Kishan Menghrajani
editKishan S. Menghrajani is a Sindhi physicist born in Kubernagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He completed his schooling in a government school where he studied in Sindhi medium. His grandparents migrated from Sindh (present-day Pakistan) to Gujarat in 1947 due to the persecution of Hindus, which was part of one of the largest human migrations in history. They lived in a refugee camp upon their arrival in India.
In his free time, Menghrajani is committed to supporting the education of underprivileged girls, recognizing the importance of education due to his own background. He actively encourages his community to prioritize education, as many families in his community often have to forgo schooling to maintain their households. Given the financial difficulties faced by refugee families, Menghrajani advocates for education and provides free guidance on opportunities such as scholarships for higher education.
In late 2015, Menghrajani received the prestigious EPSRC's Doctoral Studentship at the Center for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials, which allowed him to pursue his passion for physics. He completed his Ph.D. under the supervision of Professor Bill Barnes at the University of Exeter, where his research focused on exploring the strong coupling between the vibrational modes of molecules and infrared surface plasmons. He finished his Ph.D. in 2020 and is currently working as a Research Fellow with Professor Stefan Maier at Monash University.
Throughout his academic journey, Menghrajani has received numerous honors and awards. He was awarded The Royal Society International Exchange Grant for the period 2022-2023, which facilitated collaborative research and academic exchange. During his Master's studies, he was a recipient of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) scholarship from 2011 to 2013, which supported his advanced studies in physics. Additionally, he earned a merit scholarship for his Master's studies in the academic year 2012-2013, recognizing his exceptional academic performance.
Menghrajani's journey from a refugee family to a distinguished physicist underscores the transformative power of education and perseverance. His dedication to his community and his contributions to the field of physics continue to inspire many.