Anunay Samanta obtained his MSc from University of Burdwan and PhD (1987) from Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (Jadavpur University), Kolkata under the supervision of Mihir Chowdhury. He spent a couple of years at the Radiation Laboratory (USA) as Postdoctoral Research Associate before joining as a Faculty in the School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad (1990), where he is presently a Professor. He made several short-term visits to Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Radiation Laboratory, University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tohoku University under bilateral exchange programs. He also spent a year at the Radiation Laboratory (1999-2000) on sabbatical to study the change in dipole moment of molecules on electronic excitation using time-resolved dielectric loss measurements in collaboration with RW Fessenden.

Academic & Research Achievements: Samanta has set up a state of the art laboratory at University of Hyderabad comprising femtosecond time-resolved pump-probe and fluorescence upconversion facility for studies on ultrafast processes, picosecond time-resolved confocal fluorescence microscope setup for single molecule fluorescence and FCS studies, picosecond time-resolved single photon counting fluorescence spectrometer, laser flash photolysis facility, etc. Using these facilities, he has studied the interaction of molecular systems with various environments, elucidated the mechanism of nonradiative deactivation processes in electron donor-acceptor molecules, formulated a novel design strategy for development of \\\\\\\'off-on\\\\\\\' fluorosensor for transition metal ions and investigated the dynamics of solvation in room temperature ionic liquids. He has provided direct experimental evidence of intersystem crossing from a higher excited state. His fluorophore design logic based signaling strategy has enabled development of structurally simple and yet highly efficient fluorosensor. He has also demonstrated that phase transfer catalysts play important role other than transporting the polar substances across the interface. His pioneering work on room temperature ionic liquids initiated worldwide interest in these materials as novel media for photophysical studies. He has authored more than 170 research articles. Twenty one students have obtained their PhD degree under his guidance. He has citations exceeding 7000 and an h-index of 47.