Good day, Dr. Alfa Sharma. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Uh.

Take your time—no rush.

Uh, so good afternoon, uh.

Are there panel members? So my doctor Alpha Sharma?

So I have completed my.

Bachelors and Masters in Chemistry from Utkal University, Odisha.

Then I pursued an pill in chemistry where my specialization was physical chemistry. So mostly it deals with material science or materials chemistry sort of thing. Then I have done my.

Uh, which is specialized in chemistry.

Empty in Green Energy technology, which is actually basically a course regarding renewable energy sources and how technologies are being utilized over there, or how to improvise the.

Uh, systems, current systems, renewable systems, which are available after that. I have done my PhD in materials health and engineering from IIT Indore, uh, where mostly I'm, uh, working on synthesis means characterization and utilizing this prepared metal oxide nanostructures, various different type of metal oxide nanostructures, ferrites and all. To prepare devices for gas and humidity sensing applications.

Along with the.

Work related to sensor. I have also done some work related to Electro consumption where I have utilized some materials for preparing efficient supercapacitor and utilized the materials for solar cell applications and all to my credit I have roughly 22.

Papers which I have authored and co-authored uh.

After that, I have joined Odisha University of Technology and Research which is basically at Bhuvneshwar, Odisha and currently working as a lecturer in Department of Chemistry. I have guided more than 10 master students and presently I have 5 to 6 research articles in the pipeline which are currently being submitted or.

Under revision and all.

Thanks for sharing that, Professor.

Let's begin. Professor, can you introduce yourself and give me a brief overview of your academic and professional background relevant to this role?

Uh, so, uh.

As per the requirement for this particular job which requires a specialization in material science or chemical engineering sort of thing. So if we look into my background or my academic and professional.

Scopes so you it is simply a interdisciplinary sort of thing where I have graduated in chemistry along with material science and most of my works are actually involved in synthesis of different type of nanomaterials as nanomaterials are quite.

Means entrained and they are actually being utilized for various applications.

So I think my.

Academic and professional role or my interdisciplinary expertise might be very helpful to the institute.

And maybe perfectly fit for this particular role.

Thank you, Professor. You mentioned nanomaterials synthesis as a key part of your academic and professional work. Could you elaborate on a prominent research project or application you’ve worked on in this field, and its practical impact?

Uh, so I've been instrumental in uh.

A project or multiple projects? So out of which one I can more emphasize on where actually I'm involved in synthesis of?

Various nano materials mostly metal oxide nanostructures, so it ranges zinc oxide, zinc standard where I've been also part of preparing cobalt ferrite topological insulators like bismuth selenide which is kind kind of a 2D material and.

I am utilizing them to prepare devices. So basically my work is on about sensor so.

What we do in the means, what I do in my PhD duration and all. I have prepared the devices using various chemical means methods. So basically hydrothermal or Sol gel or.

So cop precipitation method, sorry, so.

So we are preparing the devices and we're subjecting it to very real harsh conditions. So either we are demonstrating or we are looking into how exactly these materials or these devices are behaving when we are approaching a very high temperature or very low temperature or what happens.

And then I am utilizing them to prepare devices. So devices are key to its nature or to identify it's a functionality.

Yeah.

your explanation. It sounds like you've been deeply involved in the synthesis and practical evaluation of nanomaterials, particularly in sensor applications. Could you share an example of how your devices performed under such extreme conditions, and what insights or advancements came out of that research?

Uh, so uh, uh, basically, uh, the materials are currently being utilized in the sensor and are available in the market are kind of classified sub material and they, they are subject to utilization for an extremism condition, but uh, they have a very high response and recovery time because sensor is basically classified into how does it sense?

And uh, how to attain the normal behavior. So in case of how our material, the sensor say which what we have prepared out of nickel cobalt oxide and all they are sensing the ammonia and all roughly within a value of 10 seconds. So the response and recovery is lying within the range of 10 to 2010 to 15 seconds. So it mostly outsmarts nearly all the available sensors, but we have compared with.

And other than that the materials are also subjected for humidity sensing applications. So humidity is kind of the most prominent factor in application of a sensor because we are kind of in a country where humidity is very high means kind of pose a very significant factor best of an electronic applicability. So we have checked we are getting a very good reproducibility or.

It works for a very longer period of time. So that is kind of the most important thing. What I have observed during my research and my research is promoting the same.

