Raja Sekhar Muddam

PhD in Materials Physics from the University of St Andrews, UK, with over five years of experience in thin-film synthesis, semiconductor materials, vacuum deposition processes, device fabrication, and advanced materials characterization. Experienced in sputtering, ALD, lithography, cleanroom processing, semiconductor device testing, and data-driven process optimization. Strong background in vacuum process troubleshooting, semiconductor device development, root-cause analysis, experimental design, student mentoring, and translating research findings into measurable device-performance improvements.

PhD Researcher at University of St Andrews (2022-08 – 2026-05)

Project: Ferroelectric and Semiconductor Thin-Film Materials for Energy Harvesting and Optoelectronic Applications.

• Led the development and integration of perovskite ferroelectric thin films using vacuum-based deposition techniques, including sputtering, ALD, and PLD, establishing reproducible fabrication routes for high-performance electronic and photovoltaic devices.
• Engineered thin-film growth conditions through systematic optimization of deposition parameters, precursor chemistry, substrate temperature, and post-deposition processing to improve crystallinity, phase purity, and device reproducibility.
• Established structure–property relationships by correlating XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and thermal characterization data with electrical, optical, and ferroelectric device performance.
• Developed reproducible deposition processes and SOPs to ensure consistent device fabrication across multiple experimental batches.

Research Assistant at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (2020 – 2022)

Project: Semiconductor Memory Device Fabrication and Characterization.

• Executed semiconductor fabrication processes in cleanroom environments including photolithography, thin-film deposition, wet and dry etching, metallization, and process integration for optoelectronic and microelectronic devices.
• Performed electrical characterization using source measurement units (SMUs), impedance analyzers, and automated measurement platforms to evaluate transport behavior, device reliability, and performance-limiting mechanisms.
• Conducted failure analysis and process troubleshooting by correlating electrical measurements with material characterization results, enabling data-driven process improvements.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary research teams on materials synthesis, device fabrication, characterization, and performance optimization projects.

Master's Research at Indian Institute of Technology Patna (2018 – 2020)

Project: Plasmonic ZnO–Au Thin Films for Visible-Light Photodetectors

• Developed nanostructured ZnO–Au thin-film heterostructures using controlled thin-film deposition techniques to enhance visible-light absorption and photocarrier generation.
• Optimized nanoparticle distribution, film morphology, and interface properties to improve photoconductive response and device sensitivity.

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering – University of St Andrews (2022-08 – 2026-05)

Master of Engineering in Physics – Indian Institute of Technology, Patna (2018 – 2020)

Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics – Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (2014 – 2017)