IISER physicist Prof Arvind is Punjabi University VC

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 20

The Punjab Government has appointed Professor Arvind of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali (IISER), the new Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala.

Reviving and rebuilding the university by adding fresh courses to bring it on a par with international institutions remains on top of Professor Arvind’s agenda.

Professor Arvind has been serving as a physics professor at the Mohali institute since March 3, 2010. He is a known theoretical quantum physicist working on science education, science communication and developing science paedagogy in Punjabi and is credited with over 100 technical and non-technical publications, including ‘True experimental reconstruction of quantum states and processes via convex optimisation’ published this year.

Professor Arvind said the university needed to recover and move forward. “On the academic front, my vision is to restore the old glory of the institution and build on those areas. I plan to bring in new disciplines, including liberal arts education, five-year integrated courses and data sciences, to put it on a par with international institutions. I will like to revamp the course work and course structure as well,” he said.

On the financial crisis faced by the university, he said there was a need to work on curtailing expenditure, do redeployment and re-training of manpower. “The university’s academic culture has declined. I think those on the campus are awaiting restoration of good culture,” he said.

Professor Arvind is the national coordinator of theme-1 (photonics) of the National Multi-Institutional Networked Programme on Quantum Enabled Science and Technology (QuST) launched by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, in 2018. He is also a member of the DPR drafting committee for the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NMQTA).

Earlier, he had worked at the Physics Department of Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, as special faculty from 2002-2004.