Prominent Physicist Rohini Godbole Has Died

Renowned physicist and Padma Shri awardee, Professor Rohini Godbole, has passed away at her residence in Pune. The academic community mourns the loss of a pioneering figure in particle physics in India.

The Indian Institute of Science expressed its condolences, stating, “With great sadness, we deeply mourn the passing of Prof. Rohini Godbole. She departed peacefully in her sleep this morning. In addition to her scientific achievements, she was a remarkable leader, guide, and a strong advocate for women in science.”

Joining the IISc in 1995, Prof. Godbole served as a professor until her retirement in 2018.

Throughout her illustrious career, Prof. Godbole received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri and France’s Ordre national du Mérite. She was an esteemed member of various academic bodies and held honorary degrees from several prestigious institutions. Furthermore, she contributed her expertise to several advisory committees for governments in India and abroad.

Born in 1952 in Pune, Prof. Godbole completed her MSc at IIT Bombay, where she received the institute’s silver medal and obtained her PhD from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, in 1979. Her extensive career included positions as a visiting professor at global research institutions, including significant time at the CERN theory department as a scientific associate.

A Mentor to Many

The IISc highlighted her role as a mentor, stating, “After serving on the faculty of the University of Bombay, she joined the IISc in November 1995. Although she retired as a full professor in July 2018, she continued her research at the Centre for High Energy Physics (CHEP). She has guided over 14 PhD students, three MPhil students, and five Master’s students.”

Many of her students have gone on to achieve notable positions in academia both in India and internationally. The IISc noted that her last PhD student submitted their thesis in August.

As a trailblazer in particle physics, Prof. Godbole focused her research on collider physics, particularly in the fields of top and Higgs physics. She was an advocate for future collider projects, including the International Linear Collider (ILC) and its associated variants.