December 10, 2025
Very Happy and proud to see the accomplishments of close friend and M G M college mate Jayarama Shetty.
A nice person by nature, down to earth humble, and had several get-together with him during his visit to India
Dr. Jayaram “Jay” Shetty: The Quiet Force Behind Global BioTech
Biotechnology Global Leader • DuPont Fellow • Innovator with 100+ Patents • Global Impact, Mentor and Scientific Visionary
There are lives that rise quietly, like dawn over the Western Ghats, lives rooted in the red earth of Tulunadu that slowly illuminate continents. The inspiring story of Dr. Jayaram (Jay) Shetty is one such sunrise - a journey shaped by grit, brilliance, compassion and timeless values, carried from a humble village childhood to the frontiers of global biotechnology.
Dr. Shetty’s story begins in Kadangod, Hosur Village in Udupi, where life moved with the rhythm of monsoons, fields and community. His earliest classrooms, Sural Primary School and Kenjoor Higher Elementary were simple, but his curiosity was boundless, always reaching beyond what he could see.
At Sharada High School, Cherkadi, that spark grew into a deeper purpose. At M.G.M. College, Udupi, he built the scientific foundation that would one day influence global industries. Before stepping into advanced research, he served a year as a Science and Mathematics teacher at Kokkarne High School, an experience that grounded him in humility and cemented his lifelong respect for educators.
But the world of science was calling.
The Scientist in the Making
With determination shaped by discipline, he pursued his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry at
Mysore University, diving into research that would define his career. His exceptional promise
earned him the prestigious National Science Foundation Scholarship, opening the doors to
Cornell University, New York as a Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow.
A Four-Decade Journey of Scientific Leadership
Dr. Jay Shetty went on to shape the global biotechnology landscape for more than four decades, working at the powerful intersection of science, industry and innovation. His contributions transformed how the world understands enzymes, biochemicals, value-added functional sugars, and sustainable bio-solutions.
Rising through the ranks of Genencor, Danisco, and finally DuPont, he reached the distinguished honor of DuPont Fellow the highest technical position within the multinational’s global R&D organization. It is a title reserved for only the most exceptional scientists worldwide. Even fewer achieve it while bridging continents, cultures, and industries with the humility and grace that define Dr. Shetty.
Throughout his career, he served in multiple executive and scientific leadership roles Head of R&D, Vice President of Applied Innovation, guiding large, multidisciplinary teams across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Today, as President of JayNzyme, he continues to mentor, innovate and build the next generation of biotechnology solutions. His work remains at the forefront of Prebiotics and functional nutritional sugars, Natural low-calorie sweeteners, Fermentation engineering and enzymatic bioprocessing, Novel biofuel technologies and sustainable biochemical innovations. These contributions continue to power industries and improve human life across continents.
A Legacy of Innovation & Global Impact
Dr. Shetty’s scientific footprint is both vast and impactful:
Scholarly and Technical Contributions
100+ patents (granted and filed)
50+ publications and book chapters
Numerous trade secret awards
Leadership roles in major international biotechnology symposiums
Keynote speaker and presenter at leading global conferences
Honors and Recognition
His research excellence has been acknowledged with some of the most significant awards in industrial biotechnology, including:
Top 100 Research Excellence Award (2005)-Awarded at “Oscar of Innovation”- Ceremony
held in Chicago.
Research Excellence Award (2008) for pioneering a novel biofuel technology now used
at commercial scale. 2008 FEW International Biofuel Conference, Nashville, TN.
USDA / Agricultural Research Service Technology Transfer Award (2010). Award
Ceremony was held on August 3, 2010, in Washington, D.C.,
These recognitions mark decades of science in service of society.
Though his career spanned global institutions, Dr. Shetty’s heart remains rooted in India.
He worked with the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology to lead the First International Biofuel Conference (Delhi, 2008) — a landmark step in reducing India’s dependence on imported fuels.
His India-driven initiatives include:
Training rice processors to convert broken rice into high-value products (ethanol, rice protein)
Supporting clean-energy projects converting rice straw (Punjab) and bamboo (Northern India) into biofuels
Mentoring scientists and innovators across India
The Heart Behind the Science
Beyond the brilliance of his science, Dr. Shetty is shaped most deeply by his values: gratitude, compassion and a remarkable humility that elevates everyone around him.
A Life That Inspires
Dr. Shetty’s story is not simply the biography of a scientist. It is the story of rural beginnings and global impact, discipline carved from simplicity, science rooted in purpose and leadership grounded in humility,
His journey teaches us that greatness is often quiet. It takes root in laboratories, in classrooms, in small conversations and in the everyday choices shaped by purpose and conviction.
From Kadangod’s quiet lanes to California’s innovation corridors, from village classrooms to global scientific stages, from broken grains of rice to breakthrough clean-energy biofuels, Dr. Shetty's journey expands horizons once thought unreachable.
He inspires young dreamers, future scientists, and community members to see how far passion and perseverance can take them. His life exemplifies rural beginnings, global impact, scientific excellence and leadership rooted in humility, a journey that continues to inspire generations.
Dr. Jayaram (Jay) Shetty can be reached at: jay.shetty72@gmail.com
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