Dr. Surajit Dhara
Professor
School of Physics (Room No. P-121)
University of Hyderabad, India
Email: surajit@uohyd.ac.in
About Us
Dr. Surajit Dhara is a distinguished physicist at the University of Hyderabad's School of Physics, renowned for his pioneering work in soft matter physics. His research bridges fundamental science and applied technology, focusing on the interplay between topology, elasticity, and light-matter interactions in complex fluids and liquid crystals.
Research positions and employment
- 2016 - : Professor, School of Physics, University of Hyderabad
- 2013 - 2016: Associate Professor, School of Physics, University of Hyderabad
- 2010 - 2013: Reader, School of Physics, University of Hyderabad
- 2007 - 2010: Senior Assistant Professor , School of Physics, University of Hyderabad
- 203 - 2006: Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, BITS, Pilani, Rajasthan
Notable Awards and Honours
- Elected as a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences-2025
- Visitor’s Award by the President of India for Research in Physical Sciences (2021)
- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize in Physical Sciences (2020)
- Swarnajayanti Fellowship Award (2015)
- Chancellor Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research
- N. S. Satya Murthy Memorial Award in Physics for Young Scientists (2012)
- Michi-Nakata Prize in 2010 by the International Liquid Crystal Society
Research Interests
- Optical control and manipulation of topological defects of liquid crystals
- Elasticity and defect mediated directed assembly of colloids
- Active colloids in liquid crystals
- Liquid crystal microphotonics
- Liquid crystal microphotonics, Rheology of liquid crystals and other complex fluids
- Structure and properties of new liquid crystals
Courses Taught
Teaching Experience at Under-graduate and Post-Graduate Level
- Advent of Quantum Mechanics
- Electromagnetic Theory-I and -II
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Waves and Oscillations
- AC Circuits
- Modern Physics
- Advanced Experimental Techniques
- Solid State Physics Lab
- Soft Condensed Matter Physics
- Computational Techniques Lab
Our Team
Dr. Surajit Dhara
Professor
Abinash Barthakur
PhD Student
Archana S
PhD Student
Anaswara Das
PhD Student
Saikat Das
PhD Student
Asish P Venkitesh
PhD Student
Bidisha Bag
PhD Student
Pinaki Kundu
PhD Student
Notable Research Publications
- "Topologically reconfigurable nematic emulsions," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122 (11), e2422026122 (2025).
- "Light-responsive nematic colloids and colloidal crystals," Advanced Optical Materials 11, 2300513 (2023).
- "Giant electroviscous effects in a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal," Physical Review Applied 19, 044082 (2023).
- "Omnidirectional transport and navigation of Janus particles through a nematic liquid crystal film," Physical Review Research (Rapid Communication) 2, 032009 (2020).
- "Dynamics of a sheared twist bend nematic liquid crystals," Physical Review Materials 5, 115605 (2021).
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