Prof. Gautam Desiraju worked at the University of Hyderabad for 30 years, from 1979 to 2009.
The international scientific community has honored eminent crystallographer Professor Gautam Desiraju with the 14th Ewald Prize, presented by the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) during the opening ceremony of the IUCr 2026 Congress.
The Ewald Prize is awarded once every three years for outstanding, pioneering contributions to the field of crystallography. Prof. Desiraju’s conferment recognizes his landmark research and transformative influence on structural chemistry, crystal engineering, and non-covalent interactions.
Adding to this monumental recognition, Prof. Desiraju holds a rare distinction in structural chemistry: he is one of only a few scientists worldwide to have an entry in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) assigned a refcode named in his honour (GAUTAM). The record can be explored via the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (ccdc-info.com/4grCKIG).
About the Ewald Prize
Established by the International Union of Crystallography in 1986, the Ewald Prize recognizes scientists who have made groundbreaking contributions of exceptional quality to the field of crystallography. Named after Paul Peter Ewald, a pioneer of X-ray diffraction and a founding figure of the IUCr, it remains the highest honour bestowed by the organization.
About Professor Gautam Desiraju
Prof. Gautam Desiraju is a globally renowned structural chemist widely recognized for laying the foundation of modern crystal engineering and weak hydrogen bonding concepts. Having served as the President of the International Union of Crystallography (2011–2014) and held professorships at top institutions including the University of Hyderabad and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, his work continues to shape materials science, pharmaceutical development, and supramolecular chemistry worldwide.