Optics & Photonics Technologies form the foundation for the development of several industrial sectors such as semiconductors, astronomy, optical communication, and life sciences, to name a few.
Roja Sudhakumar, our next pathbreaker, works as a Development Engineer at Bruker Optics (Germany), with a main focus on developing sophisticated and user-friendly Raman microscopes.
Roja talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about her master’s thesis on fabrication of solar cells that ultimately influenced her decision to work on photonics based technologies !
For students, in scientific research driven fields, your internships and thesis projects form the the basis of your skills while seeking full-time employment.
Roja, Your background?
I was born in a small town in Andhra Pradesh. My father worked in Hindustan Petroleum Co. Ltd. (HPCL). We relocated every three to four years due to which I completed my education in different locations like Chennai, Mumbai, and Kochi. My mother is a homemaker.
In addition to studying in different cities, I also studied in both the Central Board (CBSE) as well as the State Board. Therefore, I had a very diverse experience in terms of teaching, curriculum, educational environment, and peer group. Every school offered unique opportunities which eventually helped me cultivate different skills and interests. I participated in various extra-curricular activities when I studied in Mumbai, as the school encouraged students to engage in diverse activities. My fascination with science developed when I studied in Kochi, Kerala. This school gave a great deal of importance to co curricular as well as extra-curricular activities. I was presented with the opportunity to participate in several Science, Mathematics, and other technical workshops and exhibitions. Subsequently, I studied in Chennai for two years, and the academic setting was astonishingly distinct as compared to the previous schools. This school focused more on academics and offered several practical courses. The teachers were immensely self-driven, and I was a part of an ambitious and competitive student group which motivated me a lot academically. This was one of the starting points in my journey towards exploring the STEM field.
My father had diverse interests which also included his passion for science. He completed his bachelor’s degree in BSc Chemistry with Physics and Zoology as ancillary courses. He is a very curious person who is enthusiastic about exploring different fields. Due to his affinity towards languages, he pursued his master’s degree in Hindi Literature followed by Post Graduate Diploma in Hindi Translation. Furthermore, he graduated with a Bachelors of Education (B.Ed.) in Hindi as he wanted to become a teacher. His motivated and self-driven personality also made him pursue a master’s degree in English Literature. He started his career as a Hindi typist at Food Corporation of India (FCI) and later worked as a Hindi Typist and Translator at HPCL, eventually retiring as a Marketing Manager.
My mother, being a homemaker, is a very smart and intelligent person and has been the backbone of my career. She studied till 10th grade but could not pursue her education further due to family restrictions.
What did you do for graduation/post-graduation?
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Sriperumbudur in 2018. Subsequently, I completed my MSc degree in Optics and Photonics at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany in 2021.
What made you choose such an offbeat, unconventional and unique career?
Numerous school activities offered me an ample amount of exposure which facilitated my inclination towards science. I also feel fortunate to have gotten several opportunities to explore different academic fields at an early age which made a great impact on my personal and professional life.
One of the biggest role models of my life is my family. My father constantly described the practical experiences during his BSc Chemistry course with such enthusiasm that it only left me spellbound and intrigued. My mother always encouraged me to explore and participate in different activities which motivated me to boldly embark on a niche scientific field after my engineering. My sister has been a huge support system and a great advisor who continues to inspire me to explore new horizons.
Additionally, teachers played an enormous role in presenting science to be thought-provoking and not intimidating. After 15 years, I would state with absolute certainty that teachers play a significant role in stimulating your interest in a specific field.
During the annual science exhibitions which were organized by the school in Kochi, I vividly remember one demonstration that captivated me. In this experiment, each student was provided with a bracelet consisting of white opaque beads that changed their color when sunlight fell on them. I was fascinated by this experience and eventually explored it to discover the scientific phenomenon behind it. After some research, I learned that they were ultraviolet beads that changed their color due to the presence of a photochromic dye in them.
Thereafter, I acknowledged the simplicity of science, especially Physics, which propelled me to delve further into it.
Although I was pursuing my bachelor’s in EEE, I was still trying to explore my interests and had a vague insight into my career goals.
