Biography
Dr. Arjun Pathak received his Ph.D. degree in experimental condensed matter physics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Dr. Pathak’s Ph.D. work was recognized for Outstanding Dissertation Award in the University systems. The award was given for exceptional and vital contributions of doctoral student research to the life of the university, the various disciplines, and society at large. As of 2019, he published more than 65 peer-reviewed scientific articles, including in high impact factor journals such as Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, Nano Letters, and Physical Review Letters. Dr. Pathak’s research focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of a wide variety of potential energy storage multi-functional materials such as caloric, magnetic thin films, 2D heterostructures, nanomaterials, rare-earth-based materials, permanent magnet, topological, and shape memory alloys.
Education and Training
Staff Scientist and postdoctoral associate, Ames Laboratory, US DOE, 2011-2019
Postdoctoral Research Associate, NHMFL, Tallahassee. FL 2011
Ph. D., Applied Physics, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 2011
M. S., Physics, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 2007
Research and Professional Experiences
2016-2019
Assistant Scientist, Ames Laboratory, US DOE
- Expertise in: synthesis, processing, and characterization of physical properties of intermetallic magnetic materials, including magnetocaloric materials, rare-earth-based materials that exhibit strong responsiveness to changes in temperature, pressure, and magnetic field, novel quantum materials, 2D materials, and ferromagnetic semiconductors; reporting results of research, including writing research reports and papers, and delivering research presentations
- Experience in day-to-day supervision of research activities within the group, and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates
- Experience in broad collaborations across and outside Ames Laboratory related to first-principles theory, development of protocols for synthesis, processing, and characterization of physical properties of various metallic magnetic materials, helping to initiate new research directions, and writing research proposals
2011-2016
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Ames Laboratory, US DOE
- Planning and executing basic and applied science research; collecting and processing data; drafting research reports and manuscripts; presenting research results at conferences; mentoring undergraduate students. Major highlights: discovered novel magnetic and structural phenomena in mixed lanthanide intermetallic Laves phases; discovered new permanent magnets with reduced contents of critical elements
2011 - 2011
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee. FL
- Synthesis of single crystals of superconductors and oxy-chalcogenidnes; drafting research reports; presenting research results at group meetings. Major highlight: developed a new technique to grow highly volatile and reactive Rb/K-FeSe single crystals.
2006 - 2011
Research Assistant, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL
- Thesis research in design, fabrication, and characterization of multifunctional materials; collecting and processing data; drafting manuscripts; presenting research results at group meetings and conferences. Major highlight: designed Heusler-based materials that can have more than one functional properties such as large magneto-resistance and magnetocaloric effect
Honors and Awards
- Richard and Donna Falvo Outstanding Dissertation Award 2011, SIUC
“…….granted to recognize and promote outstanding research by doctoral students,…...testament to the vital contribution of doctoral student research to the life of the University, the various disciplines, and society at large.”
- Migone-Daneshdoost-Zeman Scholarship from Southern Illinois University Foundation
- Recipient of full financial support to attend the “Twelfth National School on Neutron and x-ray Scattering” June 12-26, (2010) at Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory”
- Graduate School, Dissertation Research Assistant Award (2010)
“…….granted to recognize Ph.D. student’s excellent qualifications and the promise of excellence of the dissertation as demonstrated in the proposal…., awards designed for students who are in the dissertation preparation stage of their graduate education.”
- Travel Award for attending “11th Joint MMM-INTERMAG Conference” Washington DC, Jan 18-22, (2010)
- Recipient of financial support for attending “IEEE Magnetics Society Summer School” Nanjing University, Nanjing, China, Sept 20-25, (2009)
- “Idea to Product” Missouri-Illinois Regional Competition at Saint Louis University, MO, March 20-21 (2009), (selected as a semi-finalist, honored with cash and certificate)
- “Global Venture Challenge” organized by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN, April 2-7 (2008), (an energy-based innovative technology international competition, selected as a semi-finalist, honored with certificate)
