Epitomizing resilience, diligence and paving the way for young scientists By Deepika Banerjee

Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University, ChennupatiJagadish,AC, is an Indian-Australian physicist whose contribution to Semiconductor Physics, Materials Science and Optoelectronics has been exemplary. He has not only published more than 550 journal papers but also founded Acton Lasers to commercialize semiconductor laser technology. He also launched The Chennupati and VidyaJagadish Endowment to support student interns and researchers from developing countries to visit the Australian National University Research School of Physics and Engineering. However, his path to success was replete with lots of obstacles, yet these obstacles only spurred him on to work even more diligently. A recipient of Australia’s highest civilian honour-Companion of the Order of Australia, DrJagadish who holds honorary positions in several international universities finds the act of enabling young scientists to prove their mettle as the most fulfilling experience. In an exclusive interview with India News writer Deepika Banerjee, DrJagadish recounts his ascent to success from his humble beginnings; his viewpoints on the potential role of nanotechnology in a wide array of strategic fields, and his dream to help young scientists from developing countries in realizing their aspirations.

Could you briefly trace your journey from your native village in India to the time when you migrated to Australia?

My life began in a very small village in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. I originally hail from a farming family but my father was a primary school teacher. We lived in modest conditions and didn’t even have electricity at home. When I was 10, my father decided to quit his teaching job and ended up in an even more remote village to take up farming. There were no schools there and we had to walk for 5 miles on mud roads to reach the nearest bus stop. I stayed back with my uncle at Vallurupalem village to finish my sixth and seventh standard but found it very difficult to travel 2 miles to the neighbouring village to attend school. Eventually, my Mathematics teacher accommodated me and I managed to complete the remaining three years of my secondary education.

After completing my senior secondary education in Guntur with modest marks, I was unable to get admission in any of the five universities in Andhra Pradesh, so I got enrolled in B.Sc. Physics at VSR College in Tenali, and here for the first time I began my studies in English medium, hitherto having studied in Telugu medium. Thereafter, I proceeded to attain my degree in M.Sc. Tech. Applied Physics and Electronics from Andhra University. Subsequently, I applied for jobs but got numerous rejections. Then, when I went for an interview to IIT Delhi to apply for an M.Techprogramme, I happened to meet one of my old classmates.He was applying for an M.Phil degree in Delhi University. I too decided to follow suit and ended up completing my M.Phil and Ph.D. in Physics (Semiconductors) in 1985. Then on a friend’s recommendation, I applied for and landed a job as a lecturer in Electronics at Sri Venkateshwar College in Delhi where I worked for 3 years. I started applying for post-doctoral fellowships to go abroad and gain some international experience. For 3 years, I got 300 rejection letters. Ultimately, I wrote to Professor David Atherton in the Physics Department at Queen’s University, Canada. But unlike my field of specialization that is semi-conductors, his was Magnetics. Eventually, 4 months later, I got an offer letter to join for a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship programme to work at Queen’s University with a probable one-year extension. I arrived in Canada in April, 1988. Despite magnetics being an entirely different field for me, I set up a new laboratory. Working for 13 to 14 years every day, I managed to generate enough information to write a paper at the end of a year and succeeded in publishing in 10 journals at the end of 2 years.

Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Then another Professor at the University told me to write to Professor Jim Williams who was starting a new Department of Electronic Materials Engineering at the Australian National University as the work there will be more in line with my original field of semi-conductors. I sent a fax to Professor Jim Williams and six months later I was offered a position at the Australian National University. By that time, I was married and had a 2-month-old daughter. I arrived in Australia with my family in July 1990.

What inspired you to opt for research in the field of nanotechnology?

For years, I worked on micro technology and semi-conductors which are used to make computer chips, LED chips and lasers. The main idea is to make them more efficient and faster. If this technology progresses to the nano-scale, the devices will become smaller and consequently more efficient, thus enabling faster communication, more efficient lasers and LEDs. Having worked on quantum wells, then quantum wires and then quantum dots, it was quite natural to eventually move on from micro technology to nanotechnology. I have been fortunate enough to have been there from the time when constructive research in this field began 20 years back. I also started the Australian Nanotechnology Network, which now has more than 2000 members.

