Research: Theme and Character

          The Madhukar Group's research has revolved around electronic response (electrical and optical) of synthesized materials and structures in reduced (two, one, and zero) dimensions and their potential use in electronic and optoelectronic devices for information sensing, processing, imaging and computing technologies. The emphasis for some time has been on three dimensionally confined (i.e. zero dimensional) nanostructures called quantum dots and the scope in recent years has expanded to include biochemical materials (peptides, proteins) and hybrid semiconductor-biomolecular nanostructures for biomedical applications, particularly neural prostheses.

         Our research is idea-driven and multi-disciplinary. It has been at the confluence of two or more fields derived from physics, physical chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering and electrical engineering: and now it encompasses elements of biochemistry, chemical biology, and molecular biology with applications in biomedical engineering. The group thus is an ideal place for students with strong undergraduate backgrounds in a variety of disciplines but who are curious and communicative to contribute to and benefit from a highly multi- and inter- disciplinary mix of people.

         Our approach encompasses a mix of theoretical analysis, computer simulation, and experimental efforts, as demanded by the nature of the question being addressed. A full complement of the needed state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, some with truly unique features, covering synthesis and integration of inorganic and biochemical (peptides, proteins) materials and structures, their processing, and examination via structural, electrical, optical, and optoelectronic means are available within the group to enable pursuit of our interests.