Dr. G. Vaitheeswaran, Associate Professor at the School of Physics in the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been selected to receive the very prestigious Materials Research Society of India (MRSI) Medal for the year 2019. This will be presented during the Annual General Meeting of MRSI to be held at IISc, Bangalore, during February 12-15, 2019. This is the second time the School of Physics at UoH is getting this award. The first was for Prof. S.N. Kaul in 1998.
Dr. Vaitheeswaran works in the area of theoretical solid state physics towards understanding the energy band structure of solids. He obtained his Ph.D from Anna University, Chennai (2004) and then spent more than two years in Max-Planck Institute for Solid State Research Stuttgart, Germany and then another two years in Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. From 2007 onwards he is associated with the University of Hyderabad.
He has contributed significantly in understanding the structure-property correlation of various kind of materials to name few are high-energy materials, Topological materials, Magnetic materials etc. MRSI medal is normally given to people who are actively working in Materials Research (both theory & experiment).
In Dr. Vaitheeswaran’s case the major contribution is towards understanding energetic materials which he has been doing for the past eleven years.
His earlier Achievements include Department of Atomic Energy, Young Achiever Award (2012); B. M. Birla Science Prize in Physics (2013); Chancellor Award, UoH (2014) and Member Royal Society of Chemistry (2018).
The Materials Research Society of India came into existence in February 1989, thanks to the farsighted vision of Prof. C N R Rao. Prof. Rao functioned as the first President and laid the foundation for its impressive growth over the past decade.
MRSI functions through 18 Regional Chapters and 16 Subject groups. MRSI is supported by individual members and institutions who will be patrons of the society. Its current membership is close to 3000 members.
MRSI recognizes contributions to materials research through Distinguished Materials Scientist of the year Award, MRSI-ICSC Superconductivity and Materials Science Senior Award and MRSI Distinguished Lectureship Award.