Positions

Research Fellow Feb 2023-present

P.I. Professor Akshat Tanksale, Monash University

P.I. Professor Stefan Maier Monash University

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Feb 2020- Jan 2023

P.I. Professor Bill Barnes, University of Exeter

Professor Graham Leggett, University of Sheffield

Ph.D. (Physics) Sept 2015- Feb 2020

Physics (Metamaterials), University of Exeter

P.I. Professor Bill Barnes

Professor Geoff Nash

Project Associate 2013-2015

Computational Photonics, Indian Institute of Science

P.I. Associate Professor Murugesan Venkatapathi

Teaching/ Demonstration experience

Lecturer, Monash University

Sem 2, 2025 CHE3172 – Nanotechnology and Materials I (class of 60), co-taught with Prof. Udo Bach and Prof. Zhikao Li

Teaching Assistant, Monash University

Feb-April 2023 Introduction to nanophotonics and meta-optics

Teaching Assistant, University of Exeter, Exeter

Sep-Mar 2018 PHY1023- Waves and optics- tutorials

Sep-Mar 2017 PHY2021- Electromagnetism I- Tutorials and labs

Sep-Mar 2016 ECM1102- Core Engineering- Tutorials and labs

As a Mentor

Co-supervising Ms Niya Prince, an IITB–Monash Research Academy PhD scholar (with Prof. Akshat Tanksale and Prof. Stefan Maier), on plasmon-driven CO₂ hydrogenation.

• Supervised final-year project student Yirui Huang on an AISRF-funded project — hybrid porous alumina–silver nanofluids for solar thermal desalination.

• Mentored a visiting MSc student (Imperial College London) and Monash Honours students; previously three MSc students at Exeter through to thesis completion.

• Research mentor, Monash RED Programme (ARC RECARB Hub undergraduate project); external mentor, SPIE Student Chapter, University of Exeter.

Kishan Menghrajani obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Exeter, where he studied the strong coupling between molecular vibrational modes and infrared surface plasmons. His research spans the broad umbrella of light–matter interaction.

At Monash University he works with Prof. Akshat Tanksale and Prof. Murali Sastry on plasmonic catalysis for photochemical CO₂ conversion, and with Prof. Stefan Maier on single-particle optical metrology. He has established a single-particle dark-field microscopy facility built around a supercontinuum laser source, enabling wavelength-selective scattering measurements that link the structure of individual bimetallic nanoparticles to their optical response and catalytic behaviour.

His expertise spans dark-field, Raman, FTIR and OPTIR spectroscopy, electron-beam and two-photon nanofabrication, and numerical electrodynamic modelling (COMSOL, Lumerical FDTD, BEM/FEM). He is a self-motivated, interdisciplinary researcher.

CV

Honours and Awards

Principal Investigator — Royal Society International Exchange Grant, 2022–2023
• Faculty of Engineering Early Career Researcher Support & Enabling Scheme ($5,000), Monash University, 2026
• Faculty of Engineering Australia/Malaysia Travel Grant ($4,820), Monash University, 2026
• Travel Award — Gordon Research Conference on Catalysis (Conference Chair’s award), 2025
• Laser Safety Officer, Dept. of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Monash University, 2025–present
• Member, Health, Safety & Wellbeing (HSW) Committee, Monash University
• Physics Inclusivity Working Group representative, University of Exeter, 2020–2023
• SPIE Exeter Chapter Advisor, 2021–2023
• Organising committee, IONS Conference, University of Exeter, 2019
• International Ph.D. EPSRC studentship, CDT Metamaterials, University of Exeter, 2015–2019
• Merit & DST scholarships (Master’s), 2011–2013