AK Mohanty, distinguished Scientist and Director, Physics group of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Director, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata took over as the Director of BARC on Tuesday from KN Vyas, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy.
Graduating from the 26th batch of the BARC Training School, Mohanty joined Nuclear Physics Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1983.
During the past 36 years, Mohanty has worked in several areas of nuclear physics covering collision energy from sub-Coulomb barrier to relativistic regime.
Mohanty is the recipient of Young Scientists Award of Indian Physical Society (1988), Young Physicist Award by Indian National Science Academy (1991) and Department of Atomic EnergyHomi Bhabha Science & Technology Award (2001).
While taking over as Director-BARC, Mohanty expressed gratitude towards his predecessors in Physics Group who have helped him in understanding finer nuances of low and high energy nuclear physics. He also gratefully acknowledged the efforts put in by his seniors which have helped in completion of projects of national and international importance in which he could contribute,and said he is committed to continue further the work of BARC in the fields of societal importance.