CAMBRIDGE, MA—Quantum entanglement and particle wavefunction may sound too complicated for most people, but for Subir Sachdev, the Herchel Smith Professor of Physics and Chair of the Department of Physics at Harvard University, it is a fascinating subject.

Subir Sachdev (Photo: Harvard University)

His research describes the connection between physical properties of modern quantum materials and the nature of quantum entanglement in the many-particle wavefunction. He has worked extensively on the description of the diverse varieties of entangled states of quantum matter. These include states with topological order, with and without an energy gap to excitations, and critical states without quasiparticle excitations.

On Oct. 26, Prof. Sachdev will be honored for his outstanding academic achievements and as the Academician of the Year at New England Choice Awards gala at Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA. The awards gala will be attended by about 400 community leaders, businessmen, professionals, academics and philanthropists. New England Choice Awards gala is organized by INE MultiMedia in collaboration with INDIA New England News.

In an exclusive video interview with Chai With Manju, Prof. Sachdev talks about his family of scientists, his journey to IIT Delhi, MIT, Harard, Yale and back to Harvard.

To watch the full interview, please click here.

“I was always interested in science from a very young age,” says Prof. Sachdev. “It was like an incredible dream to come to MIT.”

How did he get into theoretical physics? Prof. Sachdev recalled that after everything he touched broke in the lab, his adviser suggested that he should work on theory, and that is what he did and excelled.

Prof. Sachdev has received numerous awards, including Dirac Medal from International Center for Theoretical Physics (2018); Lars Onsager Prize, American Physical Society, 2018; Star Family Prize for Excellence in Advising, Certificate of Distinction, Harvard University, 2016; and Dirac Medal for the Advancement of Theoretical Physics, the Australian Institute of Physics, the University of New South Wales, and the Royal Society of New South Wales, 2015, among others.

Prof. Sachdev received his B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1985. He holds visiting positions as the Cenovus Energy James Clerk Maxwell Chair at the Perimeter Institute in Ontario, Canada, and the Homi J. Bhabha Chair at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.

New England Choice Awards gala is organized by INE MultiMedia in collaboration with INDIA New England News, and is supported by a number of businesses: Platinum Sponsor: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care; Gold Sponsor: Masala Art; Silver Sponsor: BMW of Sudbury and Lahey Health. Supporting sponsors are: Alankar Event Planners & Decorators, Boston Sound and Light Co. and Art of Memories. Community sponsors are: Ameriprise/Mahadev Group; Shah, Dixit & Associates PC, Academy of Creative Arts, among others.