Biography .

Dr. Karuna Kumari, an accomplished researcher in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, specializes in manganites, oxide materials, and composite systems. Currently an Assistant Professor at HKBK College of Engineering, Bengaluru, she earned her Ph.D. from IIT Patna, focusing on charge transport and resistive switching in perovskite-2D composites. With first-rank honors in her M.Sc. and B.Sc. from Patna University, she has received prestigious awards, including the Gold Medal and Padmavati Award. Dr. Kumari has expertise in thin-film deposition (PLD, e-beam, RF sputtering) and advanced characterization techniques (XRD, Raman, AFM). Her research interests span resistive switching, nanocomposites, and neuromorphic computing, reflected in 15 high-impact publications. A recipient of the INSPIRE Fellowship, she has also been recognized with Best Poster Awards at international conferences. Dedicated to education, Dr. Kumari teaches Applied Physics and Engineering Physics, emphasizing both theoretical and practical aspects. Her work continues to explore innovative applications of 2D materials in bioelectronics and optoelectronics, cementing her role as a leading figure in materials science.

Significant Publications

 Karuna Kumari, Subhasmita Kar, Saurav Kumar, and Soumya Jyoti Ray. "Investigating the Role of Reduced Graphene Oxide on the Structural and Transport Properties of LaMnO3." IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (2024).

 P Kumari, S Majumder, S Kar, S Rani, AK Nair, K Kumari, M Venkata Kamalakar, SJ Ray, “An all phosphorene lattice nanometric spin valve”, Scientific Reports 14 (1), 9138, (2024). Impact factor: 4.6.

 K Kumari, S Kar, SJ Ray, “An Investigation of Structural and IV characteristics of (1-x) LaMnO3.(x) rGO Nanocomposite Samples”, Bulletin of the American Physical Society, (2024).

 Majumder, S., K. Kumari, and S. J. Ray. "Temperature-dependent resistive switching behavior of a hybrid semiconductor-oxide planar system." Applied Physics A 129, no. 5 (2023): 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-023-06616-y, Impact factor: 2.983.

 K. Kumari, A. D. Thakur and S. J. Ray “Structural, Resistive Switching and Charge transport behavior of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and ZnO composites.” Journal of Materials chemistry and Physics - Applied Physics A 128, no. 11 (2022): 992, https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s00339-022-06084-w, Impact factor: 2.983.

 K. Kumari, A. D. Thakur and S. J. Ray “Resitive Switching Phenomena: A Probe for the detection of Secondary phase in Manganites” Journal of Applied Physics A 128, no. 5 (2022): 430, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-022-05553-6, Impact factor: 2.983.

 K. Kumari, A. D. Thakur and S. J. Ray, “Role of an oxide interface in a resistive switch” Current Applied Physics 35 (2022): 16-23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2021.006, Impact factor: 2.856

 K. Kumari, A. D. Thakur and S. J. Ray “Temperature dependent resistive switching behavior of an oxide memristor” Materials Letters, 303, (2021), 130451, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2021.130451, Impact factor: 3.574.

 K. Kumari, A. Kumar, A. D. Thakur and S. J. Ray, “Charge transport and Resistive Switching in a 2D hybrid interface” Materials research bulletin, 139, (2021), 111195, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2020.111195, Impact factor: 5.4.

 K. Kumari, A. D. Thakur and S. J. Ray “The effect of graphene and rGO in the Resistive Switching behaviour of La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 . ” Materials Today Communication, 26, (2021), 102040, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102040, Impact factor: 3.662.

 S. Majumder, K. Kumari, S. J. Ray, “Pulsed voltage induced resistive switching behavior of copper iodide and La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 nanocomposites” Materials Letters 302, (2021), 130339, https://doi.org/10.1016/- j.matlet.2021.130339, Impact Factor: 3.574.

 P Kumari, S Majumder, S Rani, A K Nair, K Kumari, M Venkata Kamalakar, S.J. Ray, “High efficiency spin filtering in magnetic phosphorene” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 22, (2020), 5893-5901, https://doi.org/10.1039/C9CP05390E, Impact factor: 3.676

 K. Kumari, A. Kumar, D. K. Kotnees, J. Balakrishnan, A. D. Thakur, S. J. Ray, “Structural and Resistive Switching Behaviour in Lanthanum Strontium Manganite-reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite System,” Journal of Alloys and compounds, 815, (2020), 152213, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.152213, Impact Factor: 6.371.

 A. Kumar, K. Kumari, S. J. Ray, A. D. Thakur, “Graphene mediated resistive switching and thermoelectric behavior in lanthanum cobaltate” Journal of Applied Physics, 127, (2020), 235103, https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0009666, Impact factor: 2.286.

 A. Kumar, K. Kumari, B. Jayachandran, D. Sivaprahasam, A. D. Thakur, “Thermoelectric Properties of (1-x)LaCoO3.(x)La0.95Sr0.05CoO3 composite,” Material Research Express, 6, (2019), 055502, https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/aade73, Impact Factor: 2.025 .

 A. Kumar, K. Kumari, B. Jayachandran, D. Sivaprahasam, A. D. Thakur, “Thermoelectric properties of (1-x)LaCoO3.(x)La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 composite,” Journal of Alloys and Compound, 749, (2018), 1092-1097, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.03.347 , Impact Factor: 6.371.

Educational Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar, India.

Master of Science in Physics

Bachelor of Science in Physics

Teaching Areas:

• Quantum Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Engineering Physics
• Applied Physics for CSE Stream

Awards & Honors:

• Selected for the Women scientist Position under the WISE-PDF scheme launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in 2024.
• Awarded with the “Best Poster Award” in the International Conference on Recent Trends of Material Science (ICRTMS-24)” Bengaluru. The title of the work was “Role of Oxide in Resistive Switch” 2024.
• Awarded with the “Best Poster Award” in the 3rd International Conference on Condensed Matter & Applied Physics (ICC) at Bikaner. The title of the work was “Effect of Temperature & Magnetic Field in Resistive Switching Behaviour of La1−xCaxMnO3.rGO Nano-composite” 2019.
• Got gold medal from the Patna University to hold 1st rank in the University, 2016.
• Awarded with the INSPIRE Fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology, 2016.
• 1st rank in Master of Science (Physics) Examination, 2014 in Patna University, Patna (India).
• Got Padmavati Award for being topper in the Department of Physics in Bachelor of Science in 2013.
• 4th rank in Bachelor of Science (Physics) Honours Examination, 2012 in Patna University, Patna (India).

Research Areas:

• Nanocomposites
• Neuromorphic computing
• Bioelectronics
• Perovskite, Thin films and Oxide electronics.
• Charge Transport behaviour and Resistive Switching.
• Composite systems

Research Interests:

Nanocomposites | Charge transport measurement | Neuromorphic computing | Bioelectronics