Jhillu Singh Yadav did his BSc and MSc degrees from the Banaras Hindu University, after which he joined as a Junior Research Fellow at National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune. He was Senior Research Fellow at Malti Chem Research Centre, Baroda and worked on Synthesis of Natural Products under the supervision of Sukh Dev for his PhD program. After completion of his PhD, he was Research Associate (1977-78) at Rice University then worked as postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin (1979-80). After returning to India, he joined NCL as Scientist in 1980. Presently, Dr Yadav is Director of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad.

Academic and Research Achievements: Dr Yadav has carried out extensive basic and applied research investigations in the synthesis of over 50 complex natural products of biological relevance. He specialized in the state of art asymmetric synthesis to create new chiral centers and he extensively utilized them effectively in the synthesis of complex organic molecules having self-defensive properties against rice-blast disease, hypersensitive metabolites and antifungal agents in a highly innovative manner. He excelled in creating and generating diverse chemical entities relevant to both agro and drug industry. Dr Yadav has successfully developed cost-effective technologies for specialty chemicals like Diltiazem, Ondasetron, Pyrazinamide, Ketotifen, Mefloquin, Tamoxifin, etc., which have been well received by the Indian and overseas drug industries. During his research career of 35 years, he has mentored more than 110 students for their PhD and published more than 750 publications in peer reviewed national and international journals. He has 47 patents to his credit.

Other Contributions: Yadav foresaw the versatility of insect sex pheromones in Indian agro-system. He has pioneered the alternative eco-friendly and environmentally safe pest control technologies in India through the application of insect pheromones as major tools in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for better and cleaner agro-products.

Awards and Honours: Dr Yadav has received numerous awards which include the SS Bhatnagar Prize (1991), Vasvik Award (1999), Ranbaxy Research Award (2000), Vigyan Ratna Samman (2003), Goyal Award (2003), and Vigyan Gaurav Samman Award (2004). He was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad (1993), Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (2005).