Globular clusters are known to serve as fundamental test beds for stellar evolution theories. NGC 5053, a metal-poor and a rather dispersed globular cluster, was studied in the ultraviolet regime with AstroSat's Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT). The images of the cluster were analyzed in various filters across the FUV and NUV bands by a team led by IIST researchers. The team discovered eight blue straggler candidates, six evolved blue straggler candidates, and an extreme horizontal branch candidate among the cluster's new probable UV bright population.

Massive stars (M ≳ 8 Msun) play an important role in the evolution of the interstellar medium due to their high energy output, supernovae explosions, and enrichment of the surrounding medium by heavy elements. The formation of these stars can be studied through the HII regions formed due to the increased output of UV photons from them. Moreover, a multiwavelength study of the molecular clouds associated with these HII regions gives important clues about the evolutionary stages of star-formation.

Measurement of particulate matter (PM) such as black carbon (BC) aerosols over urban sites is critically important owing to its adverse health and climate impacts. However, the impacts associated with BC are poorly understood primarily because of the scarcity and uncertainties of measurements of BC.

Aerosols distributed in the troposphere can scatter and absorb solar radiation and modify the Earth's radiation budget and cloud properties. The combined effect of scattering and absorption by particles is defined as aerosol extinction coefficient, is a measure of the alteration of radiant energy as it passes through the atmosphere. The aerosol extinction coefficient was derived with the space-borne lidar Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) over the Indian region during 2008–2018.

For the first time in India, IIST researchers have generated the bright-entangled twin beams of light and measured their intensity-difference squeezing of 4 dB, corresponding to a 60% noise reduction from the Standard Quantum Limit. 

Prof. Kuruvilla’s group has come up with different protein protected nanoclusters for bio-sensing applications. The group has explored various preparation strategies and has tested the sensing ability of the prepared materials. The group is currently focusing on green and hybrid combinations of nanomaterials for sensing of biomolecules as well as extending its utility towards drug delivery.

Carbon fibers are the widely used reinforcements in fiber reinforced composites owing to their excellent properties. But they are expensive and we mostly depend on other countries for procuring them. To address this important issue, Prof. Kuruvilla’s group started investigating other polymer sources for preparation of the carbon fibers. Recently, the group has come up with the preparation of lignin-based carbon fibers and PVDF based carbon fibers, by various optimizations. These prepared carbon mats provide tremendous scope for futuristic applications.

Due to the explosive growth of electronic devices, EMI shielding has become of the most extensively studied research area. Prof. Kuruvilla’s Group is actively working on this area, with an objective to develop lightweight and flexible EMI shields. The group has come up with nanofiller loaded electrospun carbon fibers and their composites for effective and efficient EMI shielding, especially in the high frequency range. The group has developed ultra slim fiber mats with excellent shielding potential that can act as excellent polymer reinforcement.