We are a diverse team of scientists with a shared interest in the fascinating world of condensed matter physics and complex systems of many interacting particles. Our members come from all around the world and share the aim of expanding knowledge through hard work and collaboration. We believe that this attitude is essential to knowledge creation and dissemination. Our current members as well as a synopsis of their respective backgrounds are listed below.
Dr. Abhishek Pandey completed his B.Sc. (Honours) in 2001 from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and obtained his M.Sc. in Physics in 2003 and PhD in
condensed matter physics in 2011 from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences/West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata-India. He worked at the
Ames Laboratory-USDOE at Iowa State University, Ames-USA as a postdoctoral research associate from 2009 to 2014. Following a brief stay at Louisiana
State University, Baton Rouge-USA, he moved to Texas A&M University, College Station-USA for another postdoc. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at the
School of Physics, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg-South Africa.
Dr. Pandey's research is focused on the discovery, crystal growth/synthesis and investigation of novel materials comprising new magnetic, superconducting,
quantum and applied materials as well as novel ground states, low-dimensional & quasi low-dimensional magnetic systems, and functional materials.
Awards/Recognitions/ Professional Activities:
Susan Jacobs holds a BSc degree (Physics), an MSc degree (Physics), a BEd degree (Science Education) all from University of Kerala, Kerala, India. She obtained a PhD in Physics from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Johannesburg, South Africa in 2019. She has been lecturing at UJ since 2006. Her doctoral study was based on the physical and magnetic properties of alloys of chromium. She recently joined the Novel Materials Group and her research interest has shifted to single crystal growth, characterisation and investigation of novel materials.
Dr Pankaj Mohanty completed his B.Sc. (Honours) in the year 2005 and M.Sc. (physics) from North Orissa University, Baripada, Odisha, India in the year 2007. Dr Mohanty got his M.Phil. degree in Physics in 2009 from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Later he joined the School of Materials Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India and reaceived his Ph.D. degree in the year 2015. He joined and continued working as a post-doctoral research fellow within the Deparment of Physics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa from 2015 to 2019. In April 2019 he joined the same department as a lecturer. Dr Mohanty's research interests include the physics of magnetic oxide nanomaterials, thin films and ion irradiation-based material modification of materials.
Dr. Sampad Mondal completed his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics in 2010 and 2012, respectively, from Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India. He obtained his PhD in condensed matter physics in 2022 from Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India and Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India. He is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in Physics at Ramsaday College, Howrah, India. Recently, he has joined as a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. His current research interests are focused on high-temperature superconductivity and topological phenomena in novel quantum materials, single crystal growth, and exotic ground state properties.
Arthur Van der Spuy is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Condensed Matter Physics. He holds a B.Sc. degree (with distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as an Honours degree in physics. His passion for Physics arose very soon after starting first year and quickly focused on condensed matter physics and material science because of their technological applications. He aims to complete his M.Sc. (physics) and thereafter begin pursuing a Ph.D.
Mahlogonolo Morena is a student currently pursuing her Honours degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Her academic journey at Wits commenced in 2019 when she enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (BSc) program specializing in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Mahlogonolo's passion for physics was ignited during her high school years, and this enthusiasm has guided her academic pursuits. In 2023, she transitioned to the field of Condensed Matter Physics at Wits, further deepening her commitment to the study of the physical sciences.
Tshepiso completed his B.Sc. (Honours) in 2009 at the University of the Witwatersrand. He did an honours project in Mossbauer spectroscopy, igniting his interest in solid state physics. Since 2010 he worked as a Mathematics and Physical Science teacher in several public and private schools. In 2024 he decided to return to Wits as an M.Sc. (physics) student with plans of obtaining a Ph.D. in materials science.
Manisha Mishra completed her B. Tech in Chemical Engineering from Madan Mohan Malviya University of Technology, India, in 2023. During her undergraduate studies, she worked on a project focused on the removal of cefixime using advanced oxidation processes. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in condensed matter physics at Wits University and plans to continue with a PhD after completion of her Master's degree.
