Padmaja Mishra

Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics

The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics is an institute of basic scientific research located in Kolkata (Calcutta). The Institute was founded in 1950 by Professor Meghnad Saha as a part of University of Calcutta. At that time, it was called the "Institute of Nuclear Physics", with Professor Meghnad Saha the founding director. In the beginning, research was mainly directed towards Nuclear Physics, which was an emerging field at that time and also Biophysical Sciences. After Meghnad Saha's death in 1956, the Institute was renamed to commemmorate its founder. The Institute grew gradually, and its research diversified into many fields of physics, chemistry and biological sciences. The name, however, remained, although it is by no means an "Institute of Nuclear Physics" only. There are now about 125 faculty members of the Institute engaged in research in various fields such as Condensed Matter Physics, Material Physics, Nuclear Physics, High Energy Physics and Microelectronics, Theoretical Physics as well as Biophysical Sciences. The Institute has a vibrant Ph.D. Programme. It also has short term training programmes for Summer Projects for graduate students as well as an Undergraduate Associateship Programme.