Awards/Recognitions (students)

Best Poster/Oral Awards

2025 Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowships (Dr.Amit Kumar Mishra and Dr.Geethi  Subra Jena)

2024  Outstanding  Ph.D. thesis award of HBNI (2023)   (Dr. Manu Harilal)   

2024 IIM Prize for the Best Journal Paper (Young Catagory)  "High contrast corrosion mapping of dissimilar metal weld joints using alternating current scanning electrochemical microscopy: A case study with Zr-4–Ti–304L SS weld" Ankita Pal, Nanda Gopala Krishna, A. Ravi Shankar, John Philip,  Corrosion Science, 221(2023), 111345 (IF: 8.3). DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2023.111345.

2024 Best Ph.D. thesis ( 2023 ) Certificate of Appreciation of IGCAR (Dr. Manali Nandy)   

2023 Best Poster Award: Fouzia Khan, B. B. Lahiri, and John Philip received the Best Poster award of International Conference 8th Edition of International Conference on “Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Using Zea mays Extract for Magnetic Hyperthermia”, "Nanotechnology for Better Living-2023" 25-29th May 2023, Srinagar, Kashmir, India

2023 Best Poster Award: Srujana M, B. B. Lahiri, and John Philip of the SMARTS section received the Best Poster award of the International Conference on Functional Materials for Future Technology (IC-FMFT 2023) held on April 19-21, 2023, for the poster titled “Viscosity dependent studies on the magnetic fluid hyperthermia efficiency of magnetite nanoparticles coated with a bio-compatible polymer.”

2022  Best Poster Award: Anandkumar, Surdharshan, T.Nandakumar, Ravishankar, and J.Philip "Development of silane-based epoxy hybrid coating on water transporting pipeline materials for enhanced microbiologically influenced corrosion protection performance" CORCON 2022 held during Sept 14-17, 2022. 

2020 Best Poster Award: Dilip Kumar Mohapatra & John Philip, "Effect of magnetic field ramp rate on microstructure formation in magnetic nanoemulsion," International Conference on Nano Science and Technology (ICONSAT 2020) funded by DST Nano Mission, Govt. of India, held during March 5 -7, 2020 at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town, Kolkata.

2020 Best Oral Paper Award: Anushree. C & John Philip, “Synthesis of water-based Fe3O4 nanoparticles by oxidation - precipitation and its application in removal of methylene blue dye,” National Symposium on Recent Advances in Chemistry, (NSRAC 2020) funded by UGC SAP (DSA-I), held during February 18-19 2020 at  Pondicherry University.

2019 Best Oral Presentation Award (American Chemical Society sponsored): Sangeetha Jayakumar, T. Nandakumar, M. Vadivel, C.Thinaharan, Rani P. George & John Philip “Tamarind Fruit Pulp Based Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in Acidic Environment”, DST-SERB National Conference on “Recent Advances in Nanomaterials Chemistry for Sustainable Development (RANCSD)  held during December 12 - 13 2019 at Madras Christian College, Chennai. The award includes a trophy, certificate, and a cash award.  

2019 Best Poster Presentation Award (Royal Society for Chemistry sponsored): Anushree. C & John Philip “Synthesis of cellulose capped Fe3O4 nanofluids suitable for application in methylene blue dye removal”, International Conference on Recent Advances in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, (ICRAN 2019)  organized by IIT Madras and Stella Maris colleges, Chennai during December 11 – 12, 2019.  

2019 Best Oral Presentation Award (American Chemical Society sponsored): Muthukumaran.T & John Philip “Synthesis and characterization of phosphate capped magnetite nanoparticles,” International Conference on Recent Advances in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, (ICRAN 2019) organized by IIT Madras and Stella Maris colleges, Chennai during December 11 – 12, 2019.  

2019 Best Poster Award: Rasitha. T.P, S.C.Vanithakumari,  Rani.P.George, John Philip “Porous microcapsule based superhydrophobic coating on 304L SS and its corrosion properties in chloride medium” International Conference and Expo on Corrosion (CORCON 2019) held during September 23 - 26, 2019 at CIDCO Convention and Exhibition Centre, Navi Mumbai.

