About the Author: Dr. N. Madhusudhana Rao is a professor at the Department of Physics, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT-AP University, Andhra Pradesh, India. His current research areas include dilute magnetic semiconductors (II-VI, IV-VI), transparent conducting oxides, and luminescent materials for optoelectronics. He obtained a Ph.D. in physics from Sri Venkateswara University, India. Dr. Rao has completed three projects funded by various prestigious Indian agencies like DRDO and UGC-DAE-CSR. He has published over 75 research papers, 24 conferences/book/book chapters, and 2 Indian patents. Dr. Rao has guided five Ph.D. students who have completed their degrees. Dr. Rao organized the prestigious 59th DAE Solid State Physics Symposium in collaboration with BARC and BRNS, Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, from 16 to 20 December in VIT University, Vellore.
Dr. Giribabu Lingamallu is a senior principal scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India. He has more than twenty-five years of research experience in the area of materials chemistry that includes Excitonic Solar Cells (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells / Perovskite Solar Cells), Non-linear Optics, and Donor-Acceptor systems for bio-mimicking natural photosynthesis. Dr. Lingamallu obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Hyderabad, India. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Central Queens Land University, Rockhampton, Australia, working in the area of photoinduced reactions in Porphyrin-Alicyclic compounds. From February 2001 to July 2003, he worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Houston, USA, in the area of bi-metallic (di-Rhodium and di-Ruthenium) complexes synthesis, crystal analysis, and electrochemical studies. He moved to CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India, in September 2003 as ad-hoc scientist, scientist, senior scientist, principal scientist, and now as senior principal scientist where his group was involved in establishing third-generation photovoltaic facilities that includes the development of low-cost efficiency materials (sensitizers, redox couples, semi-conducting oxide materials, electrode materials, hole transporting materials, etc.) and also device fabrication. In addition to this, his group is also working in the area of Donor-Acceptor systems for bio-mimicking natural photosynthesis, sensitizers for photodynamic therapy, and materials for non-linear optical studies.
Dr. Mangilal Agarwal is a full-time professor in the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI), USA. He has an array of interdisciplinary research projects at IUPUI involving big data, data analytics, machine learning, analytical chemistry, and mechanical engineering. Specifically, his research consists of canine-inspired chemometric analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers, developing integrated nanosensor arrays that detect VOC biomarkers sensitively/selectively, and enhancing carbon-reinforced materials through electrospinning epoxy/carbon nanotube composite nanofibers. Dr. Agarwal's research has been well received and funded through numerous grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD), and the industry. He has previously served as the associate director for Research and Development for the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellors for Research and is currently the director of Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute (INDI) at IUPUI, which strives to advance nanotechnology research, education, and outreach. From innovation to translation, research within INDI's two focus areas of Bionanotechnology and Nanoenergy takes not only the advantage of unique campus strengths but also the expertise of the surrounding industry.
