Lamp-lit home to London lab: IIT Hyderabad PhD from Bengal village wins Marie Curie postdoc fellowship
In a remarkable journey from humble beginnings to international recognition, physicist Md Soif Ahmed has been awarded the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship by the European Union. This fellowship will allow him to lead his own research project at Imperial College London starting in November 2026.
Early Life and Education
Md Soif Ahmed was born and raised in Murshidabad, West Bengal, in a household that lacked basic amenities such as electricity. It wasn’t until he was in Class 8 that his home was finally connected to the power grid. Until then, Ahmed relied on a lantern for general illumination and a small lamp for studying, which his grandfather could afford.
His educational journey began at the government-run Komnagar Primary School, where classes were held under a mango tree due to the lack of proper infrastructure. Ahmed recalls, “The school had only one structure which was used as an office, and we studied sitting on jute mats.” Despite these challenges, he and his cousins made the most of their situation, sharing knowledge and helping each other with their studies.
Challenges and Triumphs
Ahmed’s family faced significant financial hardships. His father operated a small pharmacy, which barely supported the family. Meals were often sparse, with breakfast sometimes consisting of just a biscuit or a small portion of sattu. “We never bought fruits or vegetables; whatever grew in the village is what we ate,” he explained.
Despite these difficulties, Ahmed and his cousins excelled academically. “We never looked at these as problems. We always looked forward to study time and play time,” he said. His determination paid off, as he consistently ranked among the top students in his class. After Class 10, his father secured a teaching job, which brought stability to their lives and allowed them to move into a proper home with electricity.
Higher Education and Research
Ahmed completed his secondary education at Raninagar High School and later moved to Kolkata to pursue his higher studies. He attended GD Academy for his Classes 11 and 12, where he gained valuable exposure to a more competitive academic environment. He then completed a five-year integrated MSc in physics at Aliah University, graduating in 2018.
In 2019, Ahmed cleared the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and joined the PhD program at IIT Hyderabad’s Department of Physics. Under the supervision of Sai Santosh Kumar Raavi, he focused his research on optics and spectroscopy, particularly studying the behavior of semiconductor materials when excited by ultrafast laser pulses. “My research helps us understand how materials behave when exposed to light, which is crucial for designing better solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors,” he explained.
International Experience
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. This experience marked his first significant exposure to international research, where he worked under Natalie Banerjee, a former student of Nobel Laureate Alan J. Heeger. “Although I did not meet Professor Heeger personally, being academically connected to that lineage was inspiring,” he noted.
In 2024, Ahmed moved to Spain to pursue postdoctoral research at IMDEA Nanosciencia, where he focused 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.
Marie Curie Fellowship and Future Plans
Ahmed’s recent achievement, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship, is highly competitive and allows researchers to propose their own projects. The fellowship comes with a grant value of €276,187.92, approximately Rs 3 crore. “It is extremely competitive,” he said, emphasizing the significance of this recognition.
Upon receiving the fellowship, Ahmed expressed his excitement about leading his own research project at Imperial College London. “I will be working on my own proposed project as the main researcher, and I will have a team of PhD students under my guidance,” he explained. This opportunity represents a significant step in his academic career, as he aims to establish his own research group at a prestigious institution in the future.
Conclusion
Md Soif Ahmed’s journey from a small village in West Bengal to becoming a leading researcher in the field of physics is an inspiring tale of perseverance and dedication. His story highlights the importance of education, resilience, and the pursuit of knowledge, serving as a beacon of hope for many aspiring scientists around the world.
Note: This article is based on the achievements and experiences of Md Soif Ahmed as of March 30, 2026.
