{"id":1788,"date":"2025-03-13T09:10:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T20:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/?page_id=1788"},"modified":"2025-07-30T12:16:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T00:16:20","slug":"dr-sriram-sundaresan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/dr-sriram-sundaresan\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr Sriram Sundaresan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr Sriram Sundaresan<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Current position (2022-present):<\/strong> Postdoctoral fellow, Mainz University, Germany, with Professor Eva Rentschler
\nPhD (2018 \u2013 2022):<\/strong> University of Otago, New Zealand, with Professor Sally Brooker, \u2018Designer complexes for spin crossover, CO2 reduction and surface immobilisation\u2019
\nMSc (research, 2016 \u2013 2017):<\/strong> University College Dublin, Ireland, MSc research thesis with Associate Professor Grace Morgan, \u2018Investigation of geometry in Mn(III) and Fe(III) metal complexes with Schiff-based ligands\u2019
\nMSc (taught, 2015-2016):<\/strong> University College Dublin, Ireland
\nBSc (2011-2014):<\/strong> Loyola College Chennai, India<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I came to New Zealand in 2018 after my Masters in University College Dublin, Ireland to pursue my PhD with Prof. Sally Brooker, University of Otago in the department of Chemistry. I first met Sally at the BOOK-D spin crossover conference in Bordeaux, France, where, despite her long flight, she took the time to have an engaging and detailed discussion with me at my poster during the poster session. After our discussion and subsequent email correspondence, she offered me a PhD position in her team, funded by a MacDiarmid Institute scholarship. Sally\u2019s continuous support began even before I arrived in New Zealand. She personally picked me up from the airport on my first day in Dunedin, which instantly made me feel welcomed and valued. Sally fostered a supportive and collaborative environment within her group, always maintaining an open-door policy and making herself available for guidance. Her encouragement led me to participate in numerous professional activities, including presenting at four national and three international conferences. Under her guidance, I published two first-author papers, with a third in the pipeline. I was also actively involved in the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Association, serving as regional secretary in 2020 and treasurer in 2021.<\/p>\n

Sally\u2019s extensive international collaborations with renowned scientists, including Prof. Annie Powell (KIT, Germany), Prof. Silvia Giordani (DCU, Ireland) and Prof. Garry Hanan (Montreal, Canada), created exceptional opportunities for us as students. She brought many leading experts to Otago, and her hosting of the Otago Future Fuels meeting in 2019 further facilitated invaluable networking experiences. I particularly appreciated the chance to interact directly with these forefront runners in the field, which enriched my academic journey. Sally also encouraged me to participate in science outreach activities, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and which helped me develop a broader perspective on the societal impact of research.<\/p>\n

Completing my PhD during the global pandemic in 2021 was an extraordinary challenge, but I was fortunate to be in New Zealand, where the situation was relatively well managed. Despite this, being away from home during such uncertain times was emotionally exhausting. Sally provided moral and emotional support to me and the other six international students in her group at that time, creating a safe and understanding environment that helped us navigate those difficult months. After the pandemic, finding a job was particularly challenging, especially in academia, but Sally\u2019s vast international research network proved to be invaluable. She went above and beyond to personally help me secure a postdoctoral position. Whether it is personal or professional, Sally is always available to provide guidance, support, and mentorship, which has left a lasting impact on me.<\/p>\n

During my time in Otago, I was honoured to receive the Otago University Gold Award in 2021 as an Outstanding Member of the Dunedin Community for my community service efforts. This recognition reflects my dedication to giving back to the community, a value that Sally consistently encouraged in her students.<\/p>\n

Dunedin itself was a wonderful place to pursue my PhD with its vibrant student community and scenic surroundings. The friendly and collaborative atmosphere extended beyond Sally\u2019s group, as we shared office space with James\u2019 Group, who were equally welcoming and supportive. The beautiful beaches, rolling hills, and unique wildlife provided plenty of opportunities to unwind and recharge after long days in the lab. New Zealand, with its renowned hospitality, rich Maori culture, and breathtaking natural beauty, was a perfect backdrop for both personal and professional growth, making my PhD experience truly unforgettable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr Sriram Sundaresan Current position (2022-present): Postdoctoral fellow, Mainz University, Germany, with Professor Eva Rentschler PhD (2018 \u2013 2022): University of Otago, New Zealand, with Professor Sally Brooker, \u2018Designer complexes for spin crossover, CO2 reduction and surface immobilisation\u2019 MSc (research, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18270,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1788","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18270"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1788"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1788\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/brooker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}