Dhaka : Dr. Maharshi Dey is currently working as a senior scientist at UbiQD Inc., in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. He has a doctorate in mechanical engineering with a focus and specialization in material science.

He worked on several materials research projects, leading to his expertise in nanomaterials, polymer science, composites, and nano-layered ceramics. In his current industrial R&D position, he works with nanomaterials known as quantum dots.

He and his colleagues are producing these materials for real-life product applications like agricultural films to enhance crop productivity, solar windows, security inks, and many others by partnering with different international companies. Some of these products are already commercialized, while others are nearing launch very soon.

“I was born in a big city named Kolkata in India. Growing up, I used to live in a small suburb a couple of hours away from Kolkata. Being away from the big city vibe, innovation was important to keep everything interesting.

There was innovation in games, as a hobby, and in coming up with new mischievous ways. My mom still reminds me of how I used to sit and hear stories of industrial work from my father. I even had a small laboratory set up, probably after hearing those stories from my chemist father and watching cartoons as a kid.

I definitely do not remember what research I was trying to do at five years of age, but my mom still believes that’s where my will to become a scientist started.

Maharshi mentioned that he always had an interest in physics and math. His strong hold in these two courses made him decide to go for mechanical engineering to apply these knowledges in real-life applications.

This is where he was first introduced to material science concepts through various courses during his undergraduate degree in engineering. Right after graduating, he accepted an offer from a startup company, where he worked for about a year and a half with high-temperature materials and their installations in power plants as a junior site engineer.

“Long hours at work often made me think about what I really wanted to do. My knack for innovation and research often nagged me about the situation back then. I realized in those couple of years that I wanted to nudge my ever-increasing dream of getting my PhD in material science from a United States institution.''

Maharshi has so far published many scientific articles in reputed international journals, has worked as a reviewer for various journals, has worked on technologies that are in the process of getting patented, and has also been invited to be a guest editor for some journals.

Moreover, Maharshi has already worked in several leadership roles in his career, including being invited to judge and chair different scientific competitions and conferences. His interests are to keep working in material R&D to develop real products that can help create a sustainable future.

“With my expertise and experiences, I want to keep contributing to the development of sustainable materials. My current position is a perfect opportunity for my future goals.