing what excites you. The rest will follow.