Chasing Light from Molecules
I am a PhD scholar at the Functional Materials Laboratory, Central University of Kerala, working on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of fluorescent materials. What a molecule does with the light it absorbs; where the energy goes, what colour comes back is the question at the centre of my work.
My research combines wet-lab synthesis and optical characterization with computational tools: quantum-chemical calculations to understand fluorescence mechanisms, and machine-learning models to predict optical properties faster than theory alone allows. The goal is new materials for sensing applications, designed with understanding rather than trial and error.
Areas of Investigation
Three connected threads: making emissive molecules, understanding their excited states, and learning to predict them.
Fluorescent Probes for Ion Sensing
Small-molecule colorimetric and fluorometric probes that signal specific ions through visible colour changes or emission switching, centred on cyanide detection.
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My work in this area examines how the sensing event alters the electronic structure of the chromophore. Understanding the mechanism charge transfer, nucleophilic addition, or hydrogen-bonding interactions guides the rational design of probes with better selectivity and lower detection limits.
Optical Characterization & Photophysics
Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy absorption, emission, and lifetimes to build structure–property relationships in emissive systems.
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Combining measurement with electronic-structure calculations helps assign the observed transitions and rationalize trends across families of related chromophores how a material's structure shapes its excited-state behaviour.
Machine Learning for Molecular Photophysics
Data-driven models that predict optical properties of organic chromophores directly from molecular structure, comparing the performance of different ML approaches.
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High-level methods such as TD-DFT are accurate but expensive, which limits how many candidate chromophores can be screened. The goal is a fast pre-screening layer that narrows the candidate space before committing to full quantum-chemical calculations or synthesis.
Academic Background
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2023 — Present
PhD, Chemistry
Central University of Kerala · Functional Materials Laboratory
Research focusing on computational techniques for materials discovery.
Supervisor: Dr. Ravi Kumar Kanaparthi
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2021 — 2023
M.Sc., Chemistry (Theoretical and Computational Chemistry)
Central University of Punjab
Dissertation topic: Engineering the Properties of TiSeS Janus Monolayer Using Strain and Electric Field.
Supervisor: Prof. Jagdish Kumar
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2017 — 2020
B.Sc., Chemistry (Physical Sciences with Chemistry)
University of Delhi
Journal Articles & Reviews
Unravelling Cyanide Sensing Mechanisms of Colorimetric and Fluorometric Sensors
Read the article ↗Green hydrogen: The fuel of tomorrow or a challenge of today?
Read the article ↗Academic Engagements
Talks
Invited talks and oral presentations will be listed here soon.
Posters
January 2026
18th DAE-BRNS Biennial Trombay Symposium on Radiation and Photochemistry (TSRP-2026)
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai · January 6th to 10th, 2026
Poster: "Data Driven Prediction of Optical Properties of Organic Chromophores: A Comparative Study of Different ML Models".
Poster PresentationJanuary 2025
National Symposium on Radiation and Photochemistry (NSRP-2025)
National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneshwar · January 23rd to 25th, 2025
Poster: "Theoretical Exploration of Two-Dimensional Materials for Optical and Electrical Properties".
Poster PresentationParticipation
December 2025
Indian Council of Chemists 44th Annual National Conference
KLE Technological University, Hubballi · December 22nd to 24th, 2025
ParticipantAugust 2024
International Symposium — Current Trends in Advanced Materials (CTAM-24)
VIT-AP University, Amaravati, with the American Chemical Society · August 26th to 31st, 2024
Certificate ↗ ParticipantAugust 2024
Chemistry: Global Trends and Future Directions (CGTFD-2024)
Virtual International Conference · Madanapalle Institute of Technology & Science · August 5th to 7th, 2024
Certificate ↗ ParticipantFebruary 2024
Theory and Applications of In-Silico Approach for Materials Modelling
Central University of Punjab, Bathinda · February 5th to 11th, 2024
ParticipantInstruments & Methods
Spectroscopy & Characterization
- UV–Vis absorption
- Steady-state fluorescence
- Lifetime fluorescence (TCSPC)
- FTIR
- NMR
Computational
- DFT / TD-DFT
- Machine learning
- Python
- VIM
- Bash
Synthesis
- Organic chromophore synthesis
- Purification & chromatography
Notes & Updates
I write at Substack — notes on fluorescence, chemistry, and research life.
The Jablonski Series — Three Ways a Molecule Glows
What I'm Reading
Currently Reading
Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin
American Prometheus
The life of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
30% through
Primo Levi
The Periodic Table
A chemist's life told one element at a time.
Just started
Read
Vishnu Som
The Sky Warriors
An account of Operation Sindoor that goes past what the media reported, and takes the trouble to explain the technology the operation actually ran on.
Finished 2026
Prof. Stephen Hawking
Brief Answers to the Big Questions
Enormous questions handled in plain language, that even a layman can understand.
Finished 2025
Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner
"For you, a thousand times over."
Finished 2021Let's Connect
Collaborations, questions, or a simple hello — I welcome discussions on fluorescent materials, photophysics, and machine learning for chemistry.
Laboratory
Functional Materials Laboratory
Central University of Kerala
Kasaragod, Kerala
Academic Profile