0009-0000-8474-5816 About
Akshat Sharma is a fourth-year BS–MS dual-degree student at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, India. His research lies at the interface of chemistry, information theory, statistical mechanics, and applied mathematics, with the long-term goal of understanding the universal principles governing organization, self-assembly, complexity, and the emergence of living matter.
Beginning with polyoxometalate (POM) chemistry and molecular self-assembly, his research has progressively evolved toward more fundamental questions concerning how organized structures arise from matter. Rather than studying individual chemical systems in isolation, he aims to develop mathematical and information-theoretic frameworks that explain organization across chemistry, physics, and biology.
His recent work includes the development of the Quantum Assembly Index (QAI), an information-theoretic descriptor of molecular organization derived directly from quantum electron density using Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), extending graph-based Assembly Theory toward a physically grounded quantum framework. He is also the author of the Core–Halo Theorem, an analytical result in generalized statistical complexity proving that maximally complex probability distributions possess a universal core–halo organization. Together, these projects form the foundation of a broader research program exploring how information, geometry, and statistical mechanics govern the emergence of organized physical systems.
Alongside theoretical research, he has experience in computational chemistry, density functional theory (DFT), single-crystal X-ray crystallography, QTAIM, and the synthesis and characterization of complex inorganic materials, providing an experimental perspective to complement his theoretical interests.
His current research interests include information theory, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, active and soft matter, origin-of-life research, artificial life, molecular self-assembly, and the development of universal theoretical frameworks capable of describing organization across diverse physical and chemical systems. He is also developing research interests in computation, mathematical foundations, and artificial intelligence, particularly in neuro-symbolic approaches to biological systems.
Akshat is a Reliance Foundation Scholar, recognized nationally for academic excellence and research potential.
Employment
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Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Student
Education
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Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Integrated Bachelor of Science-Master of Science2023 - 2028
Projects & Funding
Projects & funding information is unavailable.