Synthetic coordination chemistry of transition metal ions with designed organic ligands is central to his research work. His research covers extensive synthesis, molecular (X-ray structure) and electronic structural (magnetic and spectroscopic) characterization, investigation of reactivity (chemical and redox), and understanding of metal-ligand bonding characteristics in which the main focus is the correct description of the electronic structure (based on Density Functional Theory calculations) of compounds containing open-shell organic ligands and paramagnetic metal ions.

1. BSc (Honors in Chemistry) University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal (1973)
2. MSc (Specialization: Inorganic Chemistry) University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal (1976)
3. PhD [Supervisor: Professor Animesh Chakravorty, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Calcutta: 1978-1982] University of Calcutta, Calcutta (now Kolkata) (1983)

1. Post-doctoral Research Associate, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (in the laboratory of Professor Animesh Chakravorty), IACS, Calcutta (1983 - 1985)
2. Post-doctoral Research Associate (in the laboratory of Professor Richard H. Holm), Harvard University, USA (1985 - 1987)
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry IIT Kanpur (1987 - 1993)
4. Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur (1993 - 1995)
5. Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur (1995–; on deputation from 01/02/2012 to 31/01/2017)
6. Head, Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur (2010 - )
7. Chair Professor, IIT Kanpur (Poonam and Prabhu Goel Chair) (2011 - 2014)

1. Chair Professor at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, (Poonam and Prabhu Goel Chair) (2011-2014)
2. Priyadaranjan Ray Memorial Award, Indian Chemical Society, Kolkata (2010)
3. J. C. Bose Fellowship, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India (2008-2013)
4. Elected Fellow of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, India (2008)
5. Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (1999)
6. Silver Medal, Chemical Research Society of India, Bangalore, Bangalore (2011)
7. Vice President, Chemical Research Society of India (2008- )
8. Member, Advisory Board of Dalton Transactions (RSC) (2008-2011)
9. Member, Editorial Board of Inorganica Chimica Acta (Elsevier) (2011-2013)

1.  A. K. Sharma, F. Lloret, and R. N. Mukherjee, “Phenolate- and Acetate (Both μ₂-1,1 and μ₂-1,3 Modes)-Bridged Linear Co^II₃ and Co^II₂Mn^II Trimers: Magnetostructural Studies”, Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 4825-4833.

2. A. Rajput and R. N. Mukherjee, “Coordination Chemistry with Pyridine/Pyrazine Amide Ligands. Some Noteworthy Results”, Coord. Chem. Rev. 2013, 257, 350-368 (Edward Solomon Invitation Issue).

3.  S. Mandal, J. Mukherjee, F. Lloret, and R. N. Mukherjee, “Modeling Tyrosinase and Catecholase Activity Using New m-Xylyl- Based Ligands with Bidentate Alkylamine Terminal Coordination”, Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51, 13148-13161.