Welcome to the Post Graduate Department of Physics
Department of Physics, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar is one of the premier basic science departmentsof this university in the state of Gujarat. It has a remarkable history of more than 60 years in its academic services in the field of physics within the state, nation and abroad. It was possible due to the excellent and dedicated hardwork put up by the former faculty members of this Department and the University. The contributions and the achievements of the Department towards the human resource development in the field of Physics can be gauged fromthe spread of its alumniin academic and scientific services throughout India and abroad. It is not an exaggeration to state that the Department was the pioneer in the field of crystal growth studies in India.
Today, though the pioneering work on crystal growth and characterization has continued, many new fields such as nano-science, thin films, theoretical and experimental condensed matter physics, atomic and molecular physics (theory), Structural studies of biological molecules using XRD, hadron physics (theory) etc., have been pursued and have made remarkable contributions in all these fields. The average h-index of 12 per faculty and total citations of more than 3000 reflect the research activities of the present faculty members of the Department. The excellent academic atmosphere of this Department has attracted students from all parts of Gujarat seeking admission to M Sc, M Phil and PhD programs of the Department.Our PhD holders are serving as Professors atvarious Universities and Colleges. Some of our past students have served andare serving as scientists in prestigious national and foreign laboratories / institutes / organizations including industries.Numbers of students clearing NET/SLET examinations are increasing year after year. And many of our PhD holders have passed GPSC exams recently conducted by Government of Gujarat.
The distinguishing feature of the department is that it has been a leading centre of research in the field of Condensed Matter Physics which has earned national and international recognition. Large number of major research projects funded by almost all the national funding agencies, such as UGC, CSIR, DST, DAE-BRNS, DRDO, IPCL, ISRO, GUJCOST and all the 3 Phases of DRS/SAP, DSA-I and COSIST program have been successfully completed by the department and is engaged with many ongoing major research projects funded by government agencies. The department is recognized by the Department of Science and Technology through FIST (level-I extended). Currently the Department is having excellent infrastructure facilitiessuch as single crystal X-ray diffractometer, X-ray Powder diffractometer, Spectro-flurometer, various crystal growth facilities, high temperature furnace (AGNI), high vacuum coating unit, Hall measurement system with low temperature facility, Raman spectrometer, FPLC, nano-particle size measurement system, Thermo-gravity measurement system (TGA,DGA) etc.,for high-end research activities. We have well equipped MSc (general and specialized) labs to impart an effective practical training to the students.
More than 210Ph D students have successfully completed their doctorate degree and more than 500 M. Phil Degrees in physics have been awarded. Many of the faculty members and researchers of the department have visited abroad under different schemes such as Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship/scholarship, DAAD, Fulbright, Humboldt, INSA, Royal Society (UK) and other exchange programmes of UGC, MHRD, etc. The countries visited on academic assignments include USA, UK, Canada, USSR, Russia, France, Italy, Iran, Austria, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Cuba, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, Holland, China, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Ethiopia and so on.
The student’s welfare, extra- and co- curricular activities are being looked after and nurtured by the Physical Society(a cultural society of the students and managed by the students) of the department. With the high research potential, proven teaching abilities and dedications of the faculty members of the department, today, the department is one of the centers of attraction for students from all over the state and outside the state to pursue their post graduate studies in Physics.To accommodate and to respect the interest and enthusiasm shown by the parents and students, we have increased our intake from 60 to 105 (60 grant-in aid + 45 higher fees) seats for the MSc programme.
The Department is committed to impart high quality training at the post graduation level and beyond up to doctorate studies leading to PhD. We work with the motto “Excellence Matters”.
Prof. V. M. Pathak
Head, Department of Physics