ITB Student Becomes International Publication Author Alongside Nobel Prize-Winning Chemistry Research Group

A student from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) has achieved a significant milestone in the international research arena. Deryl Hendson Limawan, a 2020 cohort Chemistry student at ITB currently undertaking a fast-track master’s programme, has successfully served as the first author in a scientific publication released in Chemistry A European Journal. This research is the result of an international collaboration with the research group of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Professor Ben L. Feringa, from the University of Groningen, Netherlands.

Achieving entry into this reputable international journal is the result of a long research process, cross-generational student collaboration, and academic networks built over many years. According to Deryl, the data and findings published in the journal are the result of research developed continuously by several ITB Chemistry students from different cohorts. The research was initiated by Anthony Bongso (Chemistry 2018), continued by Bayu Dwiputra (Chemistry 2019), and perfected by Deryl himself, all conducted under the supervision of Dr Robby Roswanda.

This international collaboration was also supported by the academic track record of Dr Robby Roswanda, who was once a student under Professor Ben Feringa in 2009. This academic relationship was further strengthened when Professor Feringa visited ITB in 2020 to deliver a public lecture, which subsequently opened opportunities for further research cooperation.

Deryl noted that the research began with the idea of the late Professor Yana Maolana Syah, who recognised the great potential of chiral centres in the structure of Indonesian natural compound substances. This idea was realised through the isolation of pure derivative compounds from the extract of the Tephrosia vogelii plant. The research demonstrates that Indonesian natural resources have much broader potential beyond mere bioactivity, such as for medicinal or anti-cancer uses.

“The unique framework structures of natural materials can be utilised as building blocks to synthesise more complex molecules. This opens new opportunities in the development of functional materials in the future,” he explained on Wednesday (3/6).

Through this research, Deryl stated that the team successfully synthesised photoactive derivative molecules. These molecules are capable of undergoing shape changes when exposed to light and maintaining a specific configuration after the process occurs. Although the molecules produced can currently only undergo a single geometric change and do not yet function fully as a molecular switch that can operate reversibly, this result serves as a promising first step.