The Manipal Centre for Natural Sciences (MCNS) was started in 2011 under the Manipal Advanced Research Group (MARG). The primary aim of MCNS is to nurture fundamental research in the Natural Sciences and grow into a hub of excellence within Manipal Academy of Higher Education. In 2012, the fledgling MCNS came into its own as a Centre of Excellence under Manipal Academy of Higher Education. It is one of the first dedicated “all-research” Centers to be started within a University.                                                               

This Centre strives to promote fundamental research in forefront areas of natural sciences by encouraging independent and creative thought essential for scientific pursuit. The Centre presently has both academic and research programs.  MCNS has expanded since 2021 with the addition of many new faculties, students and academic programs. The rapid increase in students under the Integrated MSc-Ph.D program in Physics and Ph.D programs in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, has made MCNS a vibrant place of research.  With nine astronomy-linked research faculities, MCNS today hosts one of India's largest astronomy program in the University sector.

               Director:   Dr. P Sreekumar                                                                                   

              Email:   sreekumar.p@manipal.edu                                                                                                                                            

       Advisory Group :

• Prof. Ajit Kembhavi – Former Director, Inter University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA),  Pune, India.        
• Dr. Amit Roy – Former Director of Inter-University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi. 
• Prof. M.K. Janarthanam – Formerly Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences & Environment, Professor of Botany, Goa University.                                 
• Prof. M. L. Khan – Professor of Botany & Director of Academic Affairs, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, MP.                     
• Prof. L. S. Chamyal – Formerly Head, Dept. of Geology                                                                                                                                     
• Prof. Vishwas Kale – Former Professor and Head, Dept. of Geography, Pune University.                                                                    
• Dr. G. R. Ravindra Kumar – Scientist G, National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum.                                                                                                                                                                       

(a)      Physics & Space Sciences

•  Astronomy & Astrophysics                                                                                       

                                   Dr. P Sreekumar, Professor & Director, ( sreekumar.p@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Kazuyuki Furuuchi, Associate Professor ( kazuyuki.furuuchi@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Debbijoy Bhattacharya, Associate Professor ( debbijoy.b@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Surajit Paul, Associate Professor  ( surajit.paul@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Sreejith Padinhatteeri, Assistant Professor ( sreejith.p@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Chandrachur Chakraborty, Assistant Professor  ( chandrachur.c@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Sumana Nandi, Assistant Professor  ( sumana.nandi@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Rupak Roy, Assistant Professor   ( rupak.royl@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Shalima Puthiyaveettil, Assistant Professor  ( shalima.p@manipal.edu )

• Post-Doctoral Fellows

                                   Dr.Joby Panakkal Kochappan (  joby.kochappan@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Megha Anand ( megha.anand@manipal.edu )

• Senior Staff Scientist    

                                   Dr. Ashwini ( u.ashwini@manipal.ed ) 

• Ph.D Scholars

                                   Mr. B. Ananthamoorthy - INSPIRE fellow (  anantha.moorthy@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Mr. Aditya H.N, Dr. TMA Pai FellowEmail: ( aditthya.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Mr. Rashmikanta Mantry ( rashmikanta.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Mr. Adarsha. H.A ( adarsha.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Mr. Atul Bhat S ( atul.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Ms. Ayisha Fida ( ayisha.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Mr. Dinesh Ganapati Hebbar ( dinesh.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Mr . Vikhnesh Manoj Padmanabhan ( vikhnesh.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                   Ms. Sariga C.M, Ph.D. Scholar ( sariga.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

• Grant-based JRF

                                   Mr. Abhishek Jhala, Junior Research Fellow ( abhishek.mcnsmpl2022@learner.manipal.edu )

•          Nuclear  and Particle Physics            

•  Adjunct Faculty

                                    Dr. K.V.Subbaiah,  ( kv.subbaiah@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. V. Gopalakrishnan ( gopal.v@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. S V Suryanarayana, ( suryanarayana.sv@manipal.edu ) 

•   Assistant Professor                          

                                    Dr. Paresh Prajapati, ( pareshkumar.p@manipal.edu )

                                   Dr. Sumit Kumar, Assistant Professor  ( sumit.kumar@manipal.edu )

                                   Mr. Sachin Shet,  Staff Scientist ( shet.sachin@manipal.edu )                                                      

(b)      Evolutionary Biology

                                   Dr. Vivek Pandi, Assistant Professor  ( vivek.pandi@manipal.edu )

• Ph.D Scholars

                                    Ms. Gayathri Rajendiran ( gayathri.mcnsmpl2022@learner.manipal.edu )

                                    Mr. Vishnu Shreekara Bhat ( vishnu.mcnsmpl2022@learner.manipal.edu )

                                    Mr. Mahim B ( mahim.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

(c)        Computational Chemistry and Material Science:

•  Assistant professor

                                      Dr. Suranjan Shil  ( suranjan.shil@manipal.edu ) 

• Senior Staff Scientist  

                                      Dr. Chaitra. U ( chaitra.u@manipal.edu  )

• Ph.D Scholars

                                      Ms. Muskan ( muskan.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

                                      Ms. Chumuiria Debbarma ( chumuiria.mcnsmpl2023@learner.manipal.edu )

(d)        Non-teaching / Support Staff:

•         Administrative staff

                           • Mr. Ravindra Acharya, Senior Executive- Admin & Operations ( ravi.acharya@manipal.edu )

                           • Mr. Venkatesh, Associate, ( venkatesh.naik@manipal.edu )

•        Library staff

                            • Dr. Jessy Saadi, Librarian ( lib.mcns@manipal.edu )

•        Assistant Engineers:

                            • Mr. Ramaprasada, Assistant Engineer, Computers and Peripherals ( ram.prasada@manipal.edu )

                           • Mr. Ganesh Acharya, Assistant Engineer, Projection systems ( planetarium@manipal.edu )

•        General Duty Workers:

                           • Mr. Prakash Poojary

                           • Mr. Vijay Kumar