About Manipal Centre for Natural Sciences (MCNS)
The Manipal Centre for Natural Sciences (MCNS) was started in 2011 under the Manipal Advanced Research Group (MARG). The primary aim of MCNS is to nurture fundamental research in the Natural Sciences and grow into a hub of excellence within Manipal Academy of Higher Education. In 2012, the fledgling MCNS came into its own as a Centre of Excellence under Manipal Academy of Higher Education. It is one of the first dedicated “all-research” Centers to be started within a University.
This Centre strives to promote fundamental research in forefront areas of natural sciences by encouraging independent and creative thought essential for scientific pursuit. The Centre presently has both academic and research programs. MCNS has expanded since 2021 with the addition of many new faculties, students and academic programs. The rapid increase in students under the Integrated MSc-Ph.D program in Physics and Ph.D programs in Physics, Computational Chemistry and Evolutionary Biology, has made MCNS a vibrant place of research. With a significant number of astronomy-linked research faculities, MCNS today hosts one of India's largest astronomy program in the University sector.
Director: Dr. P Sreekumar
E-mail : director.mcns@manipal.edu
(a) Physics
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Faculty Members
Dr. P Sreekumar, Professor & Director
Dr. Kazuyuki Furuuchi, Associate Professor
Dr. Debbijoy Bhattacharya, Associate Professor
Dr. Surajit Paul, Associate Professor
Dr. Sreejith Padinhatteeri, Assistant Professor
Dr. Chandrachur Chakraborty, Assistant Professor
Dr. Shalima Puthiyaveettil, Assistant Professor
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Senior Staff Scientist
Ph.D Scholars
Mr. B. Ananthamoorthy
Mr. Aditya H.N
Mr. Rashmikanta Mantry
Mr. Adarsha. H.A
Mr. Atul Bhat S
Ms. Ayisha Fida
Mr. Dinesh Ganapati Hebbar
Mr . Vikhnesh Manoj Padmanabhan
Ms. Sariga C.M
Grant-based JRF
Mr. Abhishek Jhala
Ms. Sreelakshmi K
Particle Physics
Faculty Member
Dr. Sumit Kumar, Assistant Professor
Ph.D Scholars
Mr. Mahima Sagar H
Mr. Sanjay Srivatsan S
(b) Evolutionary Biology
Faculty Member
Dr. Vivek Pandi, Assistant Professor
Ph.D Scholars
Ms. Gayathri Rajendiran
Mr. Vishnu Shreekara Bhat
Mr. Mahim B
(c) Computational Chemistry
Faculty Member
Dr. Suranjan Shil, Assistant professor
Ph.D Scholars
Ms. Muskan
Ms. Chumuiria Debbarma
(d) Adjuct Faculty
Prof. Ranjeev Misra (Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics)
Dr. K Sankarasubramanian (U.R.Rao Satellite Centre)
Dr. Vinay L Kashyap (Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, USA)
Dr. Subramania Athiray Panchapakesan (The University of Alabama at Huntsville, USA)
Prof. Stefan A. Schnitzer (Marquette University, USA)
(e) Distinguished Professor
Prof. S. G. Rajeev (University of Rochester, USA)
(f) Non-teaching / Support
Mr. Ravindra Acharya, Senior Executive- Admin & Operations
Mr. Venkatesh, Associate
Dr. Jessy Saadi, Senior Librarian
Mr. Ramaprasada, Assistant Engineer, Computers and Peripherals
Mr. Ganesh Acharya, Assistant Engineer, Dr. T. M. A. Pai Planetarium
Mr. Vijay Kumar, Laboratory Assistant-1
Mr. Prakash Poojary, Senior General Duty Worker