2019 Best Oral Paper Award: Amit Kumar Mishra, B.B.Lahiri, John Philip, "Thermal conductivity enhancement of an organic phase change material using carbon black and nickel nanoinclusions for latent heat thermal energy storage applications "International Conference themed on Advanced Materials (ICAM 2019)  funded by ISRO, KSCTE, held at Nirmalagiri College, Kannur Kerala during  June 12 - 14, 2019. 

2019 Best Poster Award: Surojit Ranoo, B. B. Lahiri & John Philip, International conference on magnetic fluids (ICMF2019), “Enhancement in field induced heating efficiency in TMAOH coated superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles by texturing under a static magnetic field”  International conference on magnetic fluids( ICMF2019) held in PARIS, France during July 7-12, 2019. The award carries a certificate and a cash prize of 400 Euros.

2019 AWSAR (DST) Award of 2018: Surojit Ranoo, among the Hundred Best Popular Science Stories  under PhD Category, Department of Science and Technology (Prize of Rs.10,000/- along with Certificate of appreciation) “Magnetic nanoparticles hyperthermia: An emerging cancer therapy sans side effects”

2019 Best Oral Paper  Award: M.Vadivel, Sangeetha Jayakumar, John Philip," Probing of Nanofiller - Polymer Matrix Interaction Using Atomic Force Microscope for the Development of X-ray opaque Fabric Material" DST National Conference on Nanomaterials, held during 24 - 25, January 2019, at LRG Government Arts College for Women, Tiruppur, India.

2019 Best Poster Award: Amit Kumar Mishra, B.B.Lahiri & John Philip, “Carbon black and nickel nano inclusions assisted thermal conductivity enhancement of an organic phase change material for thermal energy storage” DST- SERC funded 5th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, ICONN 2019 held at SRM University Chennai during 28-30, January 2019.

2018 Best Poster Presentation: Geetisubhra Jena, B.Anand Kumar, S.C.Vanithakumari, Rani.P.George, John philip & G.Amarendra, A Novel Chitosan/Ag/Go Composite Coating with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity and Improved Corrosion Resistance”, CORCON 2018, held during 30th September - 3rd October 2018 in  Jaipur   

2018 ‘Runner up’ Poster presentation: Manu Harilal, Sudha Uthaman, B.Anand Kumar, Rani.P.George, John Philip & G.Amarendra, “High-performance green concrete with improved Biodeterioration resistance against fungus fusarium” CORCON 2018, held during 30th September - 3rd October 2018 in  Jaipur   

2018 Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam-Best Oral Presentation (Best Paper) Award: Sithara Vinod & John Philip, “Role of field induced nanostructures and polydispersity on effective thermal transport in magnetic fluids” International Seminar on Advanced Nanomaterials (ISAN-2018) held at National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Madras, Guindy campus during February 27-28, 2018 

2018 Dr.CV Raman-Best Poster Presentation (Best Poster) Award:  Mrs.Sangeetha Jayakumar, T.Saravanan & John Philip “A comparative study of the diagnostic X-ray attenuation property of β-Bi2O3 and Bi nanoparticles based nanocomposites” International Seminar on Advanced Nanomaterials (ISAN-2018) held at National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Madras, Guindy campus during February 27-28, 2018  

2017 Best Poster Award: S.Kalyani, S.Ayyappan & John Philip “Synthesis of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoclusters using microwave reactor”, BRNS Sponsored-National Conference on Nanomaterials (NCN-2017) held at PG & Research Department of Physics, Arignar Anna Government Arts College, Namakkal, Tamilnadu, July 20-21, 2017 

2015 Best Poster Award (First Prize): Gopinath Shit and John Philip, "Synthesis of Fe3O4-SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles and high-temperature thermal stability studies," presented at the 5th DAE-BRNS  Interdisciplinary symposium on Materials Chemistry, held at BARC during Dec 9-12, 2014.

