Southern Miss Professor Named Chemist of the Year by Mississippi Section of the American Chemical Society
Thu, 12/11/2025 - 09:45am | By: Dr. David Tisdale
Dr. Vijay Rangachari
The Mississippi Section of the American Chemical Society (MS ACS) honored University of Southern Mississippi faculty member Dr. Vijay Rangachari with the 2025 Chemist of the Year award during its annual meeting held Nov. 13 at the Mississippi College campus in Clinton.
Dr. Rangachari, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, joined the Southern Miss faculty in 2008. His work was recently recognized at the international level through the 2025 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop, led by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. He received a $500,000 research grant as part of a $2.5 million funding initiative supporting innovative research in neurodegenerative diseases. He was one of only five researchers awarded worldwide. He was also awarded the College of Arts and Sciences’ prestigious T.W. Bennett Jr. Endowed Professorship for 2025-27.
His research interests and expertise include understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that form biomolecular condensates and contribute to amyloid aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
“I am honored and humbled,” Rangachari said of earning the recognition. “This is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the students and trainees from my lab, who are fundamentally responsible for the recognition. I fully dedicate this award to them.”
His research laboratory, the Rangachari Lab, is a widely recognized leader in protein biophysics and biomolecular condensates and has earned competitive funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
“Dr. Rangachari’s research has the potential to transform our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “He provides outstanding research opportunities and training for our students, who will go on to impactful careers themselves. It’s a perfect example of the value research universities provide.”
Dr. Hugh Broome, chair of the MS Section of the ACS, said he’s thrilled for his Southern Miss faculty colleague to be named recipient of the award.
“Dr. Rangachari’s research in protein aggregation and neurodegenerative diseases exemplifies the standards championed by the American Chemical Society,” Broome said. “We’re proud to honor his contributions to both research and education in Mississippi."