Lamp-lit home to London lab: IIT Hyderabad PhD from Bengal village wins Marie Curie postdoc fellowship

Mohammad Soif Ahmed was in Class 8 before he had electricity at home in Murshidabad, West Bengal. A lantern for general illumination and a “small lamp” for studying was all his grandfather could afford. He’s come a long way from there, having spent most of his research life studying the effects of light on materials. Later this year, he’ll lead his own group at the Imperial College London, on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship, awarded by the European Union.

Ahmed, 30, is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the IMDEA Nanosciencia in Madrid, Spain, where he works on semiconductor materials using terahertz spectroscopy. "IMDEA is an institute where physicists, chemists and biologists work together to understand materials that can improve optoelectronic devices," he explained. But the ultimate goal is to have his own research group at an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) or a top research institution .

Growing up, his ambitions were more modest. "Till Class 10, I had no idea about IITs or PhDs. My only goal was to be the class topper," he said.

‘We never really had breakfast’

Ahmed spent much of his childhood at his maternal grandparents’ home in Raninagar area of Murshidabad. His father ran a small pharmacy in Komnagar village of the same district and didn’t make enough to support the family.

He attended the government-run Komnagar Primary School from Class 1 to Class 4. “The school had only one structure which was used as an office, and we studied sitting on jute mats under a mango tree," he recalled.

Ahmed remembers those years not as difficult but as formative. Growing up in a large joint family meant shared learning and companionship.

"There were five school-going students in the house. We studied together and helped each other. If I had a problem in mathematics, I would ask my maternal uncle who was in Class 10. For English, I would ask my maternal aunt who was in Class 12. Growing up in a joint family was fun," he said.

Financial hardship also shaped their lifestyle.

"We never really had breakfast. Sometimes just a biscuit or sattu, before leaving for school. We never bought fruits or vegetables. Whatever grew in the village is what we ate," he said.

Meals often depended on what was locally available and what seasonal fruits and vegetables grew in the village.

"We ate raw bananas or raw jackfruit for days. My grandmother would bring leafy greens and cook saag. We had fish once in 40–45 days and mutton once in three months," he said.

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Despite these challenges, studies were of utmost importance. "We never looked at these as problems. We always looked forward to study time and play time. Interestingly, all of us were position holders in school. Although I used to have second rank till Class 7, from Class 8, I stood first," he said.

Stability, Kolkata, Aliah University

Ahmed’s father securing a school teaching job marked a turning point. His father started teaching geography at Raninagar High School when Ahmed himself was in Class 8. "After my father got the job, he built a house and we shifted there. That brought some stability to our lives," he said. It also brought electricity.

Ahmed studied up to Class 10 at Raninagar High School in Murshidabad. After that, his father sent him to Kolkata to complete Classes 11 and 12 at a private institution.

"For my parents, Kolkata was a big opportunity . My father especially wanted me to study there for better exposure, though my mother was a little reluctant initially," he said.

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After school, he completed a five-year integrated MSc in physics at Aliah University, Kolkata, graduating in 2018.

At IIT Hyderabad

Upon clearing the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) , Ahmed joined IIT Hyderabad ’s department of physics for a PhD in 2019, leaving West Bengal for the first time.

His supervisor was Sai Santosh Kumar Raavi who, he said, offered “constant support, both academically and personally”.

Ahmed’s doctoral research focused on optics and spectroscopy, particularly studying how semiconductor materials behave when excited by ultrafast laser pulses. “My research helps us understand how materials behave when exposed to light. This knowledge helps engineers design better solar cells, LEDs and photodetectors," he explained.

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Interestingly, chemistry, now a part of his interdisciplinary research, was once his weakest point.

"In school, I was actually afraid of chemistry. Organic chemistry and benzene rings seemed very complicated and I even feared failing," he said, adding, “Through consistent effort, I eventually scored the highest marks in chemistry in Class 12. Physics, however, always remained my favourite subject."

Research, post doc abroad

During the final year of his PhD, Ahmed received the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, which allowed him to conduct research at the University of Bern.

"It was my first major international research exposure," he said. He worked under Natalie Banerjee who had been a student of Nobel Laureate Alan J. Heeger.

"Although I did not meet Professor Heeger personally, being academically connected to that lineage was inspiring," he added.

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After Switzerland, he moved to Spain in 2024 to pursue postdoctoral research at the IMDEA Nanosciencia.

Marie Curie Fellowship and Imperial College London

Ahmed next won the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship, an independent fellowship where researchers propose their own projects. It has a grant value of € 276,187.92, roughly Rs 3 crore at the time of writing.

"It is extremely competitive," he said. The MSCA fellowships are the European Union’s flagship programme encouraging doctoral and postdoctoral research.

Ahmed is expecting to move to London in November. At Imperial College London, he will lead his own project.

"I will be working on my own proposed project as the main researcher. I will have a team of PhD students, and my host supervisor will provide the research facilities," he explained.

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The project will run for two years and will be on “ultrafast spectroscopy using femtosecond lasers to study quantum-confined semiconductor (perovskite) materials”. He simplified it saying, “Like my earlier work, this research also aims to contribute to sustainable and energy-efficient technologies."

Coming home and IITs

Despite opportunities abroad, Ahmed says his long-term plan is to return to India.

"The competition for IIT faculty positions is very high. I wanted to build a strong international research profile so that I become eligible," he said.

That apart, he hopes to contribute to Murshidabad, his home district. “Murshidabad still lacks strong higher education and healthcare facilities. I want to contribute to improving these areas," he said. "I want my younger brother to become a doctor. He is preparing for that."

His wife, Shabnur Parveen, a researcher in English literature from the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) Hyderabad, is also a recipient of the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.

"We both understand the challenges of research life and support each other's academic journeys," he said.