As a pharmacist by profession and synthetic/medicinal chemist by choice, I have been in the field of pharmacy since high school (3+4+2+4 years). I’m Dirgha Raj Joshi, originally from Nepal. I completed MS in Pharmacy (Medicinal Chemistry, Wonkwang University, South Korea), and BS Pharmacy (Pokhara University, Nepal). I grew up in a farmer family and my father is a simple employee in a government health post, so he used to bring some medicine at home. I always used to ask him; even though the color of tablets is the same but why this is for headache? and that is for stomachache? or diarrhea? etc. The child age growing with questioning realized me to jump in the field of drug and I started Diploma in Pharmacy study in 2008 (3 years). Then I joined undergraduate in pharmacy in 2011, where I realized medicinal chemistry is core in drug discovery and I started searching for higher study in medicinal chemistry. Finally, I joined medicinal chemistry lab at Wonkwang University under the mentorship of Professor Hak Sung Kim where I learned basic to intermediate skills of organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry point of view.

The eager of learning pushes me towards PhD study with same major and I joined Professor Young Shin Kwak at Korea University (2018). Later I transferred to new lab under the mentorship of Professor Ikyon Kim at Yonsei University (2019) with Global Leader Scholarship program where I performed my major research. To date, I have published 12 original research papers in peer-reviewed journals (all are Q1 ranked), 1 US patent, 2 Korean patents and some are under review. Besides these, I published several reviews and original research articles other than chemistry in totaling above 30. 

After PhD I worked as visiting postdoctoral fellow at National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health under Antiviral Program for Pandemic (APP) program. Where my research focuses on the discovery of small molecules for use in treating SARS-CoV-2 and Bunyavirales.

My research focused on developing new synthetic methodology to construct diverse heterocycles, total synthesis, and hit-to-lead optimization through SAR study. Mostly my approach towards one pot multi component reaction; quinone-indolizine, azide chemistry, chromenes, chromone-indolizine, solvent controlled divergent synthesis, aminoarylbenzofurane and green chemistry etc.

Currently I am serving as Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS), Jumla, Nepal. I will be happy to connect with diverse scholars for research and academic collaboration.

I voluntarily worked with different organizations like President and secretary at the Society of Nepalese Students in Korea-SONSIK (sonsik.org.np), National secretary at Pragyik Vidyarthi Parishad Nepal (PVP Nepal), President and secretary at Crimson Association of Pharma Students (CAPS), Vice President at Youth for Service and Development (YSD) Vice President at Diploma in Pharmacy Student’s Association of Nepal (DPSAN), Secretary at Wonkwang University Nepalese Club (WUNC), Director at KHAS Health, international coordinator for gita4life etc. 

I established the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Nepal (AFPN) on Baisakh 1, 2082 BS, and currently serve as its National Coordinator, leading efforts to unify and strengthen collaboration among pharmacy faculties nationwide.

I’m always eager to learn new things and work with youth, please contact me if you think we can work together. 

My email: [email protected]