2014 Best ISSS Ph.D. student Award: Mr.Mahendren & John Philip, "Development of Magnetically responsive Smart nanofluids for optical sensing applications" 7th International Conference on smart materials, structures, and Systems: July 08-11, 2014,  Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. http://www.isssonline.in/awards.html

2012 Best Oral Presentation Award: Sangeetha Jayakumar, Susha Thomas, J. Arutchelvi, M.Doble and John Philip “Synthesis and characterization of stimulus-responsive Fe3O4-Surfactin and Fe3O4-Rhamnolipid nano complex for in-vivo applications” National Conference on Nanomaterials (NCN-2012)  held at Karunya University Coimbatore during 3 - 4, December 2012.

2007 IIM Second Prize for the Best Journal Paper published in 2007 [Physica E (2007) 20-25]. 

2009 First Prize for Best Oral Presentation: Shima P.D & John Philip, Second International Conference on Frontiers in Nanoscience and Technology Cochin Nano2009 held at CUSAT during Jan 3-6, 2009. 

2009 First Prize for Best Poster: Junaid Masud Laskar & John Philip, Second International Conference on Frontiers in Nanoscience and Technology Cochin Nano2009 held at CUSAT during  January 3 - 6, 2009.

Awards/Honors

2023  Dr.Geethi Subra Jena (Ph.D),  Postdoctoral Fellowship,  North Dakota State University   (USA).

2023  Dr.Amit Kumar Mishra (Ph.D),  Postdoctoral Fellowship,  Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino (Italy).

2023 AMPP (NACE) EMERG India Scholarship   of INR 150,000 (Ankita Pal, Ph.D student)   

2022 TP.Rasitha (Ph.D.), Postdoctoral Fellowship, Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel

2022 Dr.Sithara Vinod (Ph.D.),  Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chem& Biomolecular Engg, Case Western Reserve University, USA. 

2022 Dr.B. B. Lahiri (Ph.D)  Young Achievers Award (YAA) of DAE-SSPS-2022.

2022 Dr. K. V. Rao Scientific Society Best PhD Research Award (Physics) (Manali Nandi)

2022 Best Thesis Award of CORCON-2022 ( Dr. Geethi Jena)

2022  Dr.Zaibudeen (Ph.D.), Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Alberta, Canada

2022 Manali Nandi (Ph.D),  Postdoctoral Fellowship, Wageningen University, Netherland  

2022 Best Ph.D.  thesis  (2019) Award of IGCAR    (Dr.Zaibudeen) awarded by IGCAR on foundation day celebration  

2022 Best Ph.D. thesis ( 2020 ) Certificate of Appreciation of IGCAR (Dr. Sithara Vinod) awarded by IGCAR on Foundation Day celebration  

2022 AMPP (NACE) EMERG India Scholarship    of INR 150,000 (Dr.Geethi Jena, Ph.D student)   

2022 AMPP (NACE) Graduate Student Book Award of  USD $1500 (D.R. Rooby, M.Tech Project  student)   

2021 Surojit Ranoo (Ph.D.), Postdoc, University Cologne, Germany (Ph.D. student).  

2021 Dillip Kumar Mohapatra (Ph.D.), Postdoc, Memorial University, Canada (Ph.D. student).    

2021 Manoj Poulose (project) got selected for Ph.D. admission at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, USA. (MTech project student 2020)

2021  AMPP (NACE) EMERG India Scholarship   of INR 150,000   (RasithaT.P, Ph.D. student)

2020  Anirudh Ramesh got selected for M.S. at Northwestern University, USA (B.Tech project student)  

2014 Mr.B.B.Lahiri won the Young Applied Scientist / Technologist Award of DAE for the year 2014

2015 Dr.P.D.Shima won the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award of HBNI  during the Ten Years of Excellence (2005-2015) celebration

2015 Ms. Leona Felicia received  Machon full travel support to visit the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel during March 14-19, 2015. (Prof. Jacob Klein, Dept. of Materials and Interfaces) 

2015 INSPIRE Faculty Award from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, January 2015 - (Dr. Shima Ph.D )

2012 Travel grant for participating in the “The Women Rising Stars in Nuclear Science and Engineering competition” organized by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.  (Dr.Shima - Ph.D  in 2012)

2012 GC Jain Memorial lecture award for the best thesis in the area of Materials Science and Technology in the year 2012 by MRSI, India. (Dr.Shima -Ph.D, 2012)   