Initially, I never intended to pursue higher education. My primary goal was to secure a job through campus placements as it was an easy choice. However, I was quite skeptical about it as I dreamt of working in a field that I’m passionate about which fuels my curiosity. One of the significant factors that pushed me to pursue higher education was the academic environment in the college. The peer group was so competitive and ambitious that by the end of the third year, more than 60 % of my batch was preparing for the GRE and CAT. I was at crossroads, and I began to question if my career choice aligned with my purpose. Deep inside, I still wanted to pursue my career in a field purely related to Physics. Therefore, I explored the possibilities to continue my education further in a scientific field which allowed students from inter disciplinary backgrounds. After extensive research, I was determined to pursue my master’s in Optics and Photonics at KIT due to the organized course structure and the adjustment courses offered for students from diverse academic backgrounds.
Tell us about your career path.
During my bachelor’s, I participated in several scientific and technical events as well as workshops which laid the foundation for pursuing optics and photonics. My bachelor’s thesis accelerated this journey as it was closely associated with classical physics. From the beginning of the fourth year, I started applying to selective master courses that appealed to me, one of them being in Optics and Photonics at KIT. I got an early admission from this university, and I was delighted considering they admit only 40 students every year.
Throughout my master’s, I participated in different workshops and attended several seminars to broaden my knowledge and strengthen my fundamentals in the scientific field. Additionally, I gained adequate hands-on experience from laboratory courses, internships, and thesis. Over time, I realized that optics and photonics is not a niche field as it is generally portrayed to be. Optics is a branch of physics that encompasses a broad range of sub-fields, photonics being one of them. It is certainly one of the fastest-growing fields as it forms the backbone for the development of several industrial sectors such as semiconductor, astronomy, optical communication, pharmaceutical, life sciences, etc. Additionally, it facilitates advancement in science and technology as it is also employed in numerous research areas such as spectroscopy, quantum optics, renewable energy, and bio-medical, to name a few.
This course gave me a unique opportunity to explore the different research areas within optics and photonics, namely, Photonic Materials and Devices, Spectroscopy and Quantum Optics, Solar Energy, Bio-medical Photonics, and Optical Systems. Subsequently, it broadened my perspective and by the end of the first year, I was inclined towards particular specialization courses which eventually provided me with a clear vision for my career. To gain more expertise in optical design and programming, I applied for an internship that incorporated optoelectronics and computer simulation. Thereafter, I completed my internship in the field of Optical Communication which included designing and simulation in MATLAB. Eventually, I got an opportunity to work with the Solar Research group at KIT. The primary goal of my thesis was to investigate the feasibility of different blade coated perovskite thin-film methods to employ them in a (3 ∗ 3) cm2 mini-module. I was passionate about my research as I worked in multi-disciplinary areas encompassing electronics, optics, chemistry, and data analysis. This opportunity enhanced my theoretical as well as practical skills, which ultimately accelerated the path toward achieving my career goals.
I envisioned my full-time employment to provide me with a similar sense of satisfaction as I received from my thesis. Therefore, I applied for job positions that offered me equivalent opportunities which allowed me to work in a laboratory environment incorporating multi-disciplinary fields. Ultimately, I obtained the desired profession and I currently work as a Development Engineer in the field of Raman spectroscopy.
How did you get your first break?
My first break occurred when I started working on my master’s thesis. It was a completely surreal experience that is etched in my heart. I’m grateful to the professor for giving me this unique opportunity to be a part of an extremely ambitious research group in addition to providing us with sophisticated and complex equipment. I gained immense theoretical and practical knowledge by working in advanced laboratories such as clean rooms and laser labs. I cultivated expertise in employing several imaging techniques for the characterization of samples. I acquired adequate experience in implementing several techniques for my work, ranging from the fundamentals of precision glass-cutting to employing different coating devices such as spin-coating and thermal vapor deposition machines for the fabrication of solar cells. This entire experience was life-changing and ultimately influenced my decision when I was seeking full-time employment.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1:
Although it was fascinating at the beginning, it has been a difficult journey to do a master’s in a purely scientific field with an engineering background. However, my decision to pursue a career in Physics motivated me to work hard and stay focused on my goals. Several instances made me realize that my fundamentals were not sufficient. Therefore, I focused on strengthening my basics and I acquired adequate knowledge of basic concepts of optics and spectroscopy through books that were accredited for the BSc Physics degree in India.
Challenge 2:
Language was one of the major barriers I faced when I was searching for a full-time job in Germany. Even though I learned German till the A2 level, most of the companies preferred a fluent German speaker. After discussing this issue with my managers and HR during the job interview, they agreed to communicate in English and suggested a slow transition from English to German over the long term as my current job does not require frequent communication with potential customers. Currently, I have completed my German up to B1 level, and we communicate in German as well as English.
Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?
I work at Bruker Optics in the field of Raman spectroscopy. The main objective of my work is to develop sophisticated and user-friendly Raman microscopes employing cutting-edge technology that offers high performance along with fulfilling all the technical specifications.
My job responsibilities comprise working across different technical fields, namely optics, software, electronics, and mechanics. This includes tasks such as constructing, implementing, and testing various optical components, and building an optical system that fulfills the specifications. I’m also involved in developing, optimizing, and integrating appropriate software models, often in collaboration with electronic and mechanical systems.
What skills are needed for the job? How did you acquire the skills?
Sound theoretical knowledge in the fields of optics, optoelectronics, and laser physics is required for this job. Furthermore, adequate practical experience in working with high-power laser systems while abiding by subsequent safety measures along with sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge in employing different analytical instruments for characterization is essential. Additionally, fundamental knowledge of data analysis using different programming languages is necessary.
During my master’s thesis, I gained massive exposure working in advanced laboratories and obtained sufficient hands-on experience working with sophisticated scientific equipment for the characterization of solar cells. Furthermore, I analyzed and evaluated the recorded data using Python, MATLAB, and Origin which enhanced my knowledge of working with different software interfaces.
What’s a typical day like?
My work is usually focused on performing and investigating a plethora of experiments in the laboratory. My tasks are distributed over multiple technical areas, depending on the requirements of our research project. This involves conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and testing several electronics, optics, and software interfaces that comply with the official standards and regulations, and fulfill the product specifications.
What is it you love about this job?
My job involves working in interdisciplinary fields.
Therefore, it never gets monotonous as there is always room for constant development, simultaneously allowing me to gain expertise in multiple areas.
Additionally, being a part of a research and development team has always been my passion and I feel fortunate to be working alongside extremely competent colleagues who inspire me to constantly learn and tackle challenges.
How does your work benefit society?
A Raman microscope /spectroscope is very useful for the characterization and analysis of different samples in a non-invasive method. Hence, it is popular in several pharmaceutical and biomedical fields and is used for example, in in-situ diagnosis of cancer cells, quantifying chemical composition of medicines, and invention of new drugs. Furthermore, it is employed in restoration of historical artifacts, identification of minerals and gemstones, examination of powder content and purity in cosmetics, etc. It forms the basis of several discoveries and/or inventions, thereby facilitating progress in science and technology.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Raman research group in my company and it has helped me advance in my career in a multitude of ways. Although I started my work only one and half years ago, it is difficult to choose one specific work as I’ve worked on a couple of sub-projects and each of them allowed me to expand my boundaries and develop expertise in different areas. My entire experience so far has been memorable and I’m glad to have gotten an opportunity to work alongside a group of immensely talented scientists and engineers.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
Based on my experience, my advice to the students would be to ensure that you are focused on your goals and step out of your comfort zone to gain the necessary theoretical and practical skills. Seize the opportunities presented to you and gain adequate hands-on experience through internships and thesis, as this forms the foundation while seeking full-time employment. Try to develop and maintain strong contacts within your peer group and online community, and enhance your soft skills as it would be beneficial for career advancement. Never cease to learn and explore your interests and don’t settle down for the safe option if you are not passionate about it. Always stay curious and be willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
Future Plans?
I would like to enhance my skills further in my current position along with learning to tackle complex technical challenges on different levels which would eventually facilitate my career advancement. As I work in a research oriented field, I intend to continually update my knowledge by attending various conferences and closely following the papers published in the scientific community. I would eventually like to lead future projects and contribute on a broader level to keep up with the increasing demand for more intricate and sophisticated instruments.