Sulabha K Kulkarni

Sulabha Kashinath Kulkarni (born 1 June 1949 in Pune, Maharashtra) is an Indian physicist whose research spans the areas of Nanotechnology, Materials Science, and Surface Science. She is currently a Visiting Faculty at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India.^[1]

Life and work

Born in 1949, Kulkarni did her schooling in Pune and earned her BSc (1969), MSc (1971) and PhD (1976) in Physics from University of Pune. During 1976-1977, she did her post-doctoral research work on gas/solid interactions using surface science techniques in the Physics Department (E20) at Technical University, Munich, Germany.^[2]

Kulkarni joined as a faculty member in the Department of Physics at the University of Pune upon her return to India. She continued research and teaching here for a period of 32 years, where she introduced a course on Nanotechnology at the post-graduate level. In March 2009, she joined the fledgling Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India and continued as a UGC scientist. She was on lien, for a period in 2010-2011, as Pro Vice Chancellor at the Banasthali University, Rajasthan. She returned to IISER Pune as UGC Professor and is currently Visiting Faculty at IISER Pune.^[3]

Besides nanotechnology, Kulkarni also teaches Condensed Matter Physics, Surface Science, Materials Science, Experimental Methods in Physics, and supervises laboratory courses at the post-graduate level.

She has authored over 270 research publications including 120 publications in Nanotechnology in peer-reviewed journals of international repute. Her publications are on metal, semiconductor and oxide nanoparticles, core-shell particles, metallic multilayers, hard coatings, gas-solid interactions, metallic glasses, etc. She has written a popular textbook - "Nanotechnology: Principles and Practices"^[4] (English) whose third edition has been co-published with Springer International. Apart from this, she has also authored the books "Carbon: the wonder element" (English) and "Carbon: Ek vismaykarak muldravya" (Marathi) and "Nanoscience and Nanotechnology" and "Nanotechnology of Nature" (both Marathi). The latter received an award and recognition from the State Government of Maharashtra. In addition, she has co-authored, "Laboratory Manual in Solid State Physics" for undergraduate students.

She has supervised 38 PhD students. She was the coordinator of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Nano Unit at the University of Pune as well at IISER Pune. From time to time, she has worked at various institutes and universities abroad - in Germany, France, Italy, UK, Japan and South Korea. She has attended a phenomenal number of national and international conferences. She is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Science (Allahabad), Indian Academy of Science (Bengaluru), Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi), Asia Pacific Materials Society (Beijing) and Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (Mumbai). She has been very active in the popularisation of Science in India.

Awards & Honors

• Fellow, Asia Pacific Materials Society (2013)
• Associate Editor, Journal of Nanophotonics (2011- )^[5]
• Fellow (FNA), Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi) (2011- )^[6]
• Maharashtra State Award for Book Writing (2009)
• Member, Program Advisory Committee, All India Radio (Akashvani) Pune (2008-2010)
• Executive Council Member, Banasthali Vidyapeeth (2008-2010)
• Bharatiya Stree Shakti “Women and Technological Innovation National Award (2007)^[7]
• Lokshikshan Puraskar, Vidya Mahamandal, Pune (2007)
• Member, 'Task Force Committee Nanomedicine’, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
• Chairperson, Women Scientists Scheme –A, DST, Govt. of India (2007- )
• Hon. Visiting Fellow, Dr. M. S. Patel Trust, UICT, Mumbai, (2007)
• Member, Concil & Governing Board, IUAC, N. Delhi, (2007-2010)
• Hon. Fellow, Iranian Nanotechnology Society May (2006)
• Associate Editor, International Journal of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (2006- )^[8]
• Materials Research Society of India (MRSI) Medal (2005)
• Member, IUC-DAE Consortium Scientific Advisory Committee, (2005-2008)
• Member, National Committee for Utilization of Indus Rings (NCUIR), (2004-2010)
• Member, PAC Condensed Matter, DST, India, (2004–2007)
• UGC-nominated Executive Council Member, Banasthali Vidyapeeth, (2004–2007)
• UGC-nominated Academic Council Member, Cochin University, (2004–2007)
• Fellow (FASc), Indian Academy of Science (Bangalore) (2004– )^[3]
• Fellow (FNASc), National Academy of Sciences, India (Allahabad), (2003– )^[9]
• Member, Board of Studies, University of Goa (2002-2005)
• Joint Editor, ‘Physics Education’ Journal (2002)
• Accelerator User Committee member of Nuclear Science, Centre, New Delhi, (2001-2003)
• Elected President, Indian Association of Physics Teacher (IAPT), Pune Sub-Regional Council (2000-2003)
• Elected President, Materials Research Society of India, Pune Chapter, (2004-2008)
• Recipient of Volkswagenstiftung Project (2003-2006)
• Recipient Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany Book Grant, (2000)
• Recipient of Volkswagenstiftung Project (1999-2001)
• Council Member, Nuclear Science Centre (1998-2000)
• JSPS Visiting Professor, Kyoto University (1996)
• Elected President, IPA Pune Chapter (1996-1998)^[10]
• Fellow, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (1995- )^[11]
• Executive Editor, 'Physics Education' Journal (1994- )
• Nationally selected as a UGC scientist (1988)
• Recipient, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (1980)
• Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst Fellow (1977-1978)

References