Research interests:

Nanophotonics for next-generation solar cells

Bio:

Dr Niraj Lal is an Australian Renewable Energy Agency Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the ANU. His interests are in nanophotonics for solar cell applications and science communication. In 2012 Niraj graduated as a Gates Scholar with a PhD in physics from the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. Prior to his PhD, Niraj worked as a bicycle courier in Perth and a travelling science presenter to primary school kids across regional WA with Scitech. Niraj graduated with a BSc in physics from the Distinguished Scholar Program at the ANU in 2007, winning the Angus Nicholson Honours Scholarship for passion and excellence in Science. He has appeared on BBC's Naked Scientists Radio, written a children's book about chaos theory, spoken as an invited speaker at international conferences and taught science at levels ranging from pre-school to post-graduate. Niraj is the 2013 ACT Young Tall Poppy of the Year and regularly gives public presentations about science and electricity - more info can be seen at his website here.

Grants:
2012-2015: Australian Renewable Energy Agency Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
2013: National Science Week ACT Seed Grant
2012: Fellow and Research Grant Recipient, Cambridge Philosophical Society
2009-2012: Gates Cambridge Scholarship, University of Cambridge
2009-2012: United Kingdom Overseas Research Studentship
2007: ANU Angus Nicholson Honours Scholarship
2006: ANU Theoretical Physics Summer Scholarship

Research opportunities with Dr Niraj LAL

• Optimising light in super high efficiency solar cells.