Gautam Desiraju receives 14th IUCr Ewald Prize for pioneering work in crystallography

Gautam R Desiraju, former faculty member of the University of Hyderabad (UoH), has been awarded the 14th Ewald Prize by the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) for his pioneering contributions to crystal engineering, structural chemistry and the study of weak molecular interactions.

The award was presented during the opening ceremony of the 27th IUCr Congress in Calgary, Canada, on August 11, 2026. The Ewald Prize is presented once every three years to recognise outstanding contributions to crystallography.

The IUCr said Desiraju was recognised for “pioneering the subject of crystal engineering and the supramolecular synthon concept” and for establishing the structural importance of weak hydrogen bonding and halogen bonding in molecular crystals and biology.

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Gautam Desiraju's association with the University of Hyderabad

Desiraju worked at the School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, for 30 years, from 1979 to 2009. He later continued his academic career at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, where he is Professor Emeritus in the Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit. He also currently holds academic positions at other institutions.

His research has played a major role in establishing crystal engineering as a predictive and design-oriented discipline within structural chemistry. His 1989 book “Crystal Engineering: The Design of Organic Solids” provided an early comprehensive framework for the field.

In 1995, Desiraju introduced the concept of the supramolecular synthon, which treats key structural modules within crystals as targets for molecular design. The concept has since become an important part of modern crystal engineering.

Research on weak hydrogen and halogen bonds

Desiraju's research also established the structural significance of weak hydrogen bonds, including C–H···O interactions in molecular crystals and biological systems. His work later expanded to halogen bonding and other intermolecular interactions.

The IUCr said his research and leadership have reshaped how scientists understand intermolecular interactions and design functional molecular solids.

According to the IUCr, Desiraju has authored more than 475 research papers and has received more than 80,000 citations. He also served as president of the International Union of Crystallography from 2011 to 2014.

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Ewald Prize and IUCr Congress

The Ewald Prize was established in 1986 in memory of crystallographer Paul Peter Ewald and is awarded every three years during the IUCr's triennial congresses. The prize includes a medal, certificate and financial award.

Desiraju delivered the Ewald Prize Lecture during the opening ceremony of the 27th IUCr Congress on August 11. The recognition adds to his earlier honours, including the TWAS Award in Chemistry and the Alexander von Humboldt Research Prize.

The award marks another major international recognition for an Indian scientist whose work has helped shape modern crystal engineering and structural chemistry.