Congratulations, Dr Dittu Suresh. Today the gown, the hood, and that hard-earned certificate say what the whole lab already knew: you did it.
Your PhD work on dual-action antimicrobials (quorum sensing inhibitors and small-molecule antimicrobial peptide mimics) took real grit. Antimicrobial resistance does not yield easily, and neither did you. The dedication you brought to every design, synthesis, and assay is something this group will remember.
We also want to thank and commend you for something that never showed up in a methods section: you were always eager to help and assist others, even when you were tired. That kindness made the lab a better place, and we notice it.
We are especially grateful to Professor Naresh Kumar for the supervision, encouragement, and steady belief that helped carry Dittu to this day. Moments like the photo above are more than a keepsake. They are the story of a student and a mentor who saw it through together.
The entire Kumar Research Group is proud of you, Dittu. Wear the title well.
Congratulations again, Dr Suresh, and thank you for everything you gave this team along the way.
Also celebrating: Dr Robert Rourke →