Arghya Sarkar
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
- Material, analytical and physical chemist with 5+ years of experience in metrology techniques, optical setups, lasers, synthesis, data driven process optimization and R&D.
- Expertise in statistical process control (SPC), design of experiment (DOE) data-driven decision-making, building optical setups, high-throughput experimentation, analytical characterization for process development and yield improvement. Proficient in SEM, Raman, and over 7 different ultrafast and steady-state spectroscopy techniques.
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making, troubleshooting, and leadership abilities with extensive attention to detail. Highly adaptable with continuous learning mindset.
- Proven ability to lead experimental research, solve challenging process engineering issues, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement innovative solutions.
- Published author with manuscripts (1 published, 1 accepted, and 2 more in preparation) in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing cutting-edge research in material science
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Minnesota
01.2020 - Current
- Engineered novel surface-enhanced femtosecond stimulated Raman (SE-FSRS) setups to investigate plasmon-molecule interactions.
- Involved building entirely new optical setup and writing LabVIEW codes from scratch
- Optimized synthesis of plasmonic nanomaterials, including nanoparticle-on-mirror (NPoM) cavity and gold film over nanospheres (FONS) substrates
- Employed UV-Vis, SEM and TEM techniques to characterize plasmonic nanomaterials and get structural information
- Conducted ultrafast surface enhanced Raman (SERS) studies to compare different classes of plasmonic nanomaterials and determine efficiency using design of experiments (DOE)- Manuscript currently in preparation
- Applied statistical and data-driven design decisions to analyze experimental data, enhancing reproducibility and scalability of plasmon driven reactions- Manuscript currently in preparation
- Collaborated with other groups to characterize and probe chiral plasmonic nanomaterials using circular dichroism microscopy setups to explore optical activity of nanomaterials
- Involved building new circular dichroism microscopy setup
- Performed troubleshooting and maintenance of class IV pulsed laser systems: addressing mode lock issues and amplifier replacements, while ensuring compliance with safety protocols
- Analyzed raw data and compiled 300+ reports for weekly meetings and conferences using statistical processing tools (Igor, Python and Excel), ultimately creating actionable data-driven insights
- Conducted targeted literature searches to produce informed decisions
- Mentored researchers in spectroscopy techniques, ensuring high-quality data collection and analysis
Public Relations Officer, Joint Safety Team
University of Minnesota
01.2023 - 08.2024
- Organized safety audits and walk throughs, ensuring compliance with laboratory protocols across the department
- Made 10+ posters every year to highlight proper safety protocol while working in laboratory setting
Lab Data and Manuscript Managing Office
University of Minnesota
08.2020 - 08.2022
- Managed at least 15 publication related information within the lab such as data, manuscript, SI, figures and kept them up to date
Treasurer
Bengali Student Society of Minnesota
08.2019 - 05.2022
- Managed budgets and organized cultural events twice every year, fostering community engagement
General Chemistry Laboratory Teaching Assistant
University of Minnesota
08.2019 - 05.2021
- Instructed and mentored 50+ students per semester in guided-inquiry laboratory experiments, emphasizing safety and technical communication
- Tutored general chemistry students, 4-6 hrs./week
Research Assistant
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
01.2016 - 05.2019
- Synthesized and characterized 5+ organic semiconductor-inspired molecular assemblies and investigated opto-electronics properties
- Conducted UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy to probe aggregation-induced changes in optical properties
- Organized research materials, maintaining a well-ordered workspace conducive to productivity.
Summer Research Intern
University of Göttingen
06.2017 - 08.2017
- Performed fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to determine diffusion coefficients in biological systems.
- Streamlined data analysis by utilizing statistical software tools for better interpretation of research findings.
