Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Leadership And Mentoring
Workshops And Schools
Publications
Training
Awards And Fellowships
Timeline
Generic

Arya K Rajan

Experimental Physicist (PhD), Nanomaterials & Photophysics
Merced

Summary

Optical physicist with expertise in quantum dot self-assembly, photocyclizable organic emitters, and advanced spectroscopic characterization. Experienced in custom optical setup design, time-resolved spectroscopy, and nanomaterials synthesis. Demonstrated success in interdisciplinary research and student mentorship, with peer-reviewed publications. Excited to contribute to cutting-edge postdoctoral research at the intersection of optics, materials science, and nanotechnology.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Languages

Work History

Doctoral Student

UC Merced
08.2019 - 08.2025
  • Department of Physics, UC Merced
  • Designed and optimized custom optical setups for time-resolved photoluminescence measurements
  • Investigated quantum dot self-assembly using bis(imino)pyridine ligand functionalization to achieve tunable shell dimensions (300-900 nm)
  • Characterized photocyclizable organic molecules exhibiting ¿100 nm spectral shifts via UV-induced transformations
  • Collaborated with chemistry department on synthesis and characterization of novel luminescent materials
  • Mentored undergraduate interns and trained junior graduate students in laboratory techniques

Teaching Assistant

UC Merced
08.2019 - 05.2025
  • Department of Physics, UC Merced
  • Instructed laboratory courses for Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism (Fall 2019, Spring 2024-2025)
  • Led discussion sections for Introduction to Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism courses (Fall 2019-Fall 2024)
  • Developed and graded assignments for undergraduate physics courses

Master's Research Student

IISER Thiruvananthapuram
06.2014 - 04.2019
  • Fabricated and characterized organic solar cell devices using P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunctions
  • Performed AFM characterization for precise defect detection in air-processed active layers
  • Synthesized and characterized perovskite nanoparticles for photovoltaic applications
  • Optimized device parameters through simulation and experimental validation

Education

Ph. D - Physics

University of California, Merced
08.2019 - 08.2025

Int. BS-MS - Physics

Indian Institute of Science Education And Research
08.2014 - 07.2019

Skills

Molecular Design

Leadership And Mentoring

  • Graduate Mentor for CCBM Summer Internship Program (C-SIP), Summer 2021
  • International Affairs Officer, UC Merced Graduate Student Association, Fall 2021
  • 2024 APS CuWiP: Parallel session on Life in Graduate school, Spring 2024

Workshops And Schools

  • Convergence of Nano-engineered Devices for Environmental and Sustainable Applications, UC Merced, Summer 2022
  • Onboarding Course for Integration of Modern Optoelectronic Materials on Demand (IMOD) Optoelectronic Materials Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Systems Course, University Of Washington, Seattle, 08/2022
  • Quantum Dynamics and Spectroscopy of Functional Molecular Materials and Biological Photosystems Winterschool, ´Ecole de Physique des Houches, France, 02/2025

Publications

  • Exploiting Photo Actuated Cyclization of Small Organic Molecules for Optically Tunable Properties via Structural Modulation, K Rajan, Arya, Pravien Rajaram, Sayantani Ghosh, Ryan Baxter, In Review
  • Concentration-Dependent Emission from Low Molecular Weight Benzoyl Pyrazinium Salts, Brisbin, Ryan, K Rajan, Arya, Md Imran Khan, Pravien Rajaram, Karen Russell, Sayantani Ghosh, Ryan Baxter, Materials Advances, 4, 23, 2023, 6271-6276
  • Tuning three-dimensional nano-assembly in the mesoscale via bis (imino) pyridine molecular functionalization, Brisbin, Ryan, Mark Bartolo, Michael Leville, Arya K Rajan, Basharat Jahan, Kara E. McCloskey, Ajay Gopinathan, Sayantani Ghosh, Ryan Baxter, Scientific Reports, 12, 1, 2022, 844
  • Air-processed active-layer of organic solar cells investigated by conducting AFM for precise defect detection, Anjusree, S., Arya K Rajan, Bikas C. Das, RSC Advances, 10, 42, 2020, 24882-24892

Training

  • Materials Research Society, Honolulu, Hawaii, 05/2022, Poster
  • Materials Research Society, San Francisco, California, 04/2023, Talk
  • APS March Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, 03/2023, Talk
  • Materials Research Society, Seattle, Washington, 03/2024, Poster
  • Materials Frontiers for Environmental Progress (MATFRONT) Conference, UC Merced, 06/2024

Awards And Fellowships

  • CCBM Scholar, Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM), UC Merced, 08/2020, 05/2025
  • UC Merced Physics Summer Fellowship, UC Merced, 06/2021, 08/2024
  • CCBM Travel Fellowship, UC Merced, 08/2022, 12/2024
  • Travel award for IMOD OMS3 Onboarding Course, 2022
  • CONDESA Travel Fellowship, UC Merced, 2023
  • INSPIRE Fellowship, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, 08/2014, 04/2019

Timeline

Teaching Assistant

UC Merced
08.2019 - 05.2025

Ph. D - Physics

University of California, Merced
08.2019 - 08.2025

Doctoral Student

UC Merced
08.2019 - 08.2025

Int. BS-MS - Physics

Indian Institute of Science Education And Research
08.2014 - 07.2019

Master's Research Student

IISER Thiruvananthapuram
06.2014 - 04.2019
Arya K RajanExperimental Physicist (PhD), Nanomaterials & Photophysics