Dr. D.K. Aswal has engaged for 30 years in the areas of molecular electronics, organic solar cells, thermoelectric power generators, gas sensors and metrology. Currently is the Director of National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi maintaining lien with his position as “Outstanding Scientist” at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, Mumbai. Dr. Aswal, during 2012-2015, has also served as Secretary, Atomic Energy Education Society (AEES), Mumbai.
Dr. Aswal conceptualized and realized self-assembled monolayer based molecular devices (e.g. molecular diodes, molecular memories, molecular transistors), developed highly sensitive and selective hydrogen sulphide gas sensors, and fabricated highly efficient thermoelectric devices. He has edited three books, contributed 20 book chapters, published over 250 peer reviewed journal papers, including in Chemical Reviews (impact factor 52.61) and Progress in materials Scoence (Impact factor (25.87), filed three patents and secured the trademark of Bhartiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND) – the Indian Certified Reference Materials. For his outstanding contributions Dr. Aswal has been invited by several international universities as visiting Professor e.g. Shizuoka University, Japan, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel University of Paris VII, Karlsruhe University of Technology, Germany, University of Yamanashi, Tokyo Institute of Technology etc., received several international fellowships e.g. JSPS-Japan, BMBF-Germany, SDIGDE-France etc., and received several national honors e.g. Homi Bhabha Science and Technology Award, DAE-SRC outstanding Research Investigator Award, HBNI Distinguished Faculty award etc. As a Director of NPL, his current focus is to enhance the Metrological capabilities of India at par with international standards and to strengthen the “Quality-infrastructure (metrology, accreditation and standards)” of India for its quick transformation from a developing-state to a developed-state.