Decoding Phase Transitions - The DPT Podcast

About Decoding Phase Transitions - The DPT Podcast

Welcome to the Decoding Phase Transitions – the DPT Podcast! Here, we unravel the intricate career 'phases' of individuals with PhD degrees who've navigated the complex worlds of academia and beyond. Each episode offers a deep dive into their unique trajectories, starting from their earliest aspirations right up to their current impactful roles. Join us as we decode the pivotal decisions and strategic moves that shaped their paths. We explore their daily practices, uncover unexpected 'hacks' for productivity and success, and reveal the profound impact of mentors and role models on their remarkable journeys. Whether you're a student, a PhD student charting your next steps, a researcher exploring new horizons, or simply curious about the diverse career paths stemming from advanced degrees, this podcast is your guide to insightful conversations and actionable wisdom. 👉 Follow the DPT Podcast so you never miss an episode!

Publisher

Dr. Sananda Biswas

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Jun 2025

Latest episode

16 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

23 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Inside Physical Review Letters: Dr. Sami Mitra on AI, Publishing & the Future of Research

   Decoding Phase Transitions – the DPT Podcast || Ep.23 ||Guest: Dr. Samindranath Mitra — Sami 🇮🇳🇸🇪🇺🇸In this episode, I speak with Dr. Samindranath Mitra, Senior Editor at Physical Review Letters — PRL.We discuss what happens behind the scenes in scientific publishing: what editors look for, why PRL is selective, what “novelty” really means, how reviewers are chosen, how conflicting reports are handled, and what young researchers should understand before submitting their work.We also trace Sami’s own journey — from childhood in Kolkata and Delhi, to St. Stephen’s College, IIT Kanpur, Indiana University Bloomington, KTH Sweden, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and eventually PRL.A major theme of this episode is the changing research landscape: AI in writing, reviewing, publishing, and scientific thinking. What can AI help with? Where should we be cautious? And what does it mean for authorship, judgment, and the future of research?Note: the audio may sound slightly choppy during the first ten-thirteen minutes, but it settles down after that and does not affect the flow of the conversation.Highlights from this episode:✨ From researcher to editor✨ Why PRL is selective✨ What makes a good editor✨ St. Stephen’s College, IIT Kanpur, and Indiana University✨ Myths around publishing✨ What “novel” research really means✨ How reviewers and third reviewers are chosen✨ How conflicting referee reports are handled✨ AI concerns from an editor’s perspective✨ Advice for young researchers🎙️ About the Guest:Dr. Samindranath Mitra is a Senior Editor at Physical Review Letters. He studied Physics at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, spent time at IIT Kanpur, and completed his graduate studies at Indiana University Bloomington. His later research journey included KTH Sweden and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine before he joined PRL.LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/samimitra/🔗 Resources & Links:Physical Review Letters: https://journals.aps.org/prlAPS Journals: https://journals.aps.orgDr. Samindranath Mitra – PRL / APS profile: https://journals.aps.org/prl/staffSt. Stephen’s College, Delhi, India: https://www.ststephens.eduIndiana University Bloomington, Indiana, USA : https://bloomington.iu.eduChandan Dasgupta: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandan_Dasgupta Allan H. MacDonald: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_H._MacDonaldSteve Girvin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_GirvinAs always, you can find the people, places, and topics discussed in the show notes or in the description box below.The DPT Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms.👋 Connect with Sananda Biswas:YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SanandaBiswasPhDLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sananda-biswas-PhD/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sananda.biswas.phd🔔 If this conversation resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe.⏱️ Episode Chapters:00:00 – Welcome and Introduction 03:25 – From Researcher to Editor07:35 – Surprises in the Editorial Role09:34 – Why PRL Is Moderately Selective13:31 – What Makes a Good Editor15:46 – Balancing Editorial Work with Research18:43 – Why Research Is Important for Editors19:45 – Childhood in Kolkata and Delhi28:04 – Schooling33:07 – Choosing Physics in College37:44 – Decision Patterns40:45 – Leaving IIT Kanpur Twice?43:12 – Role of Teachers and Family54:04 – Moving to the US for PhD01:04:11 – PhD Research Questions01:16:21 – Concerns About AI01:25:24 – In-Between Jobs01:28:45 – Joining PRL as an Editor01:35:20 – Myths Around Publishing01:41:11 – Publishing “Novel” Research01:44:32 – Writing Your Cover Letter01:50:12 – About Reviewers01:52:21 – When Journals Approach a Third Reviewer01:53:52 – How Conflicting Reports Are Handled01:56:37 – AI Concerns: An Editor’s Perspective02:08:10 – Significant Papers That Came to Him02:10:20 – Fun Trivia with Dr. Sami Mitra02:22:01 – Advice to His Younger Self02:26:16 – Final Thoughts #DPTPodcast #SamindranathMitra #SamiM

2. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Prof. Prasenjit Sen on AI, Materials Discovery and Building a Life in Physics || DPT Podcast

   Decoding Phase Transitions – the DPT Podcast || Ep. 22 ||Guest: Prof. Prasenjit Sen 🇮🇳🇺🇸In this episode of the DPT Podcast, I speak with Prof. Prasenjit Sen, Professor of Physics at the Harish-Chandra Research Institute - HRI, India.One important part of the conversation is Prof. Sen’s reflection on a challenging phase of his early research career, when a computational project remained stalled because the necessary resources were not available due to geopolitical reasons. We discuss what that experience taught him about perseverance, practical judgment, and the importance of keeping more than one research direction alive.Highlights from this Episode:✨ Schooling, family, and early influences✨ The experience at Presidency College, Kolkata✨ Master’s and PhD days at IIT Kanpur✨ Research life at TIFR, Mumbai✨ Difficult phase in early research career✨ Moving to the United States for postdoctoral research✨ Research at Chicago and North Carolina✨ Returning to India and joining HRI✨ Teaching philosophy and mentoring students✨ AI and machine learning in materials research✨ How AI is changing the research landscape✨ Advice for newly appointed faculty members🎙️ About The Guest:Prof. Prasenjit Sen is a Professor of Physics at the Harish-Chandra Research Institute — HRI — in Prayagraj, India.He studied Physics at Presidency College, Kolkata, before completing both his Master’s degree and PhD in Physics at IIT Kanpur. After his PhD, he joined TIFR Mumbai as a Visiting Fellow. His later research journey took him to the United States, including Urbana, the University of Illinois Chicago, and North Carolina State University, before he returned to India and joined HRI as a faculty member.His research interests include high-temperature superconductivity, quantum Monte Carlo methods, density functional theory, atomic clusters, magnetism, two-dimensional van der Waals materials, materials for alternative energy, and the use of machine learning and generative AI for materials discovery.Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=t6vcf4_IvjcC&hl=enWebpage: https://www.hri.res.in/~prasen/Email: prasen@hri.res.in🔗 Resources & Links :Harish-Chandra Research Institute : https://www.hri.res.inPresidency College/Presidency University, Kolkata, India : https://presiuniv.ac.in/web/IIT Kanpur, India : https://www.iitk.ac.inTata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, India : https://www.tifr.res.inUniversity of Illinois Chicago, USA : https://www.uic.eduNorth Carolina State University : https://www.ncsu.eduLubos Mitas : https://physics.sciences.ncsu.edu/people/lmitas/Dilip Kanhere : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RY70A_sAAAAJ&hl=enNandini Trivedi : https://physics.osu.edu/people/trivedi.15Mohit Randeria : https://physics.osu.edu/people/randeria.1 The DPT Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Amazon Music, and all other major podcast streaming platforms.👋 Connect with Sananda Biswas (Host):YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@SanandaBiswasPhDLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sananda-biswas-PhD/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sananda.biswas.phd🔔 If this conversation resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe.⏱️ Episode Chapters:00:00 – Welcome and Introduction04:41 – Early Childhood10:00 – Schooling and Early Influences14:23 – Falling in Love with Physics15:40 – Choosing Physics for Bachelor’s18:50 – The Role of Presidency College20:52 – Exposure During Bachelor’s23:38 – Choosing IIT Kanpur for Master’s25:25 – Cultural Exposure at Presidency College28:37 – Academic Exposure at IIT Kanpur32:42 – Master’s Project34:43 – PhD Days35:52 – TIFR Days40:22 – Challenges During Early Research Career45:05 – Suggestions for Navigating Difficult Phases47:04 – Moving to Chicago, USA50:53 – Why He Moved to North Carolina53:17 – Research Focus at North Carolina55:41 – Current Research Interests59:33 – Decision to Return to India01:01:09 – Job Search in India01:03:33 – Joining HRI

