Bioinspired Supramolecular Systems

Dhiman Lab

Meet Shikha Dhiman

Shikha Dhiman is a Professor of Physical Chemistry of Supramolecular Systems at the Department of Chemistry at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz (Germany). She is also affiliated as a Junior Faculty with Max Planck Graduate Center, Mainz. Before this, she was a Junior Professor of Physical Chemistry of Supramolecular Systems at the Department of Chemistry at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz (Germany).

Her research interests lie at the interface of supramolecular chemistry and biological systems. Her focus is to understand structure and dynamics at the molecular level and to correlate them with their function using advanced techniques. Thus developing life-like systems inspired by nature.

Shikha Dhiman grew up in the capital of India, Delhi. She did her Bachelor's in Chemistry from the University of Delhi and then moved to Bangalore, India for her Integrated Ph.D from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore. In the group of Prof. Subi J. George, she pursued her Ph.D. in the field of Supramolecular Chemistry focusing on strategies to create non-equilibrium transient systems and materials. Then her love for science, brought her to Europe, specifically to the Netherlands in the group of Prof. E. W. (Bert) Meijer as a postdoctoral researcher at the Eindhoven University of Technology. During her stay at Eindhoven, she received Marie-Curie fellowship, ICMS fellowship, WIMA award and was chosen as a Rising star by the University of Freiburg. In 2023, she was appointed as Junior Professor in the University of Mainz.

She received Thieme Chemistry Award 2024.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

08.2024 – present      Professor of Physical Chemistry of Supramolecular Systems, Department of Chemistry,                                                                                        Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

11.2023 – present        PI, SFB 1552: Defects and Defect Engineering in Soft Matter

11.2023 – present       Gender Equality Representative, GRK2516

06.2023 – present        Junior Faculty, Max Planck Graduate Center, Mainz

04.2023 – present        PI,  GRK 2516: Structure Formation of Soft Matter at Interfaces

03.2023 – present        Associated PI,  SFB 1551: Polymer Concepts in Cellular Function

02.2023 – 07.2024       Junior Professor of Physical Chemistry of Supramolecular Systems, Department of Chemistry,                                                                               Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

09.2021 – 01.2023           Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), The Netherlands

09.2021 – 01.2023          Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Fellow, ICMS, TU/e, The Netherlands

08.2020 – 08.2021         Post-doctoral Researcher, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

01.2020 – 06.2020         Research Associate, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, India

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

10.2023 – present             Lecturer for Introduction to macromolecular chemistry; Part 1: Manufacture of polymers

                                                  for master’s students at JGU Mainz

10.2023 – present             Lecturer for Modern and Industrial Aspects of Polymer Materials: Synthesis and use of

                                                  polymer materials for master’s students at JGU Mainz

04.2023 – present            Lecturer for Complex Supramolecular Systems course for master’s students at JGU Mainz

02.2021 – 04.2021              Tutor for 6E6X0 (2020-3) DBL Molecules and materials course for Bachelor students at TU/e.

 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

04.2017 – 05.2020         Doctor of Philosophy, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, India
                                              Thesis title: Fuel-driven strategies for temporal supramolecular polymerization.

                                              Advisor: Prof. Subi J. George

07.2014 – 04.2017         Master’s in chemical science, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, India
                                             Thesis title: Temporal control over self-assembly and helicity of supramolecular polymers.

                                             Advisor: Prof. Subi J. George

07.2011 – 06.2014         Bachelor´s in Chemistry, Hindu College, University of Delhi, India

 

 

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS (Selected)

  1. Thieme Chemistry Award 2024 by Thieme Journal.

  2. Women Interactive Materials Award 2021 runner-up organised by DWI–Leibniz-Institut für Interaktive Materialien.

  3. Awarded “Institute for Complex Molecular Systems Fellowship” in 2021 for excellence in research at TU/e.

  4. Awarded “Freiburg Rising Star” in FRSA by University of Freiburg, Germany as highly talented early career researcher.

  5. Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship 2021 by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 899987.

  6. Best poster teaser award at “In-House Symposium” in 2016 and 2018 organised by JNCASR, Bangalore, India.

  7. Awarded “Babu Matru Prasad Scholarship” for excellence in 2015 by JNCASR, India.

  8. Top Ranks (18 in >10k) and selection (2 in 2k) in prestigious national institutes, university in India 2014 for M.Sc. Chemistry.

  9. Awarded International travel grant from Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India.