Dr.Santhosh Chidangil, Professor and Head of the Centre for Atomic and Molecular Physics, has more than 20 years of experience in research and teaching. He holds the degree M. Sc. (Banaras Hindu University) and Ph.D. (Banaras Hindu University) in Physics. He is a Regular Associate of Abdu Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy. His research interests are Molecular Spectroscopy, Non-linear Optics, Optical Tweezers Combined with Raman Spectroscopy of Biological Macromolecules. He is also pursuing research on protein profile analysis of clinical samples (body fluids and tissue homogenates) with an objective for developing tumour marker based techniques for the early detection of cancers (Oral and Cervical Cancers). His group has identified specific protein signatures in serum, tissue homogenates for the detection of oral and cervical cancers.

In a recently-concluded industry sponsored project, his team developed devices for the early screening of oral cancer based on Laser Induced Fluorescence of oral cavity sites and protein profiling of serum and saliva collected from suspected subject populations. The diagnoses using these devices are highly objective, simple and easy to operate.

In collaboration with Prof. Deepak Mathur and his group at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Dr. Santhosh and his research students have developed the first Raman Tweezers setup in the country for Raman Spectroscopy study of live cells. This was done by combining an Optical Tweezers with Raman Spectrometer. The same team (TIFR and Manipal) has developed a novel optical method (suppression of white light continuum) to test the human stress level by quantifying the concentration of an enzyme (alpha amylase) present in the human saliva. He is also associated with Laser Induced Break Down Spectroscopy and micro-machining of photonics materials using ultra-fast lasers. Molecular modeling and quantum chemistry are other area of his research interests.