Dr. Charusheela Ramanan

Biography

Charusheela Ramanan is an Assistant Professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where she leads the Disordered Molecular Materials group within the Photoconversion Materials section. Her research focuses on the photoactivated processes in excitonic molecular polymer systems for applications in optoelectronics, sensing, and light-driven chemical reactions. After completing her B.Sc. at the University of California, Berkeley, and earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northwestern University, Ramanan conducted postdoctoral research at Vrije Universiteit, specializing in time-resolved spectroscopy techniques. She has received several grants, including the National Growth Fund grant for her project titled 'PolyPulse', aimed at enhancing the process of plastic pyrolysis through programmed light pulses. She actively participates in various academic management roles, including being a member of the Examination Board and Admissions Committee for the Master’s program in Science, Business & Innovation at VU. Ramanan's research includes developing stimuli-responsive photoactive materials and exploring applications of polymer photoconversion in renewable energy technologies. She is recognized for her contributions to the field through numerous collaborations and research projects involving key partnerships with institutions such as TU Eindhoven.

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Experience

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