Hey everyone, I’m Rajat, a recent Physics graduate from India.
I come from a small town in one of the most picturesque states of India: Uttarakhand. Although there isn’t much to do in my town per se, there are many magnificent locations close to my town that are really enjoyable for nature lovers.

If I was to mention one place for you to visit in my state, it would be the Valley of Flowers. As the name suggests, it is a beautiful valley that has been marked as a world heritage site by the UNESCO. It consists of treks and camping in the nature. If you are looking to unwind while being close to nature, this is the place!

Coming to my background, I am working part time as a tutor and freelance artist. I am also applying to graduate research programs in the US and Europe. I am interested in the application of Quantum Physics. As of now, I find Quantum Technologies to be the most fascinating.

I am looking to gain some hands-on experience in DFT and simulating in Quantum Espresso. Hopefully, this will help me work on a project and enhance my existing knowledge of Condensed Matter Physics.

I believe that having the knowledge of multiple domains equips us with the ability to think broadly. Interdisciplinary thinking is a crucial skill and I hope to gain that skill through this course. With quantum computing being one of my interests, DFT will help me benchmark my quantum simulations. Lastly, the project at the end of this course will help me gain some valuable research experience.