What is the scope for nanotechnology in medical science and development of energy resources?

Nanotechnology can be applied to every industry. For example, computer chips are now being made using the smallest size of semi-conductor transistors that is, 10 nm. In the medical area, firstly nanotechnology can revolutionize disease diagnosis like cancer which at times gets detected only after it has metastasized. But if we can detect it at a single molecular level using appropriate application of nanotechnology, it can be detected at an early stage and it can be treated more effectively thereby raising the survival rate. Secondly, with nanotechnology, targeted drug delivery becomes possible. A nano-capsule can be created and functionalized so that it attaches itself to the cancerous molecules but not the good cells.

In the area of energy resources, nanotechnology enables the catalysis application to significantly enhance chemical reactions. For instance, hydrogen can be generated as a clean energy resource by using photo anodes and cathodes which use nano-structures. Carbon fibre coated with nano- particles can be a much affordable substitute for platinum which is used to make fuel cells. Nano materials can be used to make lithium-ion and sodium ion batteries, more energy efficient LED lights and even composite, light weight and strong materials for cars as well as printable solar cells.

What was the biggest turning point in your life?

I think it was when I got the opportunity to go to Canada as it opened several doors for me. I don’t think I would have been able to come to Australia if that turning point hadn’t come in my life and I wouldn’t have been able to flourish as a scientist. It was because of these opportunities that I was able to show people what I could do.

What role has Australia in general and Australian National University (ANU) in particular played in the fulfillment of your aspirations?

Of course, Australia is a great multicultural country and the people here are very friendly and very open. Australia opened several doors for me and in fact, I never thought I would be in Australia for 30 years. Two and a half years after my stay in Australia, ANU offered me a permanent position, enabled me to stay here, excel in my research, and then be able to reach the highest academic level of the Distinguished Professor of Physics. I am grateful to both Australia and ANU for giving me the opportunity to establish myself and my family here. I have had wonderful students from multiple nations and mentors such as Professor Jim Williams and Professor John Carver who steered me in the right direction.

You have been conferred with a UNESCO medal and Australia’s highest civilian award-the Companion of the Order of Australia. What do these awards mean to you?

I feel really humbled and grateful for these awards. I never anticipated receiving either of these awards. I have never chased after awards as I believe in focusing on what I can do best and working hard in enabling the careers of other people as well as serving the broader science community. All these led to the UNESCO medal for nanoscience and nanotechnology. I never imagined receiving the Companion of the Order of Australia. It goes to show magnanimity of the Australian community which recognized the ability of an immigrant who came to Australia years ago and conferred him with the highest civilian award.

What are the obstacles that young scientists from developing countries usually face and how has your endowment fund been assisting them in this regard?

The main challenge for them is that they may have lots of skills, abilities and dreams but the doors are not always opened for them. As a gratitude to my parents, teachers in both India and Australia and all those who helped me, my wife and I decided to give donations to the university to help the next generation of scientists .Fortunately, the university also matched our funding by contributing generously to our endowment fund and we were able to offer scholarships to 4-5 students from India, Indonesia and Malaysia. Based on the success of our programme, the university itself started a Future Research Talents programme of the College of Science and Technology. Last year we had 53 students from India who worked in astronomy, biology, chemistry and many other science-related disciplines. Thus, these aspirants have been able to use state-ofthe-art equipment and showcase what they possess.

The key to success is self-confidence and selfmotivation. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. We have to ourselves work towards purging the barriers that we create in our minds. Also, always choose something which you are passionate about so that you can have fun while indulging in it and do not feel the need to count the passing hours. Perseverance, persistence and a never-quit attitude are equally pivotal and so is spending quality time with one’s family and taking caring of one’s health.