Vishwanathan Sasisekharan obtained his PhD (1959) from University of Madras specializing in bimolecular structure and function. He was Professor, Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Visiting Scientist, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA (1963-64); Reader, Centre of Advanced Study in Physics, University of Madras (1964-68); Professor and Administrative Head, Department of Physics, University of Madras (1968-70, 1971-72) and Visiting Professor, Frick Chemical Laboratory, Princeton University, USA (1970-71).

Academic and Research Achievements: Sasisekharan has done significant work on the conformation of biopolymers, specially polynucleotides and polypeptides. He developed incisive methods for arriving at optimal conformation of macromolecules. On the basis of these methods he has suggested a new alternative model for the Watson-Crick double helical structure of DNA.

Other Contributions: Sasisekharan was the Member, Editorial Boards of International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Journal of Bimolecular Structure and Dynamics, Journal of Bioscience and Current Science.

Awards and Honours: V Sasisekharan received the SS Bhatnagar Prize (1978), FICCI Award (1981), JC Bose Medal (INSA) (1983), ASTRA Chair in Biological Sciences (1985), Watumull Honor Summus Medal (USA) (1987), Fogarty Scholar in Residence, NIH (USA) (1988-90), Om Prakash Bhasin Foundation Award (1989), JC Bose Award (Hari Om Ashram - UGC) (1985). He is a Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences.