Vice President

Professor Viji Sarojini

Kia ora, I am a Professor in Chemistry at the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau. I earned my PhD in Chemistry with doctoral training at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. This was followed by postdoctoral research at Linkoping University, Sweden, University of Leeds, UK and Texas A & M University, USA. I moved to New Zealand in 2004 and joined Plant and Food Research to work on bioactive peptide solutions for bacterial diseases of plants. I started my academic career at the University of Auckland in 2006.

My research is highly interdisciplinary, integrating peptide science, medicinal chemistry, materials science, and microbiology to address critical challenges in biology and medicine, including cancer and infectious diseases affecting both humans and plants. Drawing inspiration from the structural diversity and functional sophistication of natural products, my research employs advanced synthetic and analytical chemistry approaches to design and develop new molecules and materials with wide-ranging applications. These include therapeutic drug candidates, food-quality enhancers, antimicrobial materials, drug-delivery systems, and materials for light harvesting.

A central focus of my research is the discovery and development of novel therapeutically relevant molecules, with particular emphasis on synthetic and natural product peptides and small organic compounds. I use a suite of advanced spectroscopic, surface analytical, and biophysical techniques to investigate the structure–property relationships of novel peptides and materials developed in the lab. The translational nature of this research enables contributions across multiple disciplines, including food science and nutrition, and materials chemistry.

I teach organic, medicinal, and green chemistry at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and am strongly committed to researchinformed teaching. Engagement with students is a particularly rewarding aspect of my academic work and contributes to my ongoing professional growth.

I served on the NZIC Auckland Branch as Chair (2012-2014) and Branch Editor (2014-2016).