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Ananta Raj Adhikari, Ph.D.

118 Leroy St. TH9

Potsdam, NY 13676

adhikaar@potsdam.edu

 

Education:

Ph.D., Nanoscale Science and Engineering, 2007, 

State University of New York, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Albany, NY 

Dissertation title: Irradiation assisted growth and modification of carbon nanotubes and their use in polymer composites. 

Advisor: Prof. Hassaram Bakhru

Co-advisor: Prof. Pullickel Ajayan

M.S., Physics, 2003, 

      State University of New York, Department of Physics, Albany, NY

M.Sc., Physics, major: Mathematical Physics, Solid state Physics, 1995,

      Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal

B.Sc., major: Physics, Math, and Chemistry, 1992, 

      Amrit Science College, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

 

List of courses taught:

  • Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Meteorology, Astronomy Labs

  • Statistical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory I, Classical Mechanics

  • Probability and Statistics

 

Employment Experiences: 

Assistant Professor of Physics (Aug. 2019 – cont.). State University of New York, Potsdam, NY

  • Teaching introductory and senior Physics courses including labs 

  • Studying soft material nanocomposites for biosensing and structural applications

  • A committee member in Diversity Attribute Committee

  • Community Outreach Subcommittee member since Fall 2021

  • Serving SUNY Potsdam as a faculty senate

 

Instructor (Jan. 2018 – July 2019). University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX

  • Taught various Introductory Physics courses including Astronomy labs 

  • Taught Statistical Mechanics for senior undergraduate students

  • Studied Multifunctional nanomaterial for biomedical applications

  • Received Quality Matters training for online course

 

Adjunct Faculty (June 2016 – Dec. 2017), Visiting Assistant Professor (Dec. 2015 - May 2016), Adjunct Faculty (Aug. 2015 - Nov. 2015), Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts

  • Taught Engineering Physics I (Mechanics), Engineering Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism); Probability and Statistics (Math).

  • Studied Nanomaterials and polymer nanocomposites for structural and biomedical application. 

 

Adjunct Faculty, Dallas County Community College District, Texas (Jan. 2015 – July 2015)

  • Taught introductory Physics courses and the corresponding labs

 

Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Houston, Texas (Aug. 2012 – July 2014)                                                    

  • Performed setup and supervision of ion beam equipments. 

  • Revealed the use of defect engineering for biomedical applications using biopolymer based on ion beams induced defects.

  • Demonstrated the use of 2-D flat surface of Graphene in polymer for biomedical application.

 

Visiting Assistant Professor (July 2011 - July 2012, Research Assistant Professor (Jan. 2010 – June 2011) Assumption College, Massachusetts

  • Taught Introductory Physics (College Physics) and labs

  • Lab setup and management 

  • Studied optical, thermal, and electrical properties of polymer nanocomposite

 

Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Texas-Pan American, Texas (Sept. 2007 - Dec. 2009)

  • Taught Engineering Physics with emphasis on structural mechanics for Engineering majors 

  • Mentored and supervised undergraduate and master students on research projects

  • Developed a methodology to modify the microstructure of nanocomposites based on fibril/void structures to modify the fracture toughness of polymer nanocomposites

  • Demonstrated enhancements of the electromagnetic Interference shielding behavior of nanofiller reinforced polymer composites using a thin layer of TiC by more than 50 dB that has immense application for space shuttle

 

Research Assistant, State University of New York, Albany, New York (Jan. 2005 - Aug. 2007)

  • Developed a method to grow carbon nanotubes using state-of-art ion implantation technique

  • Demonstrated the use of high-energy ion beam for material modifications

  • Studied thermal and optical behavior of carbon nanotube and interaction behavior of polymer nanotube composites

 

Teaching Assistant, State University of New York, Albany, New York (Sept. 2000 - Dec. 2004)

  • Assisted in teaching introductory physics (used Fundamental of Physics by Halliday, Resnick and Walker) and taught laboratory (Introductory and advanced)

 

Assistant Lecture, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (Jan. 1995 - Aug. 2000)

  • Mentored and taught senior level courses (Solid State Physics, Quantum Mechanics)

  • Taught undergraduate level courses (Mechanics, Optics, Electricity and Magnetism) and laboratories

 