- Completed research, compiled data, and assisted in timely reporting.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. - Chemistry
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN04.2025
Master of Science - Chemistry
Indian Institute of Science Education And Research (IISER)
Kolkata, India06.2018
Skills
- LabVIEW
- Igor Pro
- Python
- MATLAB
- JMP
- SQL
- LaTeX
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Illustrator
- Blender
- Gaussian
- Linux
- Pump-probe laser spectroscopy
- Raman Imaging
- Transient absorption
- Optical activity
- Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
- Optical Parametric Amplifiers
- Fiber optics
- Grating filter
- Prism compressor
- Plasmonic nanoparticles synthesis
- Plasma cleaning
- Spin coating
- Organic syntheses
- Schlenk line
- UV-Vis
- FTIR
- NMR
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Circular dichroism
- Cyclic voltammetry
- Chromatography
- SEM
- Raman
- XRD
- AFM
- TEM
- Technical reports
- Experiment documentation
- Research publications
- Presentations
- Clark-MXR ultrafast laser
- Mode lock issues
- Fiber optic laser systems
- Systematic troubleshooting
- Data analysis
- Statistical processing
- Optical characterization
- Laser operation
- Research methodology
- Technical writing
- Equipment maintenance
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Analytical thinking
- Academic presentations
- Self-directed and motivated
- Literature reviews
- Academic research
- Research design
- Research and analysis
- Presentation development
- Scientific communication
- Problem-solving
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Running experiments
- Publication preparation
- Quantitative analysis
- Laboratory testing
- Data coding and analysis
- Strong work ethic
- Data modeling
Presentations
- 2024, Annual physical society (APS) March meeting, Poster presentation, Probing ultrafast plasmon-molecule interactions using surface-enhanced femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy
- 2024, MRSEC (Materials research science and engineering center), University of Minnesota, Poster presentation, Scalable Boundary Element Modeling of Chiral Nanophotonic Environments
- 2022, 21st Annual Graduate student research symposium, University of Minnesota, Oral presentation, Probing plasmon mediated chemistry using surface enhanced femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy
Leadership And Teaching
- Public Relations Officer, Joint Safety Team, UMN, 01/01/23, 08/31/24, Organized safety audits and walkthroughs, ensuring compliance with laboratory protocols across the department.
- General Chemistry Laboratory Teaching Assistant, 08/01/19, 05/31/21, Instructed and mentored 50+ students per semester in guided-inquiry laboratory experiments, emphasizing safety and technical communication., Tutored general chemistry students, 4-6 hrs./week.
- Lab data and manuscript managing office, 08/01/20, 08/31/22, Managed publication related information within the lab such as data, manuscript, SI, figures and kept them up to date.
- Treasurer, Bengali Student Society of Minnesota (BSSM), 08/01/19, 05/31/22, Managed budgets and organized cultural events, fostering community engagement.
Academic Awards And Scholarships
- Nominated for Doctoral Dissertation fellowship (DDF) 2023 award., Ranked among the top 11 applications out of 75 applicants in the department.
- Nominated twice for outstanding General Chemistry Teaching Assistant award., 2020 and 2021
- Awarded 'Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research' (INSPIRE) fellowship, Funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, (2013-2018).
- Awarded 'DST Mentorship Grant' - 2017 fellowship, by IISER Kolkata, for summer internship at University of Gottingen, Germany.
Publications
- Sarkar, A.; Koble, M.; Frontiera, R. R., Plasmon driven chemistry., Annual Review Physical Chemistry, 2024, Manuscript accepted
- Sarkar, A.; Yu, Z; Frontiera, R. R., Probing vibrational energy dynamics in plasmonic nanomaterials using ultrafast Raman thermometry., Manuscript in preparation
- Sarkar, A; Koble, M.; Frontiera, R. R., Continuous wave vs pulsed laser mediated plasmonic reduction of methyl viologen., Manuscript in preparation
- Warkentin, C. L.; Yu, Z.; Sarkar, A.; Frontiera, R. R., Decoding Chemical and Physical Processes Driving Plasmonic Photocatalysis Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopies., Acc. Chem. Res., 2021, 54, 10, 2457-2466, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00088
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Bengali
Native or Bilingual
Hindi
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Public Relations Officer, Joint Safety Team
University of Minnesota
01.2023 - 08.2024
Lab Data and Manuscript Managing Office
University of Minnesota
08.2020 - 08.2022
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Minnesota
01.2020 - Current
Treasurer
Bengali Student Society of Minnesota
08.2019 - 05.2022
General Chemistry Laboratory Teaching Assistant
University of Minnesota
08.2019 - 05.2021
Summer Research Intern
University of Göttingen
06.2017 - 08.2017
Research Assistant
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
01.2016 - 05.2019
Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. - Chemistry
University of Minnesota
Master of Science - Chemistry
Indian Institute of Science Education And Research (IISER)
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