About

Prof. Renjith Thomas

Prof. (Dr.) Renjith Thomas, FRSC, is a distinguished theoretical and computational chemist currently serving as the Dean of Global Partnership, Innovation, and Academic Outreach at St. Berchmans College (Autonomous), Mahatma Gandhi University. As the founder and Director of the Centre for Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, he leads a robust research program dedicated to deciphering the fundamental forces of the molecular world. His expertise spans quantum chemical approaches to molecular interactions, solvation dynamics, and AI-driven drug design, notably evidenced by his development of the Berchmans Protocol for Modelling Non-Covalent Interactions (BerchNCI 1.0). His work effectively bridges the gap between rigorous theoretical chemistry and high-impact applications in medicinal and materials science, focusing on the design of anticancer agents and photosensitizers.

Prof. Thomas’s global scientific impact is reflected in his consistent inclusion in Stanford University’s list of the World’s Top 2% Scientists from 2021 through 2025. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, he has authored nearly 200 research publications with an h-index of 47 and serves in key editorial roles for prestigious Springer Nature journals, including BMC Chemistry and Discover Chemistry., Journal of Computational Biophysics and Chemistry, Frontiers in Chemistry etc.  Beyond his technical research,

Prof. Thomas is an institutional leader, directing centers focused on global academic excellence, disability studies, and entrepreneurship. He also maintains international research ties, including a position as a Visiting Researcher at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. His career is marked by numerous prestigious accolades that recognize his excellence in both research and pedagogy. He is the recipient of the Sr. Dr. Annie Kuriakose Endowment National Level Best Teacher Award (2025) and the Fr. Dr. Jose Thekkan All India Award (2024).

His contributions to higher education were further honored with the Prof. Sivaprasad Award for the best professor in Kerala (2023). These honors, combined with his status as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry as amplified as being in the  world’s top scientists list since 2021. 

Prof. Thomas is the Dean of Global Partnerships, Innovation and Outreach of the college and a Research Supervisor at Mahatma Gandhi University, and Director of the newly established Berchmans Centre for Global Academic Excellence. He also leads the Berchmans Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Dr George Padanilam Centre for Disability Studies. He served as Head of the Department of Chemistry from 2022 to 2024.