Sohini Kar-Narayan

Sohini Kar-Narayan is a British–Indian materials scientist, professor at the University of Cambridge and the editor-in-chief of the journal APL Electronic Devices, published by the American Institute of Physics. Her research considers polymer based materials for energy harvesting. She was awarded the 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry Peter Day Prize.

Early life and education
Kar-Narayan was born and raised in Nigeria before moving to India to earn her undergraduate degree at the Presidency University, Kolkata. She was a graduate student at the Indian Institute of Science. After earning her doctorate in 2009, she moved to the University of Cambridge, where she was awarded a Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship.

Research and career
Kar-Narayan was made a lecturer at the University of Cambridge in 2015, and then a professor in 2018. Her research considers the development of nanomaterials for sensing, biomedical applications and energy. She was awarded a European Research Council Starting Grant to develop piezoelectric nanogenerators.

In 2022, Kar-Narayan was awarded the Armourers and Brasiers' Venture Prize for ArtioSense, a smart sensor that can help orthopaedic surgeons provide personalised care following surgical implants. Kar-Narayan developed microfluidic force sensors that facilitate soft tissue balance and help to precisely place implants. She created the sensor in partnership with surgeons, recognising that they needed to complement the surgical process without changing the workflow.

Awards and honours

 * 2015 World Economic Forum Young Scientist Award
 * 2021 Top 50 Influential Women in Engineering
 * 2022 Armourers and Brasiers' Venture Prize
 * 2022 Elected Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
 * 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry Peter Day Prize
 * 2023 European Research Council Consolidator Grant
 * 2024 AFM and SPM Award, Royal Microscopical Society