Mahananda (Nanda) Dasgupta FAA, FAIP, FAPS is an experimental physicist at the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility in the Department of Nuclear Physics of the Australian National University, whose work focuses on accelerator-based nuclear fusion and fission.

Dasgupta has made key contributions in developing theoretical models to quantum tunnelling of composite objects, and has also designed efficient experimental particle detection equipment.[1] Her current work aims to understand the quantum interactions of stable and unstable exotic nuclei, underpinning opportunities with next generation accelerators. Dasgupta's work is also advancing understanding on the transition from quantum to classical behaviour, which is important for the development of nanoscale technologies.[2]

In 1992, Dasgupta completed her PhD at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, India. Shortly after, she moved to Australia, and in 1998 was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship by the Australian Research Council.[3]

In 2003, she became the first woman appointed to a tenured position in the Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at the Australian National University,[4] and in 2004 she undertook a nationwide lecture tour as the 2004 Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) "Women in Physics" lecturer.[2]

In 2006, she was awarded the prestigious Pawsey medal from the Australian Academy of Science, which honours outstanding research in physics in Australia by a scientist under the age of 40.[1]

Dasgupta was elected a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2011, and that same year was awarded the inaugural Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship[5] from the Australian Academy of Science. The fellowship funded Dasgupta in her efforts to increase the profile of women in science and work towards advancing early career researchers as well as facilitate leadership pathways for senior women researchers.

She is also currently a member of the National Committee for Physics.

That year she also represented the Group of Eight universities at the Women in Science and Engineering summit at Parliament House.[6]

In 2019, Dasgupta was elected a fellow of the American Physical Society for "advancing the understanding of nuclear fusion through precision measurements, highlighting the role of quantum superpositions and demonstrating the suppression of fusion for weakly-bound nuclei."[7] She was joint winner with John Hinde of the 2023 Walter Boas Medal, awarded by the Australian Institute of Physics.[8]

Dasgupta has published more than 80 papers in journals such as Nature, Physics Letters and Physical Review C.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Australian Academy of Science - Awardees for 2006". 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Mahananda Dasgupta – The Conversation". Theconversation.com. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ada Lovelace Day: Mahananda Dasgupta, nuclear fusion researcher". puzzling.org. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Australian Research Council, 2011 Fellowships: "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "Physicist blazes a new path for women - Australian Academy of Science". Science.org.au. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "APS Fellow Archive". Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  8. ↑ "Revealing how superheavy elements are made – 2023 Boas Medal winners". The Australian Institute of Physics. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Professor Mahananda Dasgupta's publications list: http://physics.anu.edu.au/people/profile.php?ID=146&tab=publications
  • Professor Mahananda Dasgupta's profile at the Australian National University's Department of Nuclear Physics
  • The Conversation, 24 August 2011, "Seriously, why aren't there more women in science?" Dasgupta et al.,
  • Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, recipient of the Australian Research Council's 2001 Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship
  • Professor Mahananda Dasgupta profile, Puzzling.org
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