As a researcher who has been working on proof of principle experiments in a lab, it is emotionally very rewarding to see the science develop into a product and help improve the quality of lives, or even save lives. 

Malvika Garikapati, our next pathbreaker, Quantum Optical Scientist at Quantum Computing Inc (New Jersey), specializes in quantum remote sensing and cybersecurity projects, with the aim of developing proof-of-concepts and products in collaboration with colleagues from various disciplines.

Malvika talks to  Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about how her exposure to a wide range of scientific groups and institutions like Bangalore Astronomical Society, Brain Stars, MPBIFR, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, knowingly or unknowingly shaped the rest of her career.

For students, there is only one talent that you need to have to succeed in life, your attitude to explore and learn !

Malvika, can you tell us about your growing up years?

I was born in Bangalore, my mother is a fashion designer, artist and an entrepreneur, and my dad was a mechanical engineer. I witnessed a solar eclipse when I was 3 years old in Calcutta, where we briefly lived. My parents tried to satiate my curiosity by explaining the phenomenon in layman terms. But it could not satisfy my hunger to know the workings of the universe and curiosity got the better of me and pushed me towards science. I fell in love with physics before I knew it was called physics. I was fortunate to discover my passion at a very young age, crystallizing it to a career came over a period though.

What did you study after school?

I pursued physics in addition to chemistry and mathematics (pure sciences) in my Bachelors of Science at Mount Carmel College, against everyone’s opinions. During the first month of college, by a stroke of cosmic luck, I came across a poster in the physics department regarding a course on astrophysics. Picking up the phone to call them was a game changer in my career, as I was exposed to a world of opportunities (perks of living in Bangalore). I attended astronomy, astrophysics, solar astronomy, and cosmology courses in M. P. Birla Institute of Fundamental Research (MPBIFR). During these classes, I was introduced to a wide range of scientific groups and institutions like Bangalore Astronomical Society, Brain Stars, MPBIFR, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, and other people who knowingly or unknowingly shaped the rest of my future.

What were some of the occurrences and influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional and uncommon career? 

Both luck and proactive approach to opportunities have played a major role in shaping my career. While hanging out with friends and teachers from scientific backgrounds, I got to know about a series of talks that were being held for like-minded, knowledge hungry individuals every Saturday at 5pm. Every week, there was a different speaker with a different topic, and this broadened our knowledge and perspective. In one such talk, I was exposed to the world of quantum mechanics and the wonderful concepts like quantum entanglement, quantum key distribution, quantum cryptography, and so on. I don’t know if the speaker knew the impact his talk had on me, but his talk changed my entire life. I got obsessed about quantum communication, started reading about it, started teaching and discussing these concepts with all my friends and family (including my grandmother who was extremely interested in learning new things and asked me thought provoking questions). The more I read about it, the more it blew my mind and I had subconsciously decided what I wanted to do with my life. 

Can you tell us about your career path after your bachelors?

With this in mind, I pursued a Masters in physics at National College, Bangalore. During my master’s I focused on building up my knowledge base in not only physics but all the relevant fields that were useful for a career in quantum communication like cryptography, probability theory, etc. In addition to the courses at college during my Bachelors and Masters, I continued to attend every lecture or event that I possibly could. I volunteered and participated in multiple outreach programs for science, women in science, conducted by foundations, city’s planetarium, student groups and organizations. I consider myself fortunate to have crossed paths with a diverse array of individuals who inspired, motivated and kept me humble throughout my journey. I am truly blessed to be born to a supportive mother who prioritized education, let me make my own decisions and went out of her way to help me at every step.

After my MSc, I wanted to continue my education and remain in the research field. I wanted to go outside India to expand my horizons, and so I started preparing for GRE and TOEFL exams. While there are a lot of people who go abroad to get their Masters, I didn’t find anyone to guide me to pursue a PhD program. I lacked proper information, all the way from getting a bank loan to approaching a professor. Unlike a master’s program, securing a loan is challenging for a PhD program, since it has no end date. I had to take a home loan and borrow money from other people to pursue my passion (I cannot, in human words, express how much my mother supported me through all of this). 

During this process, I came across 3 workshops at National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), about quantum cognition and related topics and joined them all. I also connected with 2-3 teachers/professors and started working on small projects and reading advanced material on quantum communication and information. I also did a small project on using RSA cryptography to bypass captcha and a project on using quantum mechanics to understand human cognition. After some research and with a lot of luck, I found a professor at Stevens Institute of Technology who worked on exactly what I wanted to pursue. 

After graduating from masters, I further pursued my education by applying for a PhD program, under Prof. Yuping Huang.