2010 INAE Student Fellow: Vivek Kumar Pilania - B.Tech Project student 

2008 DAE Group Award: for post-irradiation examination (PIE) of fuel and structural materials of the FBTR after 100 & 155 GWd/t burn up Dr.T.Saravanan, SMARTS 

2008 DAE Group Award: for Hydrogen Sensor Development Shri.Bagavathiappan, SMARTS 2008  

  Former Ph.D. students:     

1.G.Gnanaprakash  “Parameters Influencing The Size And Magnetic Properties Of Fe3o4 Nanoparticles During Co-Precipitation”  (Chemistry) Madras University-IGCAR (2002-2007)  Post Doctoral Fellowship: University of Aalborg University, Denmark & Biophotonics group, INL, Portugal  (with Prof. Steffen B. Petersen)

2. S.Ayyappan “High-Temperature phase transition studies in spinel ferrite nanoparticles”    (Physics) Madras University-IGCAR (2005-2010) Post Doctoral Fellowship: Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy  (With Prof.Manna during 2012-2015) Presently Professor at Sastra University. 

3.Shima.P.D  “Synthesis, Characterization, Thermal and Rheological Studies in Nanofluids”.   ( Chemistry- CHEM02200704007 ) HBNI-IGCAR ( 2006-2011) Post Doctoral Fellowship: LCMD - ESPCI, CNRS - Paris Tech, France (With Prof.J.Bibette   during 2011-2014);    NIT, Trichy; Presently Professor at Kannur University.

4. Junaid Masud Laskar “Probing of Structural Transitions in Magnetically Polarizable Soft Matters by Light Scattering” (Physics) Madras University-IGCAR (2006-2011) Post Doctoral Fellowship: Max Plank Institute, Mainz, Germany  (with Prof. Guenter during 2011-2015); Presently Professor at SRM University.

5. Joy Shankar Nambam(Physics- PHYS02200704019) “Probing of Polymer-Surfactant Interactions at Interfaces Using Light Scattering, Force Measurement and Rheology”  HBNI-IGCAR (2007-2012). Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Institute of Physics, University of Brasilia, Brazil (with Prof.Maria A Soler during 2013-2014)

6. Sudhanshu Shekhar Pati (Chemistry- CHEM02200804010)  “Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Nanoparticles with Enhanced Thermal Stability”   HBNI-IGCAR (2008-2013). Post Doctoral Fellowship: Institute of Physics, University of Brasilia, Brazil (with Prof.Garg during 2014-2016 ); Presently Professor at  NIT, Jamshedpur. 

7. Surajit Brojabasi (Physics- PHYS02 2009 04002)  “Probing the Magnetic Field Induced Nano-structures in Magnetic Fluids Using Light Scattering.”     HBNI-IGCAR (2009- 2015 ) Postdoc at IIT, Madras; Postdoc at   Biophotonics Lab, Dept. Mechanical Engg., Universite de Sherbrooke, Canada (2016-2018). Presently working in Canada. 

8. V.Mahendran  (Physics- PHYS02 2010 04010) “Direct measurement of colloidal interactions in the presence of different analytes” HBNI-IGCAR (2010- 2015)    Post Doctoral Fellow: Physics of Complex Fluids Group and MESA+ Institute, University of Twente,  Netherlands. With Prof. Dr. Frieder Mugele 2015);    Professor at MIT; Researcher at Stefan Institute, Lithuania. 

9. Leona J Felicia (Physics- PHYS02 2010 04012) “Magnetorheological properties of sterically stabilized ferrofluids” HBNI-IGCAR  (2010-2015)  Post Doctoral Fellowship:  Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (with Prof.Jacob Klein – Not  Taken up) 

10. Anbumozhi Angayarkanni.S (Physics- PHYS02 2010 04011)  “Factors Influencing the Thermal Properties of Nanofluids and Phase Change Materials.”  HBNI-IGCAR (2010-2015 ) Post Doctoral Fellowship: Dept. of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel (with Prof.Jacob Klein )   Presently Professor at SRM University.

