Introducing ZeroAMP’s member - Mukesh Kulsreshath

“I like to work with new emerging technologies”

Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Mukesh Kulsreshath. I am a senior research associate at the University of Bristol (Bristol, United Kingdom). I am working in the Microelectronics group led by Dinesh Pamunuwa in the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department.

When did you join ZeroAMP?

I joined this project from November 2020.

What is your part in the project?

I am working for the work package 3 “NEM Switch & Cell Development”. My job is to develop different fabrication processes for the nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switches. My duties include conception, designing and fabrication of NEMS switches. I am using the cleanroom facilities of the University of Bristol.

What is your background?

I come from India. Initially, I obtained B.Sc. (Computer science and applications), B.Ed., M.Sc. (Physics) and M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling) degrees from different national universities of India. In 2006, I got the prestigious Erasmus Mundus MS fellowship (for two years; 2006 - 2008) for dual MS degree in Photonics Engineering. With this fellowship, I got first MS degree from the University of Saint Andrews and Heriot Watt University, in the U.K. I received my second MS degree from Ghent University and Vrije University of Brussels, Belgium, followed by a short summer school in Photonics at KTH, Stockholm, Sweden. I received PhD degree in Physics from GREMI lab – University of Orleans, France in January 2013, working on MEMS based micro-discharges (atmospheric pressure plasma technology).
In 2008, I got an Early-Stage Researcher Marie Curie position funded by European Commission at SUPELEC/LGEP, Gif-sur- Yvette, in France. During the fellowship, I worked on the fabrication of MEMS-based microbolometer at room temperature for THz detection.
I have been a postdoc fellow at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln (USA) from April 2013 to December 2014. My research project was on micro/nano thermal photovoltaic systems based on near field heat energy transfer. During this work, I collaborated with one of the largest cleanrooms in USA at CNF – Cornell University. In 2015-2016, I was “Eyes-High postdoc fellow” at the University of Calgary (Canada), in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
In 2016-2017, I was appointed as a contractual researcher at GREMI lab - University of Orleans, France. The project focused on the fabrication of the MEMS based high-density capacitive devices for microelectronics applications. In the project, I collaborated with the industry ST-Microelectronics in Tours (France) and with CTU/C2N Orsay (France). In 2017-2018, I worked in a MEMS based start-up called MISTIC Technologies as microsystem process engineer for the production of biomedical equipments based on Titanium MEMS. From 2018 to 2020, I was a contractual researcher at ISTO lab/ GREMI lab – University of Orleans (France), my work focusing on the production of MEMS based microfluidics and nanofluidics devices like geology-on-a-chip (GOC) for geological applications.

How did learn about ZeroAMP?

From the website of the University of Bristol.

What do you find more exciting?

I like to work with new emerging technologies. This project aims at a technology that could be the backbone of future sensors and electronics devices for extreme environment. For me, it is very exciting to be a part of the fabrication team and to put down together all the basic building blocks to realize ZeroAMP’s technology.

Do you have a favorite quote?

“With the use of a right technology you can realize any idea.” – Dr. Mukesh Kulsreshath

How do find living in Bristol, UK?

Bristol is a multicultural city. The weather is pleasant in this area. The city seems to have many different industries and educational institutes. On the downside, it is very difficult to find the houses to rent/buy in this city. The housing is extremely expensive, but overall, a good city to live in.

What is the major difficulty to join a new lab during a pandemic? What was of help?

It was very hard for me to find any accommodation in the city from another country (France), due to the pandemic and to the legal requirement to visit the accommodation personally before renting it. It was just a nightmare to find any accommodation for me and for my family in the city at that time. With the help of my manager Dinesh Pamunuwa and of the administration of the University of Bristol, I was finally able to find an accommodation to start my new position at the University of Bristol.