Understood, Professor. Your focus on improving sensor performance, specifically the response and recovery times as well as long-term reproducibility, highlights the practical impact of your research. Now, considering that teaching is also a critical facet of this role, how do you approach simplifying such advanced concepts—like nanomaterial synthesis and device functionality—for students who may be new to this area?

Uh, so based upon, uh, teaching skills and all like, uh, although I have been in means, uh, uh, what does a teaching assistants during my PhD to various branches in the Bitakata 80 indoor. Along with that, I have roughly done high peers experience to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students. So coming to the fact where I have to teach the students regarding the advanced concepts of nanotechnology.

I will try to simplify it through various stages where I can involve the ICT techniques or ICT tools so we can say other than demonstration of some.

Model kind of thing or some animated video to make the subject quite comfortable enough where students may get involved or interacting or I will make them to interact or put a kind of a group of students or batch of students where.

I'm putting into small, small groups and they're trying to present the concepts through interaction or presentation sort of thing. And I think utilizing very basic concepts of chemistry or chemical engineering, materials engineering, it might be means I might be comfortable enough to teach students who might be very new learner or beginner in this particular aspect.

Thank you, Professor. It’s clear that you prioritize interactive and engaging methods, such as animations, group activities, and practical demonstrations, to ensure complex topics are accessible for students. Now, shifting to student evaluation: how would you assess the learning outcomes of students in your classes, especially in laboratory or experimental courses?

Uh, so if we are coming into the evaluation of the students in laboratory classes and all, uh, I might, uh, distribute the total mark which might be available. If it is kind of 100 mark which is being assigned to a particular lab or sessional course, then uh, I might, uh, first cut it out into various experiments. So if there might be 10 number of experiments, which is possible to do.

Semester stipulated time so I might differentiate the whole mark into individual classes. So if it will be 100 mark and 10 experiments are possible over there, then I put it for each experiment 10 marks. So out of 10 mark, 5 marks will be mostly being evaluated to the performance or the students ability to carry out the experiment on the same day itself.

Viber So each and every experiment will be associated with a vibrant and 1 mark will be mostly associated with the maintaining the lab space. The utilization of experimental tools which might be provided to the student and their writing scheme means what you say is the handwriting and all and that if I am doing so, there will be no scope by which actually any student. Will feel like that he is getting biased.

Then 4 marks will be awarded to the.

Grab the subject, learnings or outcomes.

I see, Professor. You’ve clearly outlined a structured and fair approach, emphasizing consistent evaluation across performance, understanding via viva, and lab conduct. It also encourages ongoing improvement throughout the semester. Now, how would you guide students working on independent research projects in materials science or chemical engineering to ensure both innovation and academic rigor?

Uh, so, uh, open giving an opportunity to, uh, start an independent research group or guiding students who are means doing the, uh, means who are studying this chemical engineering or material science thing. So.

Scope of research, what is possible over there or how to expand a particular given sort of thing. I might assign very small, small assignments and try to collaborate with other peers within the institute and outside the institute through my means, personal and professional contacts to make the project more successful. So if I'm talking about it will kind of a professional or personal contact. So what I will try to do is I will try to motivate.

Based upon the input from the means authorities or the departments seniors. So I mean So what might be the?

The student to work, not only focusing about an experimental thing.

I will try to include some sort of advance sort of research ideas through machine learning or we can say artificial intelligence or simulation based skills. So some experiments can be performed which will be giving us an experimental data set and that can be simulated through the help of our peers or our collaborators to make. This a clear cut demonstration about how exactly our work is.

Bing empathize with what might be its applicability, so other than that I will try to means.

Try to get a more detailed discussion or weekly discussion of presentation among the students to improve their means, personal traits or professional traits. Along with that giving some idea about any different type of scholarship or fellowship or any sort of internship which might be available for them.

This can help them to improve their, uh, means professional or and personal group.

Thank you, Professor. Your strategy to balance hands-on experimental work with modern techniques such as simulations and machine learning, while fostering collaboration and professional growth, reflects a comprehensive approach to guiding research. Next, let's discuss your communication and teaching approach. How do you ensure your lectures or sessions are well-structured and effective for students across varying levels of understanding?

Uh, so I will mostly focus into the course, uh, outcome or what we can see the program objective and the course objective, which are available along with the subject, what I'm going to teach at the institute. So I will try to put them not very emphasis means I'm not trying to give a very lengthy session, but I will try to. Make the process concise with some sort of what you say is discussion.

