Bhaskar Abhiraman

Bhaskar Abhiraman

Hometown

New Canaan, Connecticut

 

Degrees Pursing

Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Astronomy 

Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Electrical Engineering

Master of Science in Engineering in Electrical Engineering

 

Research Interests

I specialize in optoelectronic and nanophotonic research and development, with an eye towards sustainable tech. After my freshman year, I worked with Professor Aaswath Raman in ESE to design a metamaterial that passively cools via selective radiation of infrared light transmittable by the atmosphere. This technology has applications in low (or zero) power air conditioning, refrigeration, and even water harvesting. I presented this work at the 2019 Global Water Alliance conference. Since my sophomore year, I’ve worked with Professor Deep Jariwala in ESE. In the Jariwala group, I study the coupling of optical modes to enhance and suppress exciton resonances in patterned dielectrics. I was invited to speak about this work at the 2020 APS March Meeting, and this work will be published in Nature Communications in the summer of 2020.

 

Why did you choose VIPER?

Designing a sustainable world is the challenge of our generation. VIPER is an amazing way to start a career thinking about the cutting-edge tech to make it happen.

 

What are three words you would use to describe VIPER?

People in VIPER are curious, tough, and passionate.

 

What is your favorite aspect about the program?

VIPER without research would just be VIPE. Few things beat the rush of asking your own questions and then doing whatever it takes to answer them!

 

How do you see VIPER integrating into your future goals?

Because of my first year of VIPER research, I got introduced to the beautiful and bizarre world of nanophotonics, the study of how light behaves when you engineer structures smaller than the wavelength of light. In my future, I hope to work on R&D of nanophotonic devices for sustainable applications.

 

How do you like to spend your free time? Are you involved in any organizations in or out of Penn?

Outside of the lab, you can find me playing the piano around campus, sweating with Penn Boxing, biking around Philly, or honing the art of the taco. You can check out my personal projects here!

 

What advice would you give to incoming VIPER students?

Pick a research group that treats you like a grad student and is willing to promote your personal intellectual growth. And planning your courses can be intimidating, but upperclassman VIPERs will always be happy to help!

Graduation Year