Technical Expertise:

  • ·Operations/project management, design of experiment, laboratory setup and maintenance, training/supervision

  • Physical behavior of nanomaterials and polymer nanocomposites

  • Experience of hard coating on soft materials to modify EMI shielding behaviors

  • Failure analysis of Polymer Nanocomposites and their interaction behaviors

  • Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with materials and their application

  • Defect engineering based on ion irradiations

  • Device Fabrication: Clean Room, Lithography, Metal Evaporation and liftoff, High and low energy ion implantation

 

Advanced Metrology Techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Optical Microscopy, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman Spectroscopy, Injection Moulding, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamical Mechanical Analyzer (DMA), Tensile Tester (MTS65/G), Rutherford Spectroscopy (RBS) and Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) 

 

Grant proposal: 

1.     Proposal submitted to Research and Creative Endeavors Program. $2000 

Topic: Development of biosensor based on microwave irradiation of polymer nanocomposites, Jan 2021 (Funded)

2.     Research based education using “Just in time in Physics teaching”.  (Not funded)

 

Publications and Presentations:

  • 20 publications (18 as a first author) in peer reviewed journals

  • 18 contributed presentations in national and international conferences

 

Sample Publications:

  1. Pablo Vidal, Misael Martinez, Carlos Hernandez, Ananta Raj Adhikari, Yuanbing Ma, Luis Materon, Karen Lozano, Development of chromatic biosensor for quick bacterial detection based on polyvinyl butyrate-polydiacetylene nonwoven fiber composites, European Polymer Journal 121, 109284, 2019.

  2. Ananta Raj Adhikari, Tanya Geranpayeh, Wei Kan Chu, Deborah and C. Otteson, Improved cellular response of ion modified Poly (lactic-glycolic) acid polymer substrates for mouse fibroblast cells, Materials Science and Engineering C 60, 151-155, 2016. 

  3. Ananta Raj Adhikari, Buddhi Prasanga Tilakaratne, Dharshana Wijesundera, and Wei-Kan Chu, Surface evolution of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid using Argon ion irradiation, Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology4, 326-331, 2014.

  4. Ananta Raj Adhikari, Karen Lozano, and Mircea Chipara, Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of polyethylene/carbon nanofiber composites, Journal of Composite materials 46 (7) 823-832, 2012.

  5. K. Lozano, L. Espinoza, K. Hernandez, A. R. Adhikari, G. Radhakrishnan and P. M. Adams, Investigation of the electromagnetic interference shielding of Titanium Carbide coated carbon nanofiber reinforced liquid crystalline polymer, Journal of Applied Physics 105 (10) 103511-103515, 2009. (Selected for the June 1, 2009 issue of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology.)

  6. Ananta Raj Adhikari, Membing Huang, D. Wu, Bingqing Wei, Robert Vajtai and Pulickel M. Ajayan, Ion implantation prepared catalyst nanoparticles for the growth of carbon nanotubes, Applied Physics Letters 86 (5) 053104-053106, 2005. (Selected for the February 7, 2005 (vol. 11, Issue 5) of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science and Technology).

 

Please see https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gdEysy8AAAAJ&hl=en for a complete listing of publications and conference publications.

 

Professional Activities:         

  • 3-2 Engineering Program Coordinator, SUNY Potsdam, March 2021 – cont.

  • Member of Diversity Attribute Review Committee SUNY Potsdam, Sept. 2019 – cont.

  • Member of Faculty Senate, SUNY Potsdam, Sept. 2019 – cont.

  • Organizing committee member, "3rd Advanced Materials Science World Congress", March 21-22, 2022, London, UK.

  • Technical Committee Member: International Conference on Nano and Materials Science, ICNMS 2021, ICNMS 2022.

  • Member of Local Committee: Nanosmat 2018, South Padre Island, TX.

  • Member: Nepal Physical Society (1995 – Present); Material Research Society (2002 – 2016); American Physical Society (2005-2006).

  • Reviewer: Journal of Applied Polymer Science.

  • President: Students’ Association of Physics, Nepal (1994-1995).

 

Fellowships:

  • Graduate Tuition Fellowship, Tribhuvan University, 1992-1993.

Undergraduate Tuition Fellowship, Tribhuvan University, 1990

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