How would you describe some of your experiences during your PhD?

I started my research in Quantum Enhanced Systems and Technology (QuEST) labs where I first delved into experimental quantum optics. Transitioning from theoretical knowledge to experimental challenges presented a significant learning curve. During this time, I learnt how to setup and design intricate optical systems, learn electronics, simulations, programming, to communicate with various hardware devices, and work on automation, etc. What I am most proud of is that my mentors like Dr. Yong Meng Sua, and Dr. Santosh Kumar, not only guided me through daily problem solving but also instilled in me a sense of independence, significantly elevating my troubleshooting skills.

During my PhD journey, I often worked till late at night or even overnight in the lab, tackling complex projects involving intricate optical and electrical setups. This process starts with idea generation, literature review, and component selection. Procuring and customizing components, considering budgets and lead times, is a significant task. Assembling the system on an optical table, addressing issues along the way, can take several months. Once complete, we align and fine-tune the system before collecting data, which can range from minutes to hours. If data collection spans multiple days, the alignment process must be repeated. I am currently in the final days of my PhD program, and when I look back, I can definitely say that, despite the numerous personal, financial, and emotional challenges I’ve faced, I could not have come this far in my career had I not been madly and deeply in love with what I do. It certainly helped to have a supportive husband in Ravi Babu, who was a constant source of emotional and moral support. 

Can you explain Quantum Physics to us?

Physics is the foundation of understanding everything around us, from the color of the sky, how our light bulbs work, to the behavior of black holes. I specialize in quantum physics focusing on concepts like superposition, entanglement. In entanglement, two particles are linked such that knowing one’s state reveals information about the other, even if it is separated by a large distance. What’s even more fascinating is that if one particle changes, the other particle will instantly adjust to complement it. If you want to know more about this topic, you can read it here. This fascinating concept has applications in bank security, private communication, gaming, sensing, metrology, and more.  

How did you get your first break?

I have completed my courses and research work required for the completion of my PhD. I am currently working on writing another research paper, and working on my thesis and defense, during this time we are allowed to work on CPT or OPT. I started working as an intern that later converted to a full-time job. The most important thing I learnt during my PhD is to proactively debug issues by applying innovative strategies. Expanding your horizons beyond one specific subject and embracing a mindset that goes beyond the confines of a syllabus is crucial. Being open to learning various information is the key to succeeding in a job, academics, and life itself.

Any challenges?

I have had to face a lot of challenges in my career and life as a whole. As exciting as it is to relocate to a different continent to embark on an adventure, there are times when everything becomes overwhelming. From not being in touch with friends due to time difference, to losing a father in an accident, to not achieving the expected results at work after months of hard work, there have been multiple occasions when things got incredibly tough. The only thing that kept me going was my deep love for the subject. When everything fell apart, I asked myself a crucial question: what would truly make me happy? If I could reinvent myself, what career would I choose? I always arrived at the same answer. The realization that I was already immersed in what I love the most gave me the courage to pick myself back up. Based on my experience, I would strongly advice everyone to pursue a career that gives them joy, happiness, and aligns with their deepest passion. 

What do you do currently?

I am currently a Quantum Optical Scientist at Quantum Computing Inc., specializing in quantum remote sensing and cybersecurity projects. I collaborate with colleagues from various disciplines to develop proof-of-concepts and products. 

I work on quantum optical experiments. When I use the term “experiments”, it means that we perform experimental measurements in the lab and our work is not just theoretical. I work on multiple projects at the same time, some of them are at a prototype stage that will come out after a few years whereas some of them are already a product that can be delivered in a few months. 

How does your work benefit society?

My work includes projects with NASA, where I measure atmospheric particulates like clouds, aerosols, and volcanic ashes. I also design and test a single photon vibrometer, a high-performance scanning lidar system, and technologies like random number generators and network protocols. Additionally, I’m part of a cross-functional team working on a sensor to detect anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, aimed at saving lives in post-war regions. As a researcher who has been working on proof of principle experiments in a lab, it has been emotionally rewarding to work at an industry and see the science develop into a product and help improve the quality of lives, or even save lives. 

Your advice to students?

Based on my experience, I would recommend everyone to do what they are most passionate about. We tend to get a lot of information from various documents, media, people, and experiences, but what’s truly important is what you do with it. It is important to apply the right knowledge in the right situation, and you can do that only if you have understood and adopted the information as your own. It is also very important to have experiences, meet people and use every opportunity (big or small) to your advantage. 

  • I have no special talents, I’m only passionately curious.
  • Malvika Garikapati