Ranga P. Dias

Ranga P. Dias is a researcher with a primary interest in condensed matter physics. He was an assistant professor in the departments of Mechanical Engineering and Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester (UR), and a scientist at the UR Laboratory for Laser Energetics. As of November 19, 2024, he was no longer employed at UR.

In 2020 and in 2023, his group published two papers claiming to have achieved room-temperature superconductivity, the first using carbonaceