Atomic Physics and Quantum Optics Lab

Current Group Members

Principal Investigator

Umakant D Rapol

Professor

email: umakant.rapol@iiserpune.ac.in

M.Sc. University of Pune (1996)
Ph.D. IISc Bangalore with Vasant Natarajan (2003)
Visiting researcher, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, France (2003-2004)
Visiting researcher, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (2004-2005)
Lead Scientist Micro and Nano Structures Technology Division, General Electric Global Research, JFWTC Bangalore, India (2005-2009)

PhD Students

Rayees A S

PhD Student (2022-Present)

rayees.as@students.iiserpune.ac.in

M.Sc. IIT, Ropar
BSc. Farook College, Kozhikode, Kerala

Shuvarati Roy

PhD Student (2022-Present)

shuvarati.roy@students.iiserpune.ac.in

BS-MS, IISER Berhampur

Joel Sunil

PhD Student (2022-Present)

joel.sunil@students.iiserpune.ac.in

BS-MS, BITS Pilani, Goa

Monu Bhartiya

Integrated PhD Student (2023-Present)

monu.bhartiya@students.iiserpune.ac.in

B.Sc. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Saurabh Mishra

PhD Student (Joined-2025)

saurabh.mishra@students.iiserpune.ac.in

M.Sc. University of Hyderabad
BSc. University of Allahabad

Somnath De

Integrated PhD Student (Joined-2025)

monu.bhartiya@students.iiserpune.ac.in

B.Sc. Barasat Government College, West Bengal

BS-MS Students

Abhishek Ranjith

5th year BS-MS student

abhishek.ranjith@students.iiserpune.ac.in

Dipansh Rajput

5th year BS-MS student

dipansh.rajput@students.iiserpune.ac.in

Gautam Gopal

5th year BS-MS student

gautam.gopal@students.iiserpune.ac.in

Sharan K

5th year BS-MS student

sharan.k@students.iiserpune.ac.in

Prasad Chadchankar

5th year BS-MS student

chadchankar.prasad@students.iiserpune.ac.in

Openings

3^rd and 4^th year IISER-Pune undergrad students interested in hands-on experimental research in atomic physics and lasers may contact Prof. Umakant Rapol.

Alumni

PhD Students

Jay Mangaonkar

Postdoctoral Researcher (2023-2025) and iPhD Student (2016-2021)

Co-Founder and Director of QuPrayog

https://quprayog.com/

Korak Biswas

PhD Student

Co-Founder and Chief of Tech. at GDQ Labs

https://www.gdqlabs.com/

Pranab Dutta

PhD Student

Co-Founder and CEO of GDQ Labs

https://www.gdqlabs.com/

Kushal Patel

Integrated PhD Student

Co-Founder and Chief of Eng. at GDQ Labs

https://www.gdqlabs.com/

Shiv Sagar Maurya

Integrated PhD Student

Currently at PTB as a Postdoctoral Researcher

Sunil Kumar

PhD Student

Assistant Professor at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

Sumit Sarkar

iPhD Student

Currently at University of Amsterdam as a Postdoctoral Researcher

Chetan Vishwakarma

iPhD Student

Currently at PTB as a Researcher

Gunjan Verma

PhD Student

Scientist at UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research

BS-MS Students

Vishal Lal

BS-MS Student

Currently at PTB as a PhD

Jithin K

Masters Student

Currently at University of Birmingham, UK as a Postdoctoral researcher

M Sainath

Masters Student

Currently at IonQ as a Scientist

Noaman

Masters Student

Currently at WaveRyde as a Scientist

Sindhu Jammi

Masters Student

Currently at Q-CTRL as a Senior Scientist

Alumni Startups

GDQ Labs

Focuses on creating AI-powered quantum magnetometers that revolutionize GPS-free navigation, healthcare solutions, and geophysical exploration. For more information visit https://www.gdqlabs.com/

QuPrayog

QuPrayog is committed to indigenous innovation in quantum technology and developing advanced scientific instruments which have applications in metrology, microscopy, spectroscopy, and quantum computing. Ti-sapphire lasers and portable optical atomic clock are the key focus areas. For more information visit https://quprayog.com/