With profound sorrow, we announce the unexpected passing of Dr. Ashis Basu on March 13, 2025. A Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Basu imparted his knowledge to many generations of students, guiding them through the complexities of sophomore organic chemistry and graduate-level biological chemistry. His gentle demeanor and steadfast, principled judgment earned him deep respect from his students and colleagues. Dr. Basu’s contributions as a scholar and gentleman left an indelible mark on our institution.
Dr. Basu held a B.S. from the University of Calcutta and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Wayne State University. Following a postdoctoral appointment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined the University of Connecticut in 1990. His research at the interface of chemistry and biology used organic synthesis to introduce specific lesions into DNA residues and the subsequent investigation of their impact on duplex structure and the mechanism of their repair within organisms. His research focused on elucidating the biological consequences of DNA damages induced by antitumor drugs, carcinogens, or radiation. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Basu garnered wide recognition and published extensively in his field. He served in multiple roles in funding review panels, scholarly societies, and as editor in the leading journals in his discipline.

There will be no calling hours. A celebration of his life and career is being planned by his family and will be publicized at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please await an announcement about suggested donations.