Dr. Subash Sharma
Materials Scientist | AI-Driven Materials Discovery | Electron Microscopy
About Me
I am a materials scientist at the University of Bristol. My research sits at the intersection of electron microscopy, 2D materials synthesis, and AI-driven materials discovery. I have spent the last 12 years working across Nepal, Japan, and the UK, with a particular interest in watching materials form in real time inside the electron microscope and, more recently, in using AI to help decide which materials are worth making.
Core Research Interests
🔬 In Situ TEM and Metal-Carbon Dynamics
I specialise in visualising nanoscale reactions as they happen, using in situ heating and electrical biasing inside the TEM. Over 12 years I have systematically studied the interaction of ten different metals with amorphous carbon under applied bias voltage, directly observing real-time graphitisation, electromigration, catalytic nanotube growth, and nano-soldering of carbon nanostructures.
- Ten metal systems studied individually (Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, Sn, In, Ga, Co, Pd, CuNi alloy), with first-author or corresponding-author publications on each.
- Techniques: HRTEM, HAADF-STEM, EELS, EDX, SAED, cryo-TEM, EFTEM, operando heating and biasing holders.
- Instruments: JEOL JEM ARM 200F, JEOL 2100, FEI Osiris, FEI Tecnai.
⚛ 2D Materials Synthesis and Waste-to-Graphene CVD
Extensive experience in scalable growth of 2D materials, from wafer-scale CVD at the Cambridge Graphene Centre to pioneering waste-derived graphene conversion.
- Wafer-scale (200 mm) CVD synthesis and transfer of graphene, hBN, MoS2, and WS2 within the EU Graphene Flagship. Commissioned an AIXTRON MOCVD reactor for pilot-scale growth.
- Pioneered waste-to-graphene CVD from solid waste plastic (Carbon 2014, 200+ citations), extended to waste chicken fat, camphor, tangerine peel oil, and waste latex.
- Demonstrated graphene synthesis at record low temperatures: 150°C (In catalyst) and 180°C (Sn catalyst).
- Co-authored rapid microwave plasma CVD enabling graphene growth in under 40 seconds at below 600°C.
🤖 AI-Driven Materials Discovery
Bridging materials science with artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of novel functional materials.
- Built SSB-CrossRef, a 17,000-line Python platform that processes scientific literature using LLMs, cross-references against 200,000+ computational predictions (GNoME, Materials Project), and identifies novel synthesis targets with automated thermodynamic due diligence.
- Processed 997 papers, extracted 3,009 unique compositions, built 56,000+ cross-reference links. Over 95% of AI-predicted candidates failed experimental reality checks.
- Built validated XRD and SAED diffraction simulators and automated SAED phase identification software.
- Data-driven synthesis route recommender using patterns from 2,000+ extracted literature records.
- Machine Learning Certification, DeepLearning.AI (Credential ID: 9G6WGJ2R9D3N).
Professional Experience
Electron Microscopy Specialist
University of Bristol | Jul 2024 - Present
- Design and conduct independent operando TEM experiments (heating and biasing holders) to observe growth, transformation, and property evolution at the nanoscale across the Faculty of Science.
- Built AI-powered cross-domain materials discovery platform (SSB-CrossRef) for identifying novel solid-state electrolytes and high-entropy alloys through automated literature mining and computational cross-referencing.
- Developed automated SAED phase identification software, validated XRD/SAED simulators, and data-driven synthesis recommender.
- Design and deliver structured TEM training programmes; assess researcher competence through practical examination.
R&D Engineer / Materials Process Engineer
Advanced Furnace Technology, Cambridge | Dec 2023 - Jun 2024
- Led process development for large-scale tantalum carbide (TaC) growth for high-temperature applications.
- Contributed to furnace design and specification for industrial scale-up: repeatability, throughput, safety, and practical manufacturability.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Cambridge (Cambridge Graphene Centre) | Dec 2019 - Nov 2023
- Led EU Graphene Flagship work packages, coordinating experimental activities across 14+ researchers at multiple European institutions, managing milestone delivery and EU reporting.
- Developed 200 mm wafer-scale CVD synthesis and transfer of graphene, hBN, and TMDCs. Commissioned AIXTRON MOCVD reactor for pilot-scale 2D material growth.
- Supervised PhD students through experimental design, data analysis, and publication preparation.
- Contributed to TEM studies of graphene-based battery materials and terahertz photodetector heterostructures.
Postdoctoral Researcher / Nanotechnology Platform Engineer
Nagoya Institute of Technology | Apr 2015 - Nov 2019
- In situ TEM studies of ten metal-carbon systems (Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, Sn, In, Ga, Co, Pd, CuNi) under applied bias voltage: directly observed graphitisation, electromigration, catalytic nanotube growth, and nano-soldering. Published on each system individually.
- Demonstrated graphene synthesis at record low temperatures: 150°C (In catalyst), 180°C (Sn catalyst).
- Extended waste-to-graphene CVD to waste chicken fat, camphor, tangerine peel oil, and waste latex.
- Co-authored rapid microwave plasma CVD: graphene growth in under 40 seconds at below 600°C.
- Mentored undergraduate and graduate students; several published first-author papers under my guidance.
- Awarded Certified Senior Engineer, Nanotechnology Platform Japan (MEXT, 2019).
Education and Certifications
PhD in Engineering
Nagoya Institute of Technology | 2012 - 2015
- Thesis: Synthesis of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride using solid precursors by chemical vapour deposition. Advisor: Prof. Masaki Tanemura.
Master of Engineering
Chubu University | 2012
- Focused on plasma physics, production of TiN/TiO2 films, and their properties.
BSc in Physics
Tribhuvan University | 2008
Machine Learning Certification
DeepLearning.AI | Credential ID: 9G6WGJ2R9D3N
Research Impact
- Publications: 50+ peer-reviewed outputs, h-index 19, i10-index 28, over 1,000 citations.
- Pioneering work: First demonstration of waste plastic to graphene via CVD (Carbon 2014, 200+ citations). Record low-temperature graphene synthesis (150°C).
- AI platform: SSB-CrossRef processed 997 papers, 200,000+ computational predictions, identified genuinely novel solid-state electrolyte candidates.
- Advanced Microscopy: Expert in (S)TEM, EELS, EDX, SAED, cryo-TEM, EFTEM, and operando heating/biasing experiments.
- Instrumentation: JEOL JEM ARM 200F, JEOL 2100, FEI Osiris, FEI Tecnai, AIXTRON MOCVD, CVD systems.
- Peer review: Active reviewer for Nano Letters, Nanoscale, Carbon, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. Multiple Outstanding Reviewer awards.