Dr. Vijay Kumar is presently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the National Institute of Technology Srinagar (J&K), India. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the SLIET Longowal. From 2013 to 2015, he was Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Phosphor Research Group, Department of Physics, University of the Free State, South Africa. His research experience, as well as research interests, lies in synthesis, processing, and characterization of functional materials, solid-state luminescent materials, bio-based/biodegradable polymers, and composite, drug delivery devices, wastewater treatment, polymer nanocomposites, and ion solid interaction. Dr.
Vishal Sharma is presently working as Assistant Professor at the Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology (IFSC), Faculty of Science, Punjab University, Chandigarh (INDIA). He is currently heading the Institute at Punjab University. He has obtained his Ph.D. degree in Physics fromKurukshetra University, India, and Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC--an autonomous center of UGC, Government of India), New Delhi (INDIA). His current research interests are in the fields of Material Science (synthesis of smart materials for different applications, nanophosphors, hydrogels), Sensors (drug sensing, fingermark sensing), Molecular Spectroscopy, Forensic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Chemometrics. Hendrik C Swart is Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of the Free State, South Africa. He has led research in the area of the degradation of phosphors for field emission displays, as well as developing materials for nano-solid-state lighting.
He has been key in the development of processes to synthesize and deposit thin films of various types of semiconductor nanoparticles, which will enhance the color, luminescent intensity, and lifetime of such displays. His research led to the establishment of a strong group working on luminescent materials and also to the establishment of several smaller groups all over South Africa. His research interests are in the areas of improvement of luminescent materials for applications in flat panel displays, solar cells, solid-state lighting, dosimetry, and thermometry.