Ashutosh Kumar Shukla obtained his BSc, MSc and D Phil from the University of Allahabad. His doctoral research work involved using electron spin resonance spectroscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy to investigate transition ion doped single crystals. He has been a university teacher and researcher for 20 years and is currently an Associate Professor of physics at Ewing Christian College, Allahabad, a University of Allahabad institution. He also served as an Associate Professor (pure and applied physics) at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, C G (a central university). He has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals and has edited various books, mostly on applications of EPR spectroscopy. He has delivered several invited lectures on characterization techniques at national and international conferences and workshops. He reviews manuscripts for a number of international journals. He has received numerous scholarships and fellowships, including a national scholarship, Scholarship of Ministry of Higher Education, Government of U P, Research Fellowship of the Council of Science and Tech., Lucknow, U P, Research Fellowship of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi and the Indian National Science Academy–Bilateral Exchange Fellowship. Less