MASTERMIND MOMENTS (M2 ’25)-Chapter 3. ‘From Atoms to Algorithms: Exploring the World of Computational Chemistry’

The Department of Chemistry, Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, has launched a unique academic initiative, Mastermind Moments (M2), aimed at fostering interaction between students and eminent national and international scientists. Chapter III of M2 ’25 was held on August 19, 2025, and marked another milestone for this initiative.

The session commenced at 10:00 AM with a warm welcome address by Dr. Ajesh K. Zachariah, Head of the Department of Chemistry. The event featured an enlightening talk by Dr. Nishamol Kuriakose, a distinguished computational chemist from the Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway.

The talk, titled “From Atoms to Algorithms: Exploring the World of Computational Chemistry,” provided deep insights into the advances and future possibilities of computational chemistry. The session was chaired by Dr. Nebu John, Coordinator of the programme.

Dr. Nishamol Kuriakose’s academic journey is a testament to her dedication and excellence in the field of chemistry. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Assumption College, Changanacherry (2006), followed by a Master’s degree from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum. She pursued her Ph.D. at CSIR – National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. In 2015, she undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at Kyoto University, Japan, later serving as a Research Scientist at ASTER-IHPC, Singapore. In 2019, she joined IISER Pune as a Research Associate, and subsequently became a PBC Fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Since 2022, she has been a Researcher at the University of Oslo, Norway.

The session was highly engaging, sparking meaningful discussions among participants and inspiring students to explore research opportunities in computational chemistry.

The programme concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by Dr. Anitha George Varghese, who expressed gratitude to the speaker, faculty members, and participants for making the event a success.