3. 

   30 Jul 2026

   Dr. Anita Halder on Grant Writing, Marie Curie Fellowship & Building an Academic Career

   Decoding Phase Transitions – the DPT Podcast || Ep.21 ||Guest: Dr Anita Halder 🇮🇳🇮🇪In this episode of the DPT Podcast, I speak with Dr Anita Halder — physicist, computational materials scientist, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at SRM University-AP, India.A central theme of this episode is grant writing. One important line from this conversation is:“Getting grants is quite probabilistic.”We discuss what this really means for young researchers — that success in funding is not simply about having a good idea. It also depends on proposal clarity, timing, reviewer fit, institutional support, scientific vision, outreach, impact, and persistence.Highlights from this Episode:✨ Challenges during PhD✨ Writing a Marie Curie Fellowship proposal✨ Reapplying after not getting funded the first time✨ Receiving a Marie Curie Fellowship with a 100% score✨ Moving to Dublin for postdoctoral research✨ Returning to India for a faculty position✨ ANRF funding and building an independent research group✨ The art of writing research grants✨ Advice for students, PhD applicants, postdocs, and young researchers🎙️ About The Guest:Dr Anita Halder is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at SRM University-AP, India. She is a computational condensed matter physicist and materials scientist.She completed her B.Sc. in Physics from Serampore College, followed by her M.Sc. and PhD in Physics from the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata. Her research career later took her to Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where she worked as a postdoctoral researcher and received the Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship.Her research interests include first-principles electronic-structure calculations, transition-metal oxides, strongly correlated electron systems, Mott-Hubbard physics, magnetic anisotropy in heterostructures, crystal-structure prediction, two-dimensional materials, and the use of machine learning for discovering materials with desired properties.🎖️Her work has been recognized with several awards, including the INSPIRE SHE award from the Department of Science and Technology, India, the IUCr Young Scientist Award, the S. N. Bose Prize for Innovation in Theory, the Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, and more recently, ANRF funding (ECRG).Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=7IuU7-wAAAAJ&view_op=list_worksWebpage: https://www.srmap.edu.in/faculty/dr-anita-halder/LinkedIn:🔗 Resources & Links:Serampur College: https://seramporecollege.ac.inS.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences : https://www.bose.res.in Trinity College, Dublin : https://www.tcd.ieMarie Curie Fellowship : https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowshipsSefano Sanvito : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefano_SanvitoRaman Charpak fellowship : https://www.cefipra.org/PgmMF.aspx?p=RC Andrea Droghetti : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=o7RSz_cAAAAJ&hl=itTanusri Saha-Dasgupta : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanusri_Saha-DasguptaThe DPT Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Amazon Music, and all other major podcast streaming platforms.👋 Connect with Sananda Biswas (Host):YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@SanandaBiswasPhDLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sananda-biswas-PhD/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sananda.biswas.phd🔔 If this conversation resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe.⏱️ Episode Chapters:00:00 – Welcome and Introduction 03:21 – Early Life, Schooling & the Role of Family12:09 – Why She Chose Physics in College17:13 – The Decision Not to Lose a Year20:47 – Facing Language Challenges in College23:20 – Struggles and Lessons During Bachelor’s29:39 – Master’s or Something Else? Thinking About the Future31:59 – Joining the Integrated PhD at S. N. Bose National Centre35:55 – Master’s Days: Coursework, Growth & Adjustment38:43 – Moving from Master’s to PhD Research44:10 – Difficult PhD Years an