Department of Chemistry doctoral student earns spots in two elite national programs
A Mississippi State chemistry doctoral student spent nearly a month this fall training at two U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories, gaining experience with advanced scientific techniques that can help researchers better understand materials and answer complex scientific questions.
Palani Ganesh Karthikeyan, a third-year Ph.D. student in MSU’s Department of Chemistry, was one of just 60 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers selected through a competitive national application process to attend the second annual National Neutron Scattering School at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee Aug. 29–Sept. 4. He also was one of 60 graduate students selected nationally to attend the 2026 National X-ray School at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois Sept. 14–23.
The two programs were separate, independently competitive opportunities that provided Karthikeyan opportunities to use research tools and facilities not typically available in university laboratories.
“I was fortunate to be selected for both national programs in the same year, which gave me the opportunity to receive complementary training in neutron scattering and synchrotron X-ray techniques at two U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories,” Karthikeyan said.
Through the programs, Karthikeyan learned how X-ray and neutron techniques can be used to study the structure and behavior of materials at the atomic and molecular levels. He also gained hands-on experience designing experiments, selecting appropriate techniques and interpreting data while working directly with scientists at the national laboratories.
“Through these programs, I learned how X-ray and neutron techniques can be used to understand materials and answer scientific questions that are difficult to address using conventional laboratory methods,” Karthikeyan said. “The hands-on experiments and direct interaction with beamline scientists at the national laboratories taught me how to approach a scientific problem, choose the appropriate technique, design an experiment and interpret the resulting data.”
The training gives Karthikeyan advanced tools he can apply to his doctoral research while preparing him to use X-ray and neutron techniques at national research facilities throughout his scientific career.
“The Department of Chemistry has been very supportive in helping me advance toward my research and career goals,” Karthikeyan said. “I am especially grateful to my advisor, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Gangishetty, for continuously encouraging me to explore new research directions, learn advanced characterization techniques, and pursue opportunities at national laboratories, all of which have helped me advance my Ph.D. research while expanding my scientific knowledge and experience.”
Gangishetty, an associate professor with appointments in chemistry and physics, said opportunities such as these allow graduate students to expand their research capabilities while developing connections with scientists beyond the university.
“I know these two programs are extremely competitive nationwide, and I am incredibly proud that Palani was selected for both. Out of the 60 students chosen, Palani is among the very few to be accepted into both programs. He represented both our research group and MSU while gaining invaluable exposure to state-of-the-art techniques at these national laboratories. Demonstrating exceptional enthusiasm, he has already developed several innovative ideas leveraging these advanced capabilities and submitted a user proposal to the neutron facility. I am extremely excited about the outcomes of these experiments,” said Gangishetty.
“The department provides an environment where I can develop my research interests, collaborate with scientists beyond the university and gain experiences that are helping me grow as an independent researcher,” Karthikeyan said, crediting Carl Lovely, head of the Department of Chemistry, for his continued support and encouragement.
Karthikeyan began his doctoral studies at MSU in fall 2024 and anticipates completing his Ph.D. in fall 2029. He earned his bachelor’s degree from The American College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, in 2021 and his master’s degree in chemistry from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bengaluru, India, in 2024.
For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Chemistry, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.chemistry.msstate.edu.
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By Sarah Nicholas