Or a teaching classroom, classroom teaching some sort of evaluation which might be helpful to learn whatever we are teaching or we are what we are getting means we're teaching them. So for an example, if I am teaching a particular subject over today, then I might access the students understandability across the class on the next class. So what happens? It gives an insight how a particular segment of students are.

Who's who are in a progressive stage who are lacking some sort of thing. So accordingly I can make a balance of the subject through some problem solving skills or through some sort of asset assignment and all. So it can give me a clear cut hand over the students, how they are learning and how to make the students.

If somebody is very good in that particular subject, then what type of advanced things can be taught to them which might be related but not exactly to the classroom. So classroom teaching or classroom subject will be covered within a stipulated time. Along with that, some sort of segment of groups which are much good enough can improve to an higher level and which are actually not matching to that particular level. We'll be able to get that one through assignments, quizzes, Viber, etcetera.

More good enough. So if somebody is lacking about something then how to improve that?

Your approach to balancing structured course objectives with ongoing assessments and tailored interventions for varying student levels demonstrates thoughtful planning and adaptability. I see you focus on helping all students progress, while offering advanced opportunities for the stronger performers. Now, considering research publication is integral to this role, could you highlight the quality and impact of your key publications in reputed journals?

Uh, so, uh, my research is spanning across various subjects of material science, which to a broad area of material science, which might include sensor or solar cell electrochemistry, simulation, etcetera. So I have authored roughly around 22 publications by now. So 15 are kind of.

International peer reviewed journals and four are conference proceedings and.

Three book chapters are two to my credit so most of them are Scopus or sci in text journal. Most, not most all are Scopus and external so they are from SCS like journal of physical chemistry 3. Like I have a publications in physical chemistry and chemical Physical chemistry, chemical physics, new journal of chemistry rec. Advance from Royal Society of chemistry rec. Then I have publications in journal.

Of Alloys and compounds, which is a very highly reputable journal. Script a material which is a core or journal of material science.

Chemistry select from Wiley, so book chapters are there from CRC president. Along with that I have roughly around six publications which are pipelines. So three are currently being submitted for along with its revision and the three are on the process. So they're being just submitted.

Along with that, actually I have been Instruments editorial board member and guest editor for a particular journal which is BMC Chemistry of Springer Nature with an impact matter of 4.6. So I think like I have quite well diversified expertise in publishing good papers or high-impact papers along with some editorial experience.

Thank you, Professor. Your publication record indeed spans reputable journals and impactful domains like sensing, solar cells, and electrochemistry, coupled with editorial roles that underscore your contributions to academic publishing. Finally, how has your experience with industry projects or consultancy shaped your understanding of applying research to real-world challenges?

Uh, during my PhD actually, I've been, uh, part of a project group from under my SU supervisor. So where we are actually delivering, uh, some, uh, project related to.

Uh, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited where we are, uh, carrying out a project for them to prepare bulk amount of, uh, bismuth selenide topological insulators, which is being utilized for a radar communication purposes. So I have been part of that project and being in discussion through the. Panel so we are means. I think I'm good enough to take the means of.

Learning So what they exactly want to do and to reciprocate it in a lab scale and timely deliverable. And I think this gives me a good sort of mixed experience where I've been part of a industry project and approaching the deadline where I have to meet the deliverables of the company. And I think I'm quite well versed with the scope of nature. Of the industry projects and they're out.

Puts or their means, demands, what they want or how they want, how to reciprocate it, how to draft the same so I have a good mixer of scope or expertise within that particular domain.

Understood, Professor. Your role in the project involving Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, particularly in synthesizing bismuth selenide for radar communication, clearly reflects your ability to navigate industry needs, manage deadlines, and translate academic research into practical applications. Thank you for addressing all aspects of your expertise. Let's continue into the next phase silently.

Hello, are you there?

Yes.

Professor, let's proceed to a key verification. Given your expertise in chemical engineering and materials science, how do you approach guiding students in integrating nanotechnology within sustainable energy systems, such as solar cells or batteries?

Our scheduled time for the interview is now up. Before we conclude, do you have any questions related to the role or the company?

No.

Thank you, Professor, for your time and detailed responses during this interview. To confirm, would you like to officially end the interview at this point?

Yes.