Robert Penchovsky | RNA Synthetic Biology | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Prof. Dr. Robert Penchovsky | RNA Synthetic Biology | Outstanding Scientist Award

Prof. Dr. Robert Penchovsky | Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” | Bulgaria

Prof. Dr. Robert Penchovsky is a Professor of Molecular Genetics, Synthetic Biology, and Bioinformatics, and Head of the Laboratory of Synthetic Biology and Bioinformatics, where he leads academic training, curriculum development, and supervision of graduate and doctoral students while conducting extensive national and international scientific research. He teaches core courses including Molecular Genetics, Introduction to Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution, Synthetic Biology, and Genomics across undergraduate and master’s programs in both English and Bulgarian. He also heads the SDC program “Modern Aspects of Biology: Bioinformatics, Genomics and Synthetic Biology.” His academic background includes a postdoctoral fellowship in RNA Synthetic and Computational Biology at Yale University, a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Cologne, research roles in Germany and Bulgaria, and a master’s degree in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetics from Sofia University. He has received major distinctions including the Outstanding Scientist Award in Sensing Technology (2023), national awards in synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and molecular evolution, recognition for a top ACS Synthetic Biology publication, and multiple mentorship awards through his students. Prof. Penchovsky has led numerous high-impact research projects, including SUMMIT innovation grants for designing allosteric ribozymes and antisense oligonucleotide-based antibacterial agents, and competitive national grants focused on functional nucleic acids, riboswitch targeting, and next-generation antibacterial molecule development. His research output includes 49 scientific publications, with 1,135 citations from 802 documents, and an h-index of 17, reflecting his influential contributions to synthetic biology, molecular evolution, antibacterial nucleic acid therapeutics, and computational bioengineering.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar | Staff Page

Featured Publications

Otcheva, L. A., Traykovska, M., & Penchovsky, R. (2025). Targeting bacterial adenylate kinase mRNA with a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide for rational antibacterial drug development. Molecules, 30(16), 3425.

Pavlova, N., Dyakova, V., Traykovska, M., Kaloudas, D., & Penchovsky, R. (2025). The application of aptamers in pharmacological drug development and therapeutic. ChemistrySelect, 10(?), Article 2954.

Traykovska, M., & Penchovsky, R. (2025). Design of antisense oligonucleotides and their applications as antibacterial agents: Principles, mechanisms of action and challenges. St. Kliment Ohridski University Press. ISBN: 978-954-07-6132-9

Kaloudas, D., Pavlova, N., & Penchovsky, R. (2024). Computational design of allosteric ribozymes via genetic algorithms. In Methods in Molecular Biology (Vol. ???, pp. ???–???). Springer.

Penchovsky, R., Georgieva, A. V., Dyakova, V., Traykovska, M., & Pavlova, N. (2024). Antisense and functional nucleic acids in rational drug development. Antibiotics, 13(3), 221.

Popova, K. B., & Penchovsky, R. (2024). General and specific cytotoxicity of chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in bacterial cells and human cell lines. Antibiotics, 13(2), 122.

Pavlova, N., Traykovska, M., & Penchovsky, R. (2023). Targeting FMN, TPP, SAM-I, and glmS riboswitches with chimeric antisense oligonucleotides for completely rational antibacterial drug development. Antibiotics, 12(11), 1607.

Kaloudas, D., Pavlova, N., & Penchovsky, R. (2023). GHOST-NOT and GHOST-YES: Two programs for generating high-speed biosensors with randomized oligonucleotide binding sites with NOT or YES Boolean logic functions based on experimentally validated algorithms. Journal of Biotechnology, 375, 38–48.

Anup Basnet Chetry | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award 

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Anup Basnet Chetry | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award 

Assist. Prof. Dr. Anup Basnet Chetry | MidWest University | Nepal

Assist. Prof. Dr. Anup Basnet Chetry is an accomplished chemist specializing in host-guest and macrocyclic chemistry, particularly in the design and application of calixarene-based compounds for selective recovery of valuable metals and removal of toxic metal cations. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Saga National University, Japan, in 2014, supported by the prestigious Monbukagakusho Scholarship, with a dissertation focused on the synthesis of ionizable calix[4]arene and tripodal pseudocalix[3]arene for targeted metal recovery. He holds an M.Sc. in Chemistry from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Prithivi Narayan Campus, Tribhuvan University. Dr. Chetry’s research experience encompasses the synthesis, characterization, and application of calixarene-based macrocyclic hosts, including the development of cation-exchange resins for scavenging toxic metals and recycling valuable metals from aqueous environments, employing modern spectroscopic techniques such as UV, IR, ^1H-NMR, and ^13C-NMR for compound identification. His research interests extend to material chemistry, water quality assessment, and the selective recovery of rare metals including rare earths, indium, and gallium. Professionally, he has served as a Research Fellow and Senior Scientific Officer at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (2015–2018) and has extensive teaching experience as a chemistry lecturer across multiple institutions, including Mid Western University, L.A. College, Modern Technical College, and Dhulikhel Medical Institute. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Mid Western University, Surkhet, Nepal. Dr. Chetry has contributed significantly to the scientific literature, with over 20 publications, more than 150 citations, and an h-index of 7, reflecting his impact in the field of macrocyclic and materials chemistry. His work bridges fundamental chemistry with practical environmental and industrial applications, advancing selective metal recovery and sustainable chemical processes.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Burlakoti, N., Upadhyaya, J., Ghimire, N., Bajgai, T. R., & Basnet, A. Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of processed drinking water in central Nepal: Current state study. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 10(1), 157.

Chetry, A. B., Matsufuji, T., Adhikari, B. B., Morisada, S., Kawakita, H., Ohto, K. Intramolecular synergism for group separation extraction of trivalent rare earths by a cross type calix[4]arene with phosphonic and carboxylic acid bifunctionality. Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry, 81(3), 301–310.

Ohto, K., Takedomi, A., Chetry, A. B., Morisada, S., Kawakita, H., & Oshima, T. The effect of phenoxy oxygen atoms on extremely high extraction ability and less separation efficiency of trivalent rare earth elements with tetraphosphonic acid derivative. Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry, 77(1), 363–373.

Adhikari, B. B., Gurung, M., Chetry, A. B., Kawakita, H., & Ohto, K. Highly selective and efficient extraction of two Pb²⁺ ions with a p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene hexacarboxylic acid ligand: An allosteric effect in extraction. RSC Advances, 3(48), 25950–25959.

Ohto, K., Fuchiwaki, N., Yoshihara, T., Chetry, A. B., Morisada, S., & Kawakita, H. Extraction of scandium and other rare earth elements with a tricarboxylic acid derivative of tripodal pseudcalix[3]arene prepared from a new phenolic tripodal framework. Separation and Purification Technology, 226, 259–266.

Chetry, A. B., Adhikari, B. B., Morisada, S., Kawakita, H., & Ohto, K. Selective extraction of Ga(III) with p-t-butylcalix[4]arene tetrahydroxamic acid. Solvent Extraction Research and Development, Japan, 22(1), 25–35.

Thakuri, S., Basnet, A., Rawal, K., Chauhan, R., & Rassu. Technologies, emission estimation, and feasibility of cleaner technologies in brick industry of Nepal. Environmental Challenges, 15, 100928.

Mahat, N., Bhattarai, N., Thapa, M., Lawati, M., & Basnet, A. (2023). Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of traditional medicinal plants.