Who is Dr Zarak Bhat? Indian PhD scholar joins Edinburgh AI team

From NIT Srinagar to a global AI research hub, Dr Zarak Bhat's journey highlights India's growing presence in advanced semiconductor research. Her move to the University of Edinburgh signals rising opportunities at the intersection of AI and electronics.

In Short

• Dr Zarak Bhat completed her PhD in Electronics and Communication Engineering at NIT Srinagar
• She specialises in AI applications for semiconductor device design
• Her doctoral research focused on power Gallium Nitride models

Dr Zarak Bhat, a PhD graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from National Institute of Technology Srinagar, has taken up the role of Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Edinburgh’s APRIL AI Hub.

Her work focusses on applying artificial intelligence to electronic device design, with an emphasis on optimisation, performance prediction, and improving semiconductor workflows.

WHAT IS HER ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH FOCUS?

Dr Bhat pursued her PhD at NIT Srinagar from December 2019 to November 2025, specialising in Electronics and Communication Engineering. Her research primarily revolved around advanced semiconductor technologies, backed by strong expertise in research and development, Verilog, and device modelling.

She completed her MTech from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Jamia Millia Islamia between 2017 and 2019, securing an A+ grade. During this period, she actively participated in seminars and research projects, strengthening her foundation in hardware systems and development.

Earlier, she earned her BE in Electronics and Communication from the University of Kashmir (2012–2016), also graduating with an A+ grade. Her early academic years included hands-on training, technical projects, and programming in languages like C and C++.

WHAT ARE HER KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND GLOBAL EXPOSURE?

Dr Bhat is the first PhD scholar from the Nanoelectronics Research and Development Group at NIT Srinagar. Her doctoral work on power Gallium Nitride (GaN) models contributes to next-generation power electronic systems.

Her research has been published in reputed international journals, including IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, where she explored the connection between device-level physics and circuit-level simulations.

In August 2025, she also participated in the advanced training segment of the India Semiconductor Workforce Development Program (ISWDP). She has received multiple reviewer certifications and was awarded the ISWDP Samsung Student Fellowship, recognising her contributions to the field.

WHAT IS HER ROLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH’S AI HUB?

At the APRIL AI Hub in Edinburgh, Dr Bhat is working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (April 2026 onwards) in an on-site role. Her work involves integrating AI-driven methodologies into device design processes, combining research skills with practical applications in semiconductor innovation.

Her expertise spans device design, research methodologies, and emerging AI-led engineering solutions, areas that are increasingly critical in the global tech landscape.

Dr Zarak Bhat’s academic path from regional institutions to a leading global research hub reflects the rising impact of Indian researchers in cutting-edge domains like AI and semiconductor technology. Her journey underscores how strong academic grounding, research focus, and global exposure can open doors to high-impact opportunities worldwide.

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