Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya is a distinguished professor and researcher with over two decades of experience. A prominent figure in the field of nanotechnology, he is recognised for pioneering quantum nanotechnology research in South Africa and founding the Nano-scale Transport Physics Laboratory. A Full Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand since 2012, his expertise spans the fields of superconducting carbon-based quantum technology, qubit-circuit design, and advanced quantum simulations.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, where he earned his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics, Prof. Bhattacharyya built his mastery over High Energy Physics from Calcutta University, where he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. His distinguished career includes roles at the University of Surrey, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Indian Institute of Technology. He has held prestigious positions such as a Research Associate at Argonne National Laboratory, a Fellow at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Tech. University of Chemnitz), and a CIES Student Research Fellow at CNRS-Nantes, France. He has also served as a Visiting Professor at CNRS-Toulouse, MISIS-NUST (Moscow), the University of Leeds, and as an Adjunct Professor at Chandigarh University.
Prof. Bhattacharyya is renowned for his work on diamond-based quantum tunnel devices, spin-triplet superconductivity, diamond qubits, and NV-centre-based quantum technology. His research focuses on quantum transport in superconducting carbon-based devices, nano-scale transport at low temperatures/high magnetic fields, and device fabrication. He has successfully mentored numerous researchers, including several Post-Doctoral, Doctoral, and M.Sc. Scholars.
He has secured significant research funding, including the Multilateral BRICS Program Grant, India-South Africa Bilateral Program Grant, and the National Nanotechnology Flagship Program by the NRF (South Africa). He is interested in the philosophy of quantum mechanics and, has authored two seminal books, including Carbon Superstructures: From Quantum Transport to Quantum Computation, and has over 100 journal papers to his credit.
Some of his key Publications include Metal-insulator transition in carbon films (2001); Quantum transport in carbon superlattices (2006); High-speed transport in carbon nanotubes (2007 & 2014), and Kondo effect and spin-valve behaviour in metal functionalized carbon nanotubes and graphene (2018).
Prof. Ashay Kadam is a senior academic leader and globally acclaimed researcher in Finance with over two decades of experience across leading institutions in India, USA, UK, and Singapore. With a distinguished record in institution building, research leadership, and academic governance, he brings the strategic vision and execution capability to the PSB. Having graduated from IIT Bombay with Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science, and with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Information Systems) from IIM-Ahmedabad, he holds a PhD in Statistics and Operations Research, from Stern School of Business, New York University. His research has been published in reputed academic journals.
Prior to joining PSB, Prof. Ashay Kadam served as a Full Professor of Banking, Insurance and Financial Services at the Goa Institute of Management where he was known for integrating rigorous quantitative finance with public policy, and technology-led innovation, particularly in the domain of FinTech for social good. He played a key leadership role at GIM by strengthening research culture, advancing curriculum innovation, contributing to academic quality and governance, and most recently as the head of international relations. He was also the founder and Lead of the Community of Practice on FinTech for Social Good at GIM. Through his leadership of national and international conferences and policy forums, he has enhanced institutional visibility and fostered meaningful global and cross-sectoral engagement.
Previously, Prof. Kadam served as Full Professor of Finance at the Institute of Rural Management, Anand, at IFMR graduate school of business, Krea University and at IIM Udaipur, where he was responsible for launching the doctoral degree program in Finance. He was also Research Director of the Digital Identity Research Initiative (DIRI) at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, where he led a generously funded, interdisciplinary research centre at the intersection of finance, public policy, and digital technology.
Prior to relocating to India, he served as Senior Research Fellow at National University of Singapore, and held junior faculty positions at the City University, London, UK and at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
