Dr. Awaneesh Singh

Assistant Professor
Department/School/Unit Name
Department of Physics, IIT (BHU), Varanasi
Phone No(s): +91-9873071126, +91-5427165490
Email: awaneesh.phy@iitbhu.ac.in
Area of Interest: Statistical Physics, Soft Matter Physics: Modeling self-assembly and phase separation kinetics in the complex soft materials; Ising Model, Tailoring Gel Structure, Controlled Radical Polymerization (CRP), Photo-CRP

The research interests of our group lie broadly in the field of Soft Matter/Statistical Physics. More specifically, we study the dynamic and structural properties of phase ordering in unstable far-from-equilibrium systems. We explore how their behavior is measured and characterized, which involves various phenomena such as nucleation, spinodal decomposition, late-stage growth, and coarsening. We use a combination of Analytical and Computational/Numerical tools (Coarse-grained field-theoretical models, Monte Carlo (MC), Molecular Dynamics (MD), Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) simulations, and Gel Lattice Spring Model (GLSM)) to explore the current challenging problems in this field, such as:

  1. Computational Design of Smart Materials
  2. Phase separation kinetics in multi-component (i) Simple-fluids, (ii) Polymer melt & solution, (iii) Block copolymer melt & solutions
  3. Nanostructure formation in nonequilibrium systems
  4. Computational analysis of self-assembly involving the following polymerization processes: Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), Free radical polymerization (FRP), and Photo controlled radical polymerization (Photo-CRP)

SCI Journal Articles

  1. Phase separation kinetics of ternary fluids: DPD simulation study on the influence of charged and uncharged polymers; Samiksha Shrivastava, Awaneesh Singh (in preparation, 2024).

  2. Insights into phase separation kinetics of fluids within polymer gel; Ashish Kumar Singh, Awaneesh Singh  (in preparation, 2024).

  3. Effect of chemical reaction on phase separating fluids: insights from DPD simulation study; Devendra Kumar Verma, Avinash Chauhan, Awaneesh Singh (in preparation, 2024).  

  4. Phase separation kinetics of miktoarm star polymers in a solvent: Effect of size and number of arms; Devendra Kumar Verma, Avinash Chauhan, Awaneesh Singh (in preparation, 2024).

  5. Effect of random photo illumination on phase-separating dimers: A DPD simulation study; Ashish Kumar Singh, Samiksha Shrivastav, Awaneesh Singh  (in preparation, 2024).

  6. Kinetics of segregating miktoarm star polymers in different solvents; Devendra Kumar Verma, Avinash Chauhan, Awaneesh Singh (in preparation, 2024).

  7. Effect of various solvents on polyzwitterion self-assembly through DPD simulation study; Avinash Chauhan, Devendra Kumar Verma, Awaneesh Singh (in preparation, 2024).

  8. DPD simulation study of phase separating binary polymeric fluids of varied topologies; Avinash Chauhan, Awaneesh Singh (in preparation, 2024).

  9. DPD simulation study of segregation kinetics of binary polymer fluids: effect of external shear; Ashish Kumar Singh, Samiksha Shrivastav, Awaneesh Singh (in preparation, 2024).

  10. Insights into oil-in-water emulsion formation using polymer brush-modified tri-compartmental Janus particles: a simulation and experimental study; S. Shrivastava, S. S. Pradhan, S. Saha, A. Singh (submitted, 2024). 

  11. Segregation kinetics and scaling behavior of miktoarm star polymer: A DPD simulation study; Dorothy Gogoi, Avinash Chauhan, Sanjay Puri, Awaneesh Singh; Physical Review E, 110 (3), 034504 (2024). IF: 2.2 

  12. Evolution of stable Pickering emulsion by polymer brush-modified Janus particles: insights from DPD simulation and experimental study; S. Shrivastava, A. Upadhyay, S. S. Pradhan, S. Saha, A. Singh; Langmuir, 40 (27), 13920-13934 (2024). IF: 3.9 (Published as the Front Cover of the issue)

  13. Architecture-dependent transport behavior of iron (0) entrapped biodegradable polymeric particles for groundwater remediation; Kalpana Pandey, Devendra Kumar Verma, Awaneesh Singh, Sampha Saha; Chemosphere357, 141892 (2024). IF: 8.8

  14. Photomodulated phase-separation kinetics of block copolymer melts: A DPD Simulation Study; Avinash Chauhan, Ashish Kumar Singh, Awaneesh Singh; Molecular Simulation50(5), 394-403 (2024). IF: 2.1

  15. Growth kinetics and morphology characterization of binary polymeric fluid under random photo illumination; Ashish Kumar Singh, Avinash Chauhan, Awaneesh Singh; Journal of Chemical Physics, 160, 024907 (2024). IF: 4.4

