On 13^th November, 2020, Mumbai-born and settled in the USA, Benaz Colabewala, successfully defended her dissertation to earn a Ph. D in Physics from the University of California, Merced (UCM). Her thesis, titled ‘Optical Properties Of Hybrid Perovskite Thin Films And Quantum Dots For Solar Device Applications’, is the culmination of six years of her graduate research focused on alternate materials for solar cells and luminescent solar concentrators.

After being awarded her degree, Benaz will continue her new position as a full-time professor of physics at Mills College in Oakland, which she began in August 2020. Benaz credits her wonderfully supportive family, friends and teachers for her success.

Benaz was born in Mumbai and had migrated to USA in 1996 at the tender age of five years. Benaz is an ex-student of Bai R F D Panday Girls’ High School in Mumbai. She studied at Panday School for two years as a Junior Kindergarten student. Her parents, Jimmy and Rukshana Colabewala, believe that those two years contributed greatly to solidifying her base and has enabled her to always be in advance classes.

Benaz’s mother, Rukshana who is also an ex-student of the Panday Girls’ High School, thanks the principal of Panday School, Mrs. Commissarriat for her success. Benaz was in ‘Gifted And Talented Education (GATE)’ during her elementary and Junior High School days in Orange County California. She took Advance Placement Classes in high school during which time her Physics teacher, Mr. Pitochelli from Fullerton High School influenced her into taking Physics as her major.

She achieved her Bachelor’s degree from California State University (Long Beach) in 2014. She was able to achieve this success with lot of hard work and sacrifices. A hardworking, intelligent and talented woman who has done her parents and her community proud, Benaz has chosen to pursue the teaching profession so she can help other students the way her teachers helped her achieve her successes.

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Submission Courtesy: Er. Zarrir Bhandara