11.   Baran Barid Lahiri  (Physics-02 2011 04015) “Studies on hyperthermia in magnetic fluids: Effects of particle loading, medium viscosity, size polydispersity, orientational ordering and thermal losses on heating efficiency”  HBNI-IGCAR (2011-2017 )  Scientific Officer F,  SMARTS, IGCAR

12. Dr. A.W. Zaibudeen (PHYSICS 02 2013 04 0008). “Investigations on the behavior of stimuli-responsive macromolecules at nanoemulsion interfaces”  HBNI-IGCAR (2013-2018 ) Post Doctoral Fellowship: Dept. of Physics,  IIT, Mumbai; RRI, Bangalore; the University of Alberta, Canada (Dec.2022- till date); Assitant Professor, NIT,

13. Dr. Amit Kumar (  CHEM02201404005 HBNI  Feb 2014- Aug. 2019) “Studies on nano-inclusion assisted enhancement in thermal conductivity and photo-thermal conversion of organic phase change materials” Post Doctoral Fellowship: Dept. of Physics,  IIT, Kanpur(March 2020- 2022) &  Postdoctoral Fellowship,  Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino (Italy).

14. Dr. Sithara Vinod ( PHYS 02 2014 04 001 HBNI July 2014- Aug. 2019)  “Studies on the effect of magnetic field induced aggregation on physical properties of ferrofluids”  Post Doctoral Fellowship: Dept. of Chemical Engg,  IIT, Madars; Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chem& Biomolecular Engg, Case Western Reserve University, USA. 

15. Dr.Dillip Kumar Mohapatra (HBNI Enrolment No.: PHYS02201504025, 2015-2020) “Studies on parameters influencing field induced microstructures in magnetic fluids and its influence on optical properties”  Post Doctoral Fellowship, Memorial University, Canada

16. Dr.Surojit Ranoo (HBNI Enrolment No.: PHYS 02 2015 04 007, 2015-2020) “Hyperthermia in magnetic fluids: effects of in situ orientational ordering, magnetic susceptibility, physio-chemical properties of dispersant medium and clustering on heating efficiency”   Post Doctoral Fellowship, University Cologne, Germany; ESPCI, PARIS 

17. Dr.Geetisubhra Jena ( HBNI  Enrolment No. CHEM02201504007) “Development of graphene oxide based composite coating with improved corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties”. Post Doctoral Fellowship: Dept. of Metallurgy Engg, IIT, Madars: South Dakota University, USA  

18. Dr.D. Nanda Gopala Krishna (HBNI Enrolment No.: PHYS02201304013) "Surface phase composition analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy valence band analysis: Role of oxide film thickness and phase composition on corrosion resistance and antibacterial property of titania,” Thesis defended on 19 January 2022.  Scientific Officer E, CSTD, IGCAR.  

19. Dr.Manali Nandy (Enrolment No: PHYS02201604007) “Magnetic nano-emulsion based sensors for visual detection of defects in ferromagnetic materials: Effect of stabilizing moieties and defect geometries on the detection sensitivity.  Postdoctoral Fellowship, Wageningen University, Netherland

20. Dr.Rasitha. T. P (Enrolment No: CHEM02201604002] “Development of durable superhydrophobic coatings on Cr-Mo steel, titanium, and aluminum; corrosion, biofouling, and durability studies (2022)”    Postdoctoral Fellowship, Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel

21. Dr.J.Sangeetha “Polymer Nanocomposites as Lead-Free Diagnostic X-Ray Shielding Material: Preparation, Characterization and Attenuation Studies” Madras University (2022 ) Scientific Officer E, SMARTS, MCG.

22. Dr.Manu Harilal, (Enrolment No: ENGG02201604018). “Development of fly ash based high-performance concrete blended with nanoparticles and inhibitor for marine applications” (Co-Guide)  Assistant Professor, Amal Jyothi College.

23. T.Muthukumaran,(HBNI-CHEM02201604013) "Preparation, Characterization, and Applications of Silicon Carbide and Phosphate-Capped Magnetic Nanoparticles" (2024)  Scientific Officer E, SMARTS, MCG.

24. C.Anushree,  (Enrolment No: CHEM02201804012), "Synthesis of bifunctional magnetic nanostructures and their applications in dye and oil removal”   Scientific Officer E, SMARTS, MCG.