  16. Effect of amphiphilic polymers on phase separating binary mixtures: A DPD simulation study; Avinash Chauhan, Dorothy Gogoi, Sanjay Puri, Awaneesh Singh; Journal of Chemical Physics, 159, 204901 (2023). IF: 4.4

  17. Segregation of fluids with polymer additives at domain interfaces: a dissipative particle dynamics study; Dorothy Gogoi, Avinash Chauhan, Sanjay Puri, Awaneesh Singh; Soft Matter, 19 (34), 6433-6445 (2023). IF: 3.4 (Published as the Front Cover of the issue)

  18. Phase separation kinetics of block copolymer melts confined under moving parallel walls: A DPD study; Ashish Kumar Singh, Awaneesh Singh, Computational Materials Science, 226, 112224 (2023). IF: 3.572

  19. Growth kinetics in two-dimensional binary mixtures with bond-disorder: Monte Carlo simulation results; Samiksha Shrivastava, Awaneesh Singh; Phase Transitions, 96, 311-327 (2023). IF: 1.529

  20. Dissipative particle dynamics simulation study on ATRP-brush modification of variably shaped surfaces and biopolymer adsorptionS. Shrivastava, S. Saha, A. Singh; Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 24 (30), 17986-18003 (2022). IF: 3.945 (PCCP Hot Articles-2022; also recommended for the Back Cover of the issue)

  21. High Adsorption of α-Glucosidase on Polymer Brush-Modified Anisotropic Particles Acquired by Electrospraying—A Combined Experimental and Simulation Study; Ifra, Awaneesh Singh, Sampa Saha; ACS Applied Bio Materials, 4 (10), 7431-7444 (2021). IF: 3.25

  22. Photo-induced bond breaking during phase separation kinetics of block copolymer melts- A dissipative particle dynamics study; Ashish Kumar Singh, Avinash Chauhan, Sanjay Puri, Awaneesh Singh; Soft Matter, 17 (7), 1802-1813 (2021). IF: 4.046 (recommended for the Back Cover of the issue)

  23. Kinetics of domain growth in Ising systems with the bond disorder at regularly selected sites; Awaneesh Singh; Bulletin of Materials Science, 43, 185 (2020). IF: 1.878

  24. Shape-Shifting of Cup-shaped Particles on Growing Poly (2‐hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) Brushes by “Grafting From” Approach and Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation; Ifra, Awaneesh Singh, and Sampa Saha; ChemistrySelect, 5, (15), 4685-4694 (2020). IF: 2.307

  25. Kinetics of phase separation in ternary fluid mixtures: A dissipative particle dynamics simulation study; Amrita Singh, Anirban Chakraborti, and Awaneesh Singh; Soft Matter, 14, 4317-4326 (2018). IF: 4.046

  26. Designing polymer gels and composites that undergo bio-inspired phototactic reconfiguration and motion; Olga Kuksenok, Awaneesh Singh, and Anna C. Balazs; Bioinspir. Biomim., 13, 035004 (2018). IF: 2.985

  27. Effect of bond-disorder on the phase-separation kinetics of binary mixtures: A Monte Carlo simulation study; Awaneesh Singh, Amrita Singh, and Anirban Chakraborti; Journal of Chemical Physics, 147, (12) 124902 (2017). IF: 4.304

  28. Combining ATRP and FRP gels: soft gluing of polymeric materials for the fabrication of stackable gels; Antoine Beziau, Rafael N. L. de Menezes, Santidan Biswas, Awaneesh Singh, J. Cuthbert, Anna C. Balazs, Tomasz Kowalewski, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski; Polymers (mdpi)9, 186 (2017). (Featured article 2017) IF: 4.967

  29. Photo-regeneration of Severed Gel with Iniferter-mediated Photo-growth; Awaneesh Singh, Olga Kuksenok, Jeremiah A. Johnson and Anna C. Balazs. Soft Matter, 13, 1978-1987 (2017). IF: 4.046

  30. Living Additive Manufacturing: Transformation of Parent Gels into Diversely Functionalized Daughter Gels Made Possible by Visible Light Photo-redox Catalysis; Mao Chen, Yuwei Gu, Awaneesh Singh, Mingjiang Zhong, Alex Jordan, Santidan Biswas, LaShanda Korley, Anna C. Balazs, and Jeremiah A, Johnson. ACS Central Science, 3, 124-134 (2017). IF: 18.728  (Web highlight of the issue) 

