My mentors and teachers

Much of what we are today, is because of those who were willing to sincerely spend time with us. Such people, wish well for us, and teach us the essentials of life. Teachers have the unique responsibility of nurturing the minds of the generation to come. I believe a few people were particularly responsible for where I am right now. I wish to give credit to my academic mentors, whose outlook influenced much of my own philosophy, which in turn has shaped my approach towards teaching and research. In any such "acknowldegements" section, one inevitably ends up missing out of several names. Hence I would begin by saying that I am grateful to the academic fraternity that continues to shape me. In particular, I owe aplenty to my teachers -- from both past, and present.

I began my academic career as an electrical engineer, with a deep interest in fundamental science. Semiconductors in particular fascinated and puzzled me. Prof. Umesh Waghmare, my advisor at JNCASR, gave me the essential foundation to understand much of physics of semiconductors. His attention to details, sincerity, mathematical ingenuity, and academic excellence continue to be a source of motivation for me. 

Prof. Michael Spencer (Fields: Electrical Engineering/Applied Physics/Materials Science, Cornell University), with whom I pursued my doctoral degree, is a unique combination of creativity, cheer and curiosity. He taught me that a teacher's primary job is to inspire students. He introduced me to experimental materials science, and is directly responsible for my appreciation for careful experimental design. Prof. Lester F. Eastman, is considered by many as the father of GaN electronics. My introduction to GaN was through a memorable discussion with Prof. Eastman. He went on to be on my academic committee, and was always available for a friendly scientific conversation, through out my graduate studies. Something that struck me was his remarkable humility and creativity, along with his desire to support every one of his students. 

Prof. Francis DiSalvo from Cornell Chemistry and Applied Physics is a man of many talents. Along with a rare intellect, he is also gifted with a very rare heart. His willingness to help his students encourages me to do the same for those who choose to learn with me. He taught me the importance of maintaining a "big picture" view of things, even as one navigates through the nitty-gritty details of a scientific problem. His ability to put a scientific result in the right context, and his passion for communicating science to the masses, has informed my much of my scientific outlook. Here I must mention the encouragement I received from Prof. Roald Hoffmann. My interactions with Prof. Hoffmann gave me hope that one could be truly multi-dimensional, achieving excellence in all that one chooses for her/himself. For those who do not know, Prof. Hoffmann is one of the most acclaimed chemists of our times. What is little known about him is that he is also a poet, playwright, and philosopher. The little interaction I had with him, left a lasting impression on me. 

Prof. Kristin Poduska (Physics, Memorial University) was responsible for my Canadian stint. She taught me the art of science, which involves meticulous planning, resource management, systematic exploration, careful interpretation of data. She emphasized the importance of persistence in ensuring the completion of a research project. Her commitment to her students, and the numerous ways in which she made herself accessible to her students provided me with a model to follow. Prof. Cynthia Goh (Chemistry, University of Toronto) is hugely responsible for the need I have for being socially responsible. She taught me that science must impact our neighbours. She also emphasized the need to keep the interests of one's students above one's own interest. Prof. M. R. Srinivasan also deserves a special mention here. In my mind, he is a very special person. His extraordinary breadth and depth of knowledge, combined with his humility and accessibility continues to be a source of hope and inspiration for me. I would also like to thank teachers who taught me during my childhood. In particular, Ms. S. Parvathy, Ms. Chandrika, Ms. Pankajam, and Ms. Munira Banu, are all in one way or the other responsible for my deep interest in science and technology, and my passion for science education. Lynn Podhaski's contribution to my current situation is remarkably important. He has been a friend, philosopher and a guide. But for his gentle wisdom and generous spirit, I would not have learnt to discover and accept myself. To him, I am indebted for life. My special pals, Edward Moran and Elliot Bassman have been a source of inspiration for me. Their style of work helped me realize that one should work in a manner that is one's own; there is great worth and virtue in doing so. Faik Bouhrik's remarkable intellect and many gifts, along with his simplicity and kindness have convinced me that an integrated pursuit of knowledge is truly possible. 

Now that I am in IITM, I continue to learn from my wonderful colleagues from across the institute. They are all my mentors and teachers in one way or the other. You can find out about many fruitful collaborations that I am part of, by checking the "research section" of this website.