Lecturer (co-taught), Monash University, 2025. CHE3172 Nanotechnology and Materials I, a class of about 60 students, with Prof. Udo Bach and Prof. Zhikao Li.
Teaching Assistant, Monash University, 2023. Introduction to Nanophotonics and Meta-optics, in Prof. Stefan Maier’s teaching team.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Exeter, United Kingdom, 2016–2019. Tutorials, problem classes and laboratories for cohorts of 120 to 180 students in Mathematics I and II, PHY1023 Waves and Optics, PHY2021 Electromagnetism I, Electromagnetism II and ECM1102 Core Engineering.
I teach through models. Each new idea starts from a question students can picture, such as a vibrating string, a damped oscillator or light bouncing between two mirrors. The mathematics is then derived by hand, explored in short Python notebooks and checked against real data, so that students learn both the method and how to judge whether an answer makes sense.
In large classes I use short paired problems, worked examples that are gradually faded, and frequent low-stakes feedback. I draw examples from physics, engineering, chemistry and climate, and I design materials so that every student finds a way in.
Co-supervisor of Ms Niya Prince, IITB–Monash Research Academy PhD scholar, on plasmon-driven CO₂ hydrogenation, with Prof. Akshat Tanksale and Prof. Stefan Maier.
Supervisor of final-year project student Mr Yirui Huang on hybrid porous alumina–silver nanofluids for solar-thermal desalination, within an Australia–India Strategic Research Fund project.
Mentor to a visiting MSc student from Imperial College London and to Monash Honours students; previously mentored three MSc students at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, through to thesis completion.
Research mentor in the Monash RED Programme (undergraduate projects in the ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling), and external mentor to the SPIE Student Chapter, University of Exeter.
Prospective students interested in nanophotonics, strong light–matter coupling, plasmonic catalysis or quantum light sources are welcome to get in touch at kishansmresearch@gmail.com. Current projects are listed on the Opportunities page.