  31. Modeling the formation of layered, amphiphilic gels; Santidan Biswas, Awaneesh Singh, Antoine Beziau, Tomasz Kowalewski, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, and Anna C. Balazs; Polymer (Elsevier), 111, 214-221 (2017). IF: 4.436

  32. Embedding Flexible Fibers into Responsive Gels to Create Composites with Controllable Dexterity; Awaneesh Singh, Olga Kuksenok, and Anna C. Balazs; Soft Matter, 12, 9170-9184 (2016). IF: 4.046 (Published as the Cover of the issue)

  33. Miktoarm Star Copolymers as Interfacial Connectors for Stackable Amphiphilic Gels; Antoine Beziau, Awaneesh Singh, Rafael N. L. de Menezes, Hangjun Ding, Antonina Simakova, Olga Kuksenok, Anna C. Balazs, Tomasz Kowalewski, and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski; Polymer (Elsevier), 101, 406-414 (2016). IF: 4.436

  34. Tailoring the Structure of Polymer Networks with Iniferter-Mediated Photo-GrowthAwaneesh Singh, Olga Kuksenok, Jeremiah A. Johnson, and Anna C. Balazs;  Polymer Chemistry, 7, 2955-2964 (2016). IF: 5.364

  35. Ordering Dynamics in Neuron Activity Pattern Model: An Insight to Brain Functionality; Jasleen Gundh, Awaneesh Singh, and R. K. Brojen Singh;  PloS one, 10(10), e0141463 (2015). IF: 3.752

  36. Phase Separation in Ternary Fluid Mixtures: A Molecular Dynamics Study; Awaneesh Singh, and Sanjay Puri; Soft Matter, 11, 2213-2219 (2015). IF: 4.046 (Soft Matter Hot Articles-2015)

  37. Kinetics of Microphase Separation in Block Copolymers: A Molecular Dynamics Study; Awaneesh Singh, Raishma Krishnan, and Sanjay Puri; Europhysics Letters, 109, 26006 (2015). IF: 1.947

  38. Kinetics of Phase Separation in Polymer Mixtures: A Molecular Dynamics Study; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Chandan Dasgupta; Journal of Chemical Physics, 140, 244906 (2014). IF: 4.304

  39. Kinetics of Phase Transitions in Quark Matter; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Hiranmaya Mishra; Europhysics Letters, 102, 52001 (2013). IF: 1.947

  40. Domain Growth in Chiral Phase Transitions: Role of Inertial Dynamics; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Hiranmaya Mishra; Nuclear Physics A, 908, 12 (2013). IF: 1.916

  41. Growth Kinetics of Nanoclusters in Solution; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Chandan Dasgupta; Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 116, 4519 (2012). IF: 3.466

  42. Domain Growth in Chiral Phase Transitions; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Hiranmaya Mishra; Nuclear Physics A, 864, 176-202 (2011). IF: 1.916 

  43. Control of Structure Formation in Phase-Separating Systems; Awaneesh Singh, A. Mukerjee, H. M. Vermeulen, G. Barkema, and Sanjay Puri; Journal of Chemical Physics, 134, 044910 (2011). IF: 4.30

Conference Proceedings

  1. ATRP-brush modification of variably shaped surfaces and biopolymer adsorption: Dissipative particle dynamics simulation study; A Singh Bulletin of the American Physical Society (2023).

  2. Tailoring the Structure of Polymer Networks with Photo-Controlled Radical Polymerization; Awaneesh Singh, Olga Kuksenok, Jeremiah A. Johnson, Anna C. Balazs; Bulletin of the American Physical Society (2016).

  3. Photo-Regeneration of Severed Gel Using Photo-Controlled Radical Polymerization; Awaneesh Singh, Olga Kuksenok, Jeremiah A. Johnson, Anna C. Balazs; Bulletin of the American Physical Society (2016).

  4. Covalent Fusion of layered Incompatible Gels in Immiscible Solvents; Santidan Biswas, Awaneesh Singh, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Anna C. Balazs; Bulletin of the American Physical Society (2016).

  5. Kinetics of chiral transitions and domain growth in quark matter; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Hiranmaya Mishra; Proceedings of Science, (CPOD 2013) 022.

  6. Domain Growth and Ordering Kinetics in Dense Quark Matter; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Hiranmaya Mishra; Presented in Critical Point and Onset of Deconfinement - CPOD 2010; Physics of Atomic Nuclei: Elementary Particles and Fields, Vol. 756, 689 (2012).

  7. Kinetics of Chiral Phase Transitions in Quark Matter; Awaneesh Singh, Sanjay Puri, and Hiranmaya Mishra; Gribov-80 Memorial Volume: Quantum Chromodynamics and Beyond; Edited by Yu L. Dokshitzer, P. Lèvai, and J. Nyìri; (World Scientific, pp. 527-540, 2011).

