Ganugapati Sree Rama Subba Rao received BSc (Hons), MSc and DSc (Organic Chemistry) from Andhra University, Visakapatnam. He specialized in the chemistry of natural products under the guidance of L Ramachandra Row (1962-67) and obtained the PhD from the University of Manchester with Arthur J Birch. He then moved to the Australian National University, Canberra as a Research Fellow and continued research in the area of natural products and organic synthesis. On returning to India, he joined the Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore (1971), became Chairman of the Department; and also Dean, Faculty of Science, IISc.

Academic and Research Achievements: Subba Rao had keen interest in the structure and synthesis of natural products, development of new synthetic strategies for complex organic natural products; and mechanism, structure and finally development of organometallic reagents for specific organic reactions. He was also involved with industry to develop new and innovative methods for the production of drugs and drug intermediates, particularly indigenous production of oral contraceptives. He authored about 150 research papers, guided 28 PhD students besides a large number of postdoctoral associates.

Other Contributions: Subba Rao was on the Editorial boards of several national and international journals. He was also INSA Council Member (2001-03).

Awards and Honours: Professor Subba Rao was conferred the Bhatnagar Prize (1982), Sir CV Raman Award by UGC (1992), TR Seshadri 70th Birthday Commemoration Medal by INSA (1997), Alumni Award for Excellence in Research in Science by IISc (1998), Golden Jubilee Commemoration Medal by INSA (2004), and K Venkataraman Memorial Lecture Award (2006). He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore.