Meet our Bernalite Geetu Kumari, who is originally from India. Geetu is a first year PhD researcher in computational research.
Last month Geetu had the incredible opportunity to present her field of work at the International Symposium of Electrets in Linz, Austria. To be amongst like-minded individuals who shared thoughts, ideas and compared data that resonated with her realm of work, was a truly memorable moment for Geetu. She has also successfully published a paper for the Physical Review B, a journal which she holds in high regard. The title of the publication is “Intrinsic spin-dynamical properties of two-dimensional half-metallic Fe X 2 ( X = Cl, Br, I) ferromagnets: Insight from density functional theory calculations.” Which can be accessed here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.103.054409
Geetu graduated with a bachelor’s degree of Science in Computer Sciences in India. After dedicating her undergraduate degree to computer sciences, she decided to venture into the field of physics graduating in 2019 with a master’s degree. Determined to gain more experience in the research domain, Geetu worked as a research assistant at the Special Centre of Nano science in the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. While working at the Centre of Nano Science the idea sparked to venture into the computational field. Open to the opportunity of travelling and exploring new cultures she applied for the PhD position under the mentorship of her current supervisor Dr. Sarah Guerin, who provides valuable support and guidance in her academic journey. “If I have any tiny doubt, I'm never afraid or have to think twice to ask her. I just go to her and the way she explains things is helpful, easy to understand and she knows how to tackle things, how to deal with certain challenges I may encounter in my research.”
Her research involves performing DfT calculations on various structures and working on crystal structures. She receives the crystal structures from collaborators who are crystallographers, models them and predicts their electronic properties. Geetu handles the theoretical aspect of the research, while her collaborators undertake the experimental side, and they subsequently cross-reference and compare their respective data.
When asked to describe her work to the general public she explains,
“I'm a researcher, and my work involves studying a fascinating property called piezoelectricity. When you apply pressure or squeeze this crystal, it can generate electricity. My job is to understand how this happens at the atomic level and predict how much electricity we can get from different biomolecular crystals. This knowledge could be incredibly useful for developing new technologies.”
Why is this important?
“Research in piezoelectric biomolecular crystal structures is crucial because it can help create cleaner energy sources, reduce environmental impact, enhance healthcare technology, drive innovation, and improve energy efficiency, all of which have significant societal and global benefits.”
If her life could be a theme song, Geetu said ‘Let it go by Idina Menzel,’ “whatever is coming through your way, try to grab that opportunity. Try to face that challenge, learn new things, and let it go. Keep it aside.”
Congratulations on all your achievements so far! Your ambition and dedication are truly commendable. We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish next. Best of luck in all your work, we are proud to call you a #Bernalite, from #BernalNeighbourhood