Girish Saran Agarwal earned his MSc degree from Banaras Hindu University and his PhD from University of Rochester, USA in 1969 under the supervision of Emil Wolf. He did his postdoctoral research with Herman Haken at Institute for Theoretische Physik, University Stuttgart, Germany. He began his career as a Visiting Fellow at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, and later as Professor at the Institute of Science, Mumbai (1975-77). He continued his career as Professor of Physics and Dean at the University of Hyderabad. He then moved to Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad as Director where he developed strong research programs both in theoretical and experimental physics. He also occupied the chair of INSA-Albert Einstein Centenary Research Professor (2001-05). He served as Noble Foundation Chair and Regents Professor at The Oklahoma State University ( 2004- 2017). He is currently with the Texas A & M Univertsity where he leads a very active group in quantum optics, biophotonics and imaging.

Academic and Research Achievements: Agarwal has made extensive contributions to many areas of quantum optics-coherence, superfluorescence, bistability, resonance fluorescence and cavity QED. Has been instrumental in starting quantum optical work in several areas like cooperative resonance fluorescence, applications of master equation techniques, optical resonance and nonlinear optical phenomena in partially coherent fields, quantum electrodynamic phenomena at surfaces, quantum state engineering, control of decoherence, quantum imaging and microscopy.

Other Contributions: Professor Agarwal has been very constructive in motivating young students and researcher by organizing numerous international and national conferences and schools. He has lectured very extensively at those conferences, schools and workshops. He has authored more than 550 research articles in different journals of optics and physics. and a monograph on Quantum Optics. He is currently serving on the editorial board of   Progress in Optics . To date more than twenty students have completed their PhD under his supervision.

Awards and Honours: Girish Agarwal has received numerous awards both in international and national arenas. He is the recipient of Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture (2000) of INSA. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society (2008), Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS). He was a member, INSA Council (1996-98) and its Vice- President (2004).