Aug 2026 – Present
PhD, Materials Science & Engineering
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Light-matter interaction of chiral metasurfaces. Supervisor: Prof. Prashant Kumar.
PhD Student · Materials Science & Engineering
Nimish Sharma
Studying the light–matter interaction of chiral metasurfaces at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
§1 About
I'm a PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), working on the light-matter interaction of chiral metasurfaces. I completed my integrated BS-MS in Physics at IISER Kolkata, where my thesis focused on enhancing chiroptical signals in nanoparticles via structured light. I'm passionate about bridging nanophotonics, chiral optics, and computational electromagnetics. Apart from academics, I never miss an opportunity for an evening of football, and I play fingerstyle guitar and volunteer in my free time.
Education
Aug 2021 – May 2026
BS-MS in Physics, Minor in Computer Science
IISER Kolkata · CGPA 8.1
Thesis: Enhancement of chiroptical signals for nanoparticles via structured light beams. Supervisor: Prof. N. Ghosh, Bio-NaP Lab.
Research interests
- Light-matter interaction in chiral metasurfaces and nanophotonic structures
- Enhancing and exploiting chiroptical responses in nanoparticles and structured materials via structured light
- Bridging computational electromagnetics with experimental optics — Mie scattering theory, Mueller matrix analysis, polarization-resolved microscopy
- Spin-orbit interactions and optical spin Hall effects in metasurfaces and plasmonic crystals
- Quantum optics for information processing — chiral and on-chip quantum optics, quantum communication, quantum sensing
- Nanoscale quantum control, including single- and multi-photon emitters and strong light-matter coupling
Achievements
Indian Academy of Sciences — Summer Research Fellowship
Selected for the SRFP 2024 program.
JEST 2024 — All India Rank 165
National-level screening test for admission to PhD and Integrated PhD programs at premier Indian research institutions.
Key coursework
- Advanced Electricity & Magnetism
- Quantum Mechanics I, II, III
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Information Processing
- Field Theory & Relativistic QM
- Numerical Analysis Methods (MATLAB)
- Data Structures & Algorithms
- Computational Physics
- Chemistry of Materials
- Biophysics II
§2 Research experience
Aug 2026 –
Present
PhD Researcher — Nanyang Technological University
Light-Matter Interaction of Chiral Metasurfaces
- Pursuing a PhD in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering under Prof. Prashant Kumar
- Investigating light-matter interaction of chiral metasurfaces, building on prior work in chiral nanophotonics and structured light
Jan 2025 –
May 2026
Bio-NaP Lab — IISER Kolkata
Interaction of Nanoparticles in Chiral Host Media
- Built a setup for enhancing the optical properties of chiral nanoparticles by tight focusing of light
- Automated and sped up Mueller matrix measurement procedures by implementing scripts in MATLAB
- Developed custom Mie scattering theory for a tightly focused light beam in a chiral host medium with nanoparticles, as part of MS thesis
- Implemented the theory by simulating scattering matrices, Mueller matrices, cross-sections, and optical properties in Python and MATLAB
- Manuscript on this work is under preparation
Darkfield Microscopy
- Used darkfield microscopy to measure k-domain Mueller matrices for a waveguide plasmonic crystal
- Integrated MATLAB simulations for far-field Mueller matrix measurements and confirmed experimental results
- Investigated spin-orbit interaction effects such as forward and backward optical spin Hall effect
- Analyzed spectral and momentum-domain Mueller matrices across phase gradient metasurfaces
- Manuscript on this work is under preparation
May 2024 –
Jul 2024
Heusler Alloys Research — SVNIT Surat
- Conducted first-principle calculations using Quantum ESPRESSO and WIEN2k
- Analyzed structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of the Ti₂VGe alloy
- Verified half-metallic nature through computational simulations
- Prepared a comprehensive research report for the Indian Academy of Sciences
May 2023 –
Jul 2023
Quantum Computing — IISER Bhopal
- Developed a quantum neural network for Iris dataset classification
- Implemented and tested circuits on the IBMQManila quantum processor
- Compared performance with classical machine learning models
- Explored practical applications of quantum algorithms
Academic projects
Oct – Dec 2024
Term Paper — Metasurfaces & Flat Optics
- Analyzed optical spin Hall effect in nanostructured materials
- Mathematically derived refractive-index gradient effects
- Presented a comprehensive review of metasurface applications
Jan – May 2024
Term Paper — Casimir Effect
- Studied quantum forces in 1D systems using massless Dirac fermions
- Applied the Hellmann–Feynman theorem to calculate forces
- Demonstrated switchable attractive/repulsive forces
Jan 2024
Library Management System
- Developed a system with user/admin login in C
- Implemented book search, issue, and management features
- Recognized for exceptional group project execution
2020
LiFi Audio Transmission
- Built a prototype for audio transmission via the light spectrum
- Demonstrated practical visible light communication
- Award-winning project at school level
§3 Teaching experience
Aug 2025 – Dec 2025
Teaching Assistant — Modern Physics and Optics Laboratory
IISER Kolkata
Assisting second-year undergraduates in the Modern Physics and Optics laboratory course:
- Guiding students through experimental setups and procedures in optics and modern physics
- Helping students understand fundamental concepts of wave optics, interference, diffraction, and polarization
- Assisting with data analysis and interpretation of experimental results
- Providing support for laboratory report writing and scientific communication
§4 Skills
Programming & languages
Software & tools
Physics specializations
Additional competencies
§5 Reports & certificates
Selected reports, term papers, and certificates from coursework, fellowships, and workshops — click any title to open the original document.
Project reports
- Dark Field Microscopy — Research Report
- Galaxy Rotation Curves Modeling
- Heusler Alloys Investigation Report — SRFP 2024
- Quantum Machine Learning — IISER Bhopal Internship
Review papers
Certificates
- SRFP CertificateIndian Academy of Sciences
- JEST Certificate
- Outstanding Group Assignment CertificateCS3101
- Physics through Computational ThinkingNPTEL
- Lunar Exploration through AISpartificial
- Football TournamentParakram, ISM Dhanbad
- Nonlinear Fiber Optics WorkshopIKAA
§6 Beyond the lab
Sports
- Competitive football player
- 1st place, Interbatch Tournament 2025
- Gold medal, Futsal Tournament
- Spring Pong table tennis champion
- Represented institute at Parakram, ISM Dhanbad
Music
- Fingerstyle guitarist
- Performed in the RAMPAGE inter-college band
- Music composition
Volunteering
- Taught STEM subjects at Ek Pehal Foundation
- Organized a menstrual hygiene drive
- Community outreach programs
Innovation
- LiFi audio transmission prototype
- Bus booking portal development
- Technical project implementation