Kerala Government polytechnic college kozhikode | India
Dr. Aboothahir Afzal is a highly dedicated and accomplished physicist with nearly two decades of continuous teaching, research, and academic leadership experience. Currently serving as Assistant Professor of Physics at Thunchan Memorial Government College, Tirur, Kerala (under the University of Calicut), he has been actively engaged in teaching B.Sc. and M.Sc. Physics courses since 2011, following his initial academic tenure at The New College (Autonomous), Chennai. With a strong passion for student-centered learning, he incorporates Research-Based Pedagogical Tools (RBPT) and innovative teaching strategies to enhance analytical thinking and practical skills among learners. Dr. Afzal has handled a wide range of subjects, including Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics, Computational Physics using Python, Mechanics, and Mathematical Physics, shaping the academic foundation of countless students over nineteen years. Dr. Afzal’s research contributions span dielectric spectroscopy, computational physics, materials science, amorphous pharmaceuticals, nonlinear optical crystals, and molecular dynamics. He has authored and co-authored impactful publications in reputed journals such as Indian Journal of Physics, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Materials Today: Proceedings, Chemistry Select, and Results in Chemistry. His doctoral research at the University of Calicut centered on broadband dielectric and DFT investigations of glass-forming pharmaceutical systems. He has completed a UGC-funded Minor Research Project and continues to supervise research, including guiding a Ph.D. scholar working on ionogels for electrochemical applications. His expertise includes advanced instrumentation such as broadband dielectric spectrometers, DSC, XRD, FTIR, and UV spectroscopy, along with computational tools like Gaussian and GaussView. In addition to research, Dr. Afzal demonstrates strong administrative and leadership abilities. He has served as Head of the Department since 2020 and contributed significantly as a member of curriculum design committees, NSS Program Officer, NAAC Committee member, Program Manager for Continuing Education, and coordinator of national workshops on computational physics and astronomical data analysis. His active participation as resource person, invited speaker, and trainer at national and international events reflects his commitment to academic development. He has attended numerous refresher courses, RBPT workshops, and specialized training programs, including a prestigious national research internship at IIT Bombay. Beyond academics, Dr. Afzal is known for mentoring students, supporting higher education aspirations, and participating in community-oriented activities, including deputation as Assistant Hajj Officer in Saudi Arabia. A multilingual scholar with strong interpersonal and leadership skills, he continues to contribute meaningfully to physics education, research, and institutional development.
Featured Publications
Hemalatha, A., Afzal, A., Muthu, S., Raja, M., Sevvanthi, S., Manonmani, J., & Senthil, S. (2023). A combined experimental and theoretical studies on non-centrosymmetric NLO single crystal of L-Norvalinium hydrogen maleate. AIP Conference Proceedings.
Baiju, S., Afzal, A., Thayyil, M. S., Al-Otaibi, J. S., & Ali, S. K. (2023). Computational studies on anticancerous Camptothecin and its derivative Camp-10 by density functional theory. Results in Chemistry, 5, 100837.
Hemalatha, A., Muthu, S., Afzal, A., Ramesh, P., Raja, M., Manonmani, J., & Senthil, S. (2023). Investigation on crystal structure, spectroscopic, electronic and NLO analysis of a non-centrosymmetric NLO single crystal: L-Leucinium hydrogen maleate (LLM). AIP Conference Proceedings.
Hemalatha, A., Afzal, A., Muthu, S., Raja, M., & Senthil, S. (2022). Growth, molecular structure and characterization of L-Isoleucinium hydrogen maleate hemihydrate (LIM) NLO single crystal by density functional theory. Materials Today: Proceedings, 56, 1–7.
Poovingal, N. N. M., Thayyil, M. S., Afzal, A., & Govindaraj, G. (2022). Thermal and dielectric studies on orientationally disordered crystal: Cyclobutanol. Indian Journal of Physics, 96, 1649–1659.