Education

Ph.D in Physics, Banaras Hindu University, India, 1992.
Thesis: “Laser spectroscopy of atoms, ions and molecules (Photoacoustic spectra of Ho³⁺, Er³⁺, Nd³⁺, and I₂;Optogalvanic spectra of Ne and I₂)” 

M.Sc. in Physics (electronics major), Cochin University, India, 1986.
Thesis: “X-ray diffraction effects from 2H crystals undergoing transition to the3C structure by the layer displacement mechanism.”(see publication No.1) 

B.Sc. in Physics (physics /mathematics/chemistry), Calicut University, India, 1984.


Professional Experience

Assistant Professor of Physics, College of Charleston, Charleston, USA, 8/2004-present 

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brown University, Providence, USA, 2/2001- 7/2004.
Ultrafast spectroscopy and dynamics: Research in ultrafast electron diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy of gas phase samples using picosecond and femtosecond lasers and amplifiers to understand chemical reactions in the gas phase. Investigations on Rydberg and superexcited states.

Postdoctoral Researcher, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, 11/1995 - 1/2001
Chemical Physics: Research in resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) and mass analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) of aromatic molecules and van der Waals clusters.

Postdoctoral Researcher, CCMB, India, 3/1993 -10/1995.
Biophysical: Research in spectroscopic characterization and localization of the carotenoid pigments in bacterial cells. Spectroscopic determination of the depth  profiles of  ligands and antitumor agents in mammalian cells.

Graduate Research, Banaras Hindu University, India, 3/1987 -12/1992.
Ph.D thesis research in laser spectroscopy (Spectroscopic investigations on laser materials in different host environments using photoacoustic spectroscopy. Design and fabrication of piezoelectric detectors, microphone detectors, and wideband amplifiers for  photothermal investigations on laser materials. Spectroscopic studies on discharge plasmas using optogalvanic spectroscopy). 


Teaching experience

About 7 years of laboratory teaching of undergraduate and gradate students.
More than 3 years of classroom teaching of undergraduate students 


Technical Expertise 

Spectroscopic Instrumentation.
Photoacoustic and thermal lensing spectrometers (design and instrument development).
UV, VIS, and IR optics, Harmonic generation, ultrafast opics.
Femtosecond laser systems, Regenerative  amplifiers and associated optics & electronics, and femtosecond UV generation.
(80MHz Tsunami, Spitfire (50kHz), High energy spitfire (5kHz))
Nd:YAG (10Hz), Nd:YLF (50kHz),  Evolution (5kHz), Dye, and Ring lasers
Excimer lasers and Ar+ lasers
Nonlinear pulsed UV generation optics and methods
Xenon arc lamps and halogen lamps
Vacuum components and systems involving turbo molecular pumps, diffusion pumps, and mechanical pumps; Pulsed valves and drivers; pulsed as well as DC high voltage  power supplies.
Resonanace enhanced multiphoton ionization  (REMPI), time-of-flight mass  spectrometry (TOFMS), Mass analyzed threshold  ionization (MATI),  photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), Laser induced fluorescence (LIF), ultrafastelectron diffraction (UED).
Electronic data acquisition and analyzing instruments like boxcars, photon counters,  lock-in amplifiers, delay generators, time-to-amplitude converters. High voltage supplies
Spectrophotometers, fluorimeters, monochromators, time-of-flight mass spectrometers, and HPLC units.   Optogalvanic (OG) spectrometers for plasma.
Designing oscillators, amplifiers, voltage power supplies, and timers.
Coordinating laboratory projects, Instrument maintenance and diagnostics.


Scholarships/Fellowships

Scholarship for outstanding M.Sc. students                               :           1984-1986.
Junior Research Fellowship                                                       :           1987-1990.
Senior Research Fellowship                                                       :           1990-1992.
Postdoctoral Fellowship                                                            :           1993-1995.
Postdoctoral Fellow                                                                   :           1995- 2001.
Postdoctoral Research Associateship                                       :           2001-2004.

Personal

Citizenship       : Indian
Born                 : May 1, 1963
Marital status   : married 


Grants/Awards

National Science Foundation: NEU:Understanding Optical Nanomaterials—Research-Based Experiments in Upper Division Undergraduate Physics Courses (2006,  $193,450)
SPIE award for developing a new course in photonics (2006, $3000).
Faculty Research and Development Award, College of Charleston (2005, $3000).
MAYS Research Award, College of Charleston, (2005, $5000).
SURF Research Award, College of Charleston, Summer (2005, $5000).
Scholarship for outstanding masters students:1984-1986.
Nominated to the academic council of Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India during 1984-1986.

Undergraduate Research Students

1. Jacquline Merer (Spring 2005)
2. John Eley (Spring 2005)
3. Darren Pang (Fall 2005)
4. Jon Hansen (Spring 2006)
5. Daniel Morral (Spring 2006)
6. Adam Dean (Fall 2006)
7. Richard Smith (Spring 2007)
8. Jason Duty (Spring 2007)
9. Damon Hansen (Spring 2007)
10. Emily Tarvides (Spring 2008) 


Memberships in Professional Societies
 
The American Physical Society
Acoustic Society of America
The International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)
The American Chemical Society
The National Geographic Society