Chancellor's Award Recipient Dr. Mukund Jha

Major impacts of Dr. Mukund Jha’s research accomplishments

Dr. Jha obtained his PhD in Natural Products Chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan in 2006 under the supervision of Prof Soledade Pedras. Subsequently, he received further training as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof Derek Pratt in Free Radical Chemistry at Queen’s University. He joined Nipissing University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry in 2008 and was promoted to Full Professor in 2016.

Dr. Jha’s research primarily focuses on discovering novel organic molecules critical for the development of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other materials for commercial applications. He routinely uses innovative aspects of synthetic chemistry to develop new methodologies to produce compounds with interesting architectures and properties. Over the years his research team has developed several elegant synthetic methods to prepare novel molecules fused with biologically important indole nucleus. Dr. Jha is also involved in examining the biological and commercial importance of mushrooms from forests of Northern Ontario. His research endeavours, in collaboration with local industry partners, have contributed immensely in invigorating public interest around regional medicinal mushrooms like Chaga. He has developed protocols for the preparation of Chaga extracts especially rich in antioxidants. His work on Chaga has been featured in a documentary produced by TV channel TFO, on CBC radio’s Up North, and in an article in the magazine The Walrus. The application of the knowledge resulting in Dr. Jha’s research program is already showing positive ramifications towards addressing several key issues concerning the health of millions of Canadians.

Dr. Jha’s has published over 35 peer-reviewed articles in leading chemistry journals. He has been successful in attracting external research funding in excess of $1.25 million as a principal investigator from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), FedNor, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) and Industry partners. His efforts have been tremendously instrumental in establishing a state-of-the-art infrastructure for research activities pertaining to the analysis and characterization of organic molecules at Nipissing University.

Dr. Jha has an excellent record of training students at various levels in his laboratory including a postdoctoral researcher, PhDs, Masters, and over 20 honours thesis students.