Vikram Deshpande

Vikram Deshpande is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Utah, where he has been faculty since 2014. He was promoted to Associate Professor in July 2023. His research focuses on quantum materials, particularly topological insulators and 2D materials.

Dr. Deshpande received his undergraduate degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, followed by a PhD in Applied Physics from Caltech in 2009, where he was a Gordon and Betty Moore graduate fellow for four years. Prior to joining the University of Utah, he was a Nanoelectronics Research Initiative postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University.

His research interests span condensed matter physics, nanotechnology, materials engineering, and quantum technologies. Specifically, he focuses on the synthesis and nanofabrication of atomically-thin materials and heterostructures (including graphene and topological insulators), development of novel hybrid measurement tools, experimental investigation of quantum phenomena in these systems, and potential applications of these quantum materials. The Deshpande group uses low-temperature electrical transport spectroscopy to study nano-fabricated devices from Dirac and topological materials and develops novel hybrid experimental tools using high-frequency and optical techniques.

Analysis of Dr. Deshpande's recent publications reveals a strong focus on topological materials, particularly topological insulators and their heterostructures with magnetic materials. His work often involves novel measurement techniques to probe quantum phenomena in these systems. There's also a consistent thread of research on carbon nanotubes and their quantum electronic properties, as well as work on 2D materials like graphene and metal-organic frameworks.

• Gordon and Betty Moore graduate fellow (Caltech, 4 years)

Dr. Deshpande has secured multiple research grants, including equipment funding from the National Science Foundation for an integrated physical property measurement system, research grants from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory on quantum transport in magnetic topological insulators, and several other grants focused on quantum transport in carbon nanotubes and topological insulator heterostructures. He mentors graduate students through Research: Master's and Thesis Research: Ph.D. courses, and also teaches Intermediate Mechanics and Undergraduate Research.

The Deshpande group operates a laboratory focused on low-temperature electrical transport measurements of nano-fabricated devices. They develop novel hybrid experimental tools using high-frequency and optical techniques to study quantum materials. Their research aims to explore the rich physics arising in these materials due to the combination of symmetry, topology and electronic correlations, with potential applications in quantum computing and other advanced technologies.