GUWAHATI: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati‘s Prof. Debabrata Sikdar, Assistant Professor in Dept. of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, has been named an ‘Emerging Leader 2023’ by the prestigious Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter.
This accolade recognizes early career researchers who exhibit exceptional talent and promise in their respective fields.
Prof. Sikdar has been honored for his remarkable contributions to condensed matter physics, particularly in the areas of nanophotonic and metamaterial devices.
The ‘Emerging Leaders’ designation is awarded based on a rigorous selection process by the journal’s editorial board, and is reserved for researchers who completed their PhD in 2013 or later and have demonstrated exceptional potential in their research.
Prof. Sikdar’s research focuses on developing novel nanophotonic and metamaterial devices that promise to revolutionize conventional photonic systems by reducing their footprint and energy consumption.
His notable contributions include proposing nanoparticle meta-grids to improve light extraction from LEDs, designing electro-tunable smart windows and radiative cooler technologies, utilizing the epsilon-near-zero effect in nanophotonic metamaterials for dynamic optical modulation and innovating metamaterials to enhance and redistribute local electric and magnetic fields.
These advancements reflect the state-of-the-art research being conducted at the Sikdar Nanophotonics and Metamaterials Research Group (SNMG) at IIT Guwahati.
In response to his recognition, Prof. Sikdar said, “I am deeply honored to be recognized as an Emerging Leader 2023. This acknowledgment is a testament to the collective efforts of my research group at IIT Guwahati. Our mission has always been to push the boundaries of nanophotonics and metamaterials.”
He further added, “This recognition will not only elevate our global visibility but also accelerate our efforts to translate our research into practical solutions addressing key challenges in photonics. We look forward to leveraging this honor to foster more collaborations and advance our research.”
Prof. Sikdar anticipates that this recognition will enhance the visibility of research conducted by his team at IIT Guwahati and facilitate further national and international collaborations.
This will advance the development of sophisticated photonic devices and contribute to groundbreaking applications in high-speed optical communication, 6G, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
ALSO READ: IIT Guwahati retains 7th position in ‘Engineering’ category of NIRF Rankings 2024
Additionally, the award serves as a significant motivator for Prof. Sikdar’s team, encouraging them to transition their research from the laboratory to real-world applications.
Their recent work on electro-tunable metasurfaces, which allows for dynamic control of light polarization states, exemplifies their innovative approach and promises to revolutionize polarization control in photonics, enabling versatile applications across various optical systems.
