The prize, named after Nobel Laureate Gerhard Ertl and presented by the Surface Science Division of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG), honors early career achievements in surface science.

Dr. Rai’s research focuses on light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, with particular emphasis on ultrafast dynamics at atomic scale spatial resolution. His work examines the optical response of individual quantum systems, including molecules and atomic scale defects in two-dimensional materials, providing new insights into fundamental quantum phenomena relevant for future optoelectronic technologies.

At the DPG Spring Meeting 2026, he presented results from this research in a talk titled “Effect of atomic scale defects on light matter interaction in transition metal dichalcogenides.” The work demonstrates how single atom defects affect long range coherent phonons in semiconductors.

Dr. Rai completed his PhD at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology with support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship.

We warmly congratulate him on this award!