  8. Control of Structure Formation in Phase Separation; Awaneesh Singh, Anupam Mukherjee, Sanjay Puri, and G. Barkema; American Institute of Physics Conference Series; 1091, 293 (2009).

Professional Experience:

(i) Assistant Professor: Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi (May 2018 – present)
(ii) Assistant Professor (UGC): Department of Physics, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai-400019 (March 2017-May, 2018)
(iii) Postdoctoral Experience:

  1. Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA (Dec 2014 – Oct 2016). Group Leader: Prof. Anna C Balazs
  2. School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India (Sep 2013 – Oct 2014). Group Leader: Prof. Sanjay Puri
  3. Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA (Dec 2011 – Aug 2013). Group Leader: Prof. Murugappan Muthukumar
  4. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India (Oct 2010 – Nov 2011). Group Leader: Prof. Chandan Dasgupta

Education:

1. Ph.D. (Physics), School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067, India (July 2010).
       Thesis Title: Kinetics of Phase Transitions: From Quark Matter to Polymers.
       Thesis Advisor: Prof. Sanjay Puri

2. M.Sc. (Physics), School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067, India (May 2003).

Funding Type

  1. Early Career Research Award (ECRA): ECR/2017/002529 from the Science and Engineering Research Board, New Delhi, Delhi, India
    • Total fund: Approx. INR 46,54,375.00Duration: 11-2018 to 05-2022
  2. Core Research Grant (CRG): CRG/2023/001311 from the Science and Engineering Research Board, New Delhi, Delhi, India
    • Total fund: Approx. INR 37,76,102.00Duration: 03-2024 to 03-2027

Ph.D. Students: (Submitted)

  1. Avinash Chauhan (Roll No.:  18171504) (TA) 
    • Topic: Morphology evolution and kinetics of phase-separating block copolymer systems
  2. Samiksha Shrivastav (Roll no.: 19171001) (TA)
    • Topic: Segregation kinetics and applications of brush-modified surfaces
  3. ​​Ashish Kumar Singh (Roll no.: 19171023) (SRF)
    • Topic: Self-assembly of polymer fluids under external stimuli

Ph.D. Students: (Ongoing)

  1. Devendra Kumar Verma (Roll no.: 21171003) (SRF)
    • ​​Topic: Regulation of phase-separating structures in soft materials
  2. Vanshika Saini (Roll no.: 22171516) (PMRF)
    • Phase separation kinetics in complex soft materials
  3. Ankita Gupta (Roll no.: 23171005) (PMRF)
    • Regulating nanostructure and dynamic properties of phase-separating materials
  4. Kanika Kumari (Roll no.: 24171014) (JRF)
    • Segregation kinetics of polymers: effect of topology, architecture, size, and affinity

Project Student: (Ongoing)

  1. Ayushi Choudhary (CRG)
    • Kinetics of self-assembly and structural transitions in complex soft materials

M. Tech. Thesis Student: (Ongoing)​ 

  1. Ritika Mishra (Roll No.: 20174015)
    • ​Topic: Effect of polymer additive topology on segregating binary fluid 

M.Sc. Thesis Student (Ongoing)

  1. Abhinash Mondal (Roll No.: 23177001)
    • Topic: Dynamics and self-assembly of polymers

UG Project (Ongoing):

  1. Sameer Wanjari(Roll No.: 21174028)
    • Segregation Kinetics of Charged Polymeric Fluids    

Exploratory Project (Ongoing):

Completed:

  1. MSc Thesis:
    • Kuldeep Kumar (Roll No.: 22177012)
    • Ankita Gupta (Roll No.: 21177005) (pursuing PhD from IIT(BHU), PMRF Fellow)
    • Anish Kumar (Roll No.: 20177003) (pursuing PhD from IIT(BHU), PMRF Fellow)
    • Sachin Verma (Roll No.: 20177020) (pursuing PhD from IIT(BHU), PMRF Fellow)
    • Kamlesh Mishra (Roll No.: 19177006) (pursuing PhD from JNCASR)
  2. M.Tech thesis:
    • Kushagra Sachan (Roll No.: 18173009)
    • Abhinash Daulaguphu (Roll No.: 17173001)
    • Aditya N Meshram (Roll No.: 16173003)
  3. UG Project:
    • Sushant Baranawal (Roll No.: 20174020)
    • Aman Jain (Roll No.: 17173004)
    • Prabhat Kumar (Roll No.: 17173011)
  4. Exploratory Project:
    • Ajeya P. Krishna (Roll No.: 17173003)
    • Yashaswini Singh (Roll No.: 22174025)