Dr. Vinayak Agarwal

Associate Professor

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Biography

Vinayak Agarwal is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on the discovery and biosynthesis of natural products, particularly antibiotics, which are used to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. His work employs techniques from biochemistry, structural mechanistic enzymology, mass spectrometry, analytical chemistry, and (meta)genomics. By studying natural products produced by various organisms, including bacteria and plants, he aims to understand their biosynthetic processes to develop clinically applicable pharmaceuticals. Agarwal has received several prestigious awards throughout his career, including the Cottrell Scholar award and the NIH K99/R00 Pathway Independence Award, reflecting his contributions to the field of organic and medicinal chemistry. His efforts aim to minimize environmental pollution from toxic natural products while developing innovative strategies in biochemistry that address pressing questions in the life sciences.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

— Present

Georgia Institute of Technology • Atlanta, GA

Teaching and conducting research in chemistry, specifically focusing on natural products and their applications.

Awards

#2024

ASP Matt Suffness Young Investigator

#2023

Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar

#2022

ACS Academic Young Investigator

#2021

Cottrell Scholar

#2019

Kavli Frontiers Science Fellow

#2018

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow

#2016

NIH K99/R00 Pathway Independence Award

#2014

Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Fellow

Requirements for Georgia Institute of Technology

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:19
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:19
Speaking
Required:19
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:5.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Undergraduate degree in computer science or related field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
Specialization Notes

Department of Computer Science: GRE scores are optional for Fall 2026.