Advent calendar - December 4th - Sundar Krishnaswamy

In the Zernike Institute Advent Calendar, we are presenting 24 short spotlights in December. In these specials, we highlight PhD students, postdocs, support staff and technicians of our research groups and team - providing a glimpse in their typical day at work. In Episode 4 meet Sundar Krishnaswamy, PhD student in the Optical Condensed Matter Physics group of Prof. Maxim Pchenitchnikov.

I am a doctoral research student in the Optical Condensed Matter Physics group of Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials. Our research group works with ultrafast lasers, and my research focuses on using 2D spectroscopy. In particular, my research is to understand how individual (C8S3) molecules self-assemble in water to form a double walled nanotube system.

My typical day at the university begins with a coffee (of course!). This is usually followed by experiments in the lab which is in the basement of building 17 in Nijenborgh. If there are no experiments, I will either be working on a manuscript, supervising a student or preparing for a talk at the university or at a conference.

My work also involves collaboration with several wonderful research groups at Zernike like Theory of Condensed Matter, Molecular Dynamics. Furthermore, I also collaborate with Dr.Marc Stuart at cryo-TEM facility in Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology institute and Molecular Biophysics group (Zernike) for AFM imaging.

Overall, the PhD journey so far has been a knowledge filled experience. Apart from academia, I also enjoy the company of my colleagues where we go out to movies, restaurants and have barbecues when the weather is good!