Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Biography

Professor Subhendra. D. Mahanti (S. D. Mahanti) was born in Cuttack, India, on September 24, 1945. He received his B.Sc (Honors in Physics) from Utkal University in 1961, standing 2nd in the University, M.Sc (Physics) from Allahabad University in 1963, standing 1st in the University. After doing research at Allahabad University in an Indo-US project, he went to the United States in 1964 and did his Ph.D. in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics from the University of California, Riverside (1964-1968). After spending two years at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey, he joined the physics faculty at Michigan State University in 1970, where he has been a full Professor since 1982 He served as the Associate Director of Center for Fundamental Research and the Director of the physics graduate program. He has been visiting professor at several leading institutions in Europe and India. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Prof. Mahanti retired on August 15, 2013 from his teaching duties and spends most of his time doing research and visiting educational and research institutions in India.

Research Interest

His research interests are broad with special focus on the electronic structure of complex systems, looking at the effects of electron correlations in narrow band systems, nature of bonding and the origin of band gaps in multi-component narrow band gap semiconductors, symmetry principles in multi-ferroics, and nature of deep defect states in and transport properties of narrow band-gap semiconductors. His research over the years has been in the area of magnetic materials, high Tc superconductors, multi-ferroics, systems showing colossal magnetic resistance, high performance thermoelectrics, and topological insulators. He has co-organized several national and international conferences, published more than 280 papers in reputed journals, has been reviewer for many journals, and member of several research proposal evaluation panels.