Palash Banerjee

Palash Banerjee is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Letters and Science. He serves as the Principal Investigator of the Applied Physics and Instrumentation Laboratory, where he conducts experimental research and mentors undergraduate students in advanced physics projects.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Physics from Boston University and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.

Professor Banerjee's research focuses on experimental physics with emphasis on nanoscale magnetism, scanning probe microscopy, quantum tunneling, and instrumentation development. His lab specializes in building custom hardware to study fundamental physics phenomena. Current projects include developing a photon correlator for fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with applications in biophysics and constructing a dynamic magnetic trap to confine neutral objects in free space, treating them as artificial atoms. Past projects have involved laser interferometry, ultrahigh vacuum systems for magnetic studies, electron quantum tunneling measurements, semiconductor transport properties, and a muon observatory using coincidence techniques.

His recent publications focus on magnetic force microscopy techniques, particularly examining spin lifetimes and probe field effects at the nanoscale, demonstrating his expertise in advanced magnetic measurement techniques.

• WSGS/NASA funding (2020-2021) for research on coincident counting of cosmic muons

He actively mentors undergraduate researchers, integrating them into all stages of experimental design, construction, and data analysis. Students gain hands-on experience in experimental physics, hardware design, programming (LabVIEW, Python), and technical project management. He encourages students from diverse backgrounds, including biochemistry majors, to participate in interdisciplinary research that strengthens their applications for graduate studies or industry positions.

His laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, an electronics design area, a machine shop, and software environments for hardware programming and data analysis. The lab fosters a collaborative environment where students contribute significantly to expanding the lab's experimental capabilities.