Dr. Prabhakar Misra awarded NSF Excellence in Research and NASA M-STAR awards

Professor of Physics, Dr. Prabhakar Misra, was awarded the National Science Foundation’s Excellence in Research grant (Howard University: $358,169 & North Carolina Central University: $358,000 for a period of 3 years, 2021-24).  Dr. Misra serves as the PI, along with Co-PIs Dr. Raul Garcia-Sanchez from Howard University and Drs. Branislav Vlahovic, Karen Dvoyan and Igor Filikhin from North Carolina Central University. The research project is focused in the following four areas of concerted effort: (1) Study of electron tunneling and exciton dynamics phenomena in binary quantum nanostructures; (2) Piezoelectric quantum dot molecules for qubits; (3) Charge dynamics and optical spectroscopy of graphitic nanomaterials; and (4) Optical and Raman spectroscopy of graphitic nanomaterials, perovskites, and piezoelectric quantum dots. It is a collaborative effort between Howard University and North Carolina Central University that combines experimental and theoretical efforts at both universities.

Dr. Prabhakar Misra has also been awarded the National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s M-STAR grant titled “Raman Cube Rover (R3R) for Enabling Lunar Science & Exploration: Integrating Technology Development in STEM Engagement” ($478,930 for a period of two years, 2021-23). Dr. Misra serves as the PI of the project, along with Co-PIs Dr. Dina Bower from the University of Maryland, and Dr. Shahid Aslam & Dr. Blanche Meeson from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and industry partner Astrobotic. The R3R concept is comprised of a rover and stationary lander working in tandem, where the Raman scattered light is collected by a novel proof-of-concept optical telescope system housed on the rover and the signal relayed back to the stationary lander, allowing for the exploitation of the ability to collect the Raman scattered radiation with optimal efficiency close to the mineral samples being studied.

Dr. Misra continues to serve as a PI on NSF’s signature Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) Program in Physics at Howard University, which is now in its third three-year cycle ($301,919; 2020-23), with co-PIs Dr. Silvina Gatica and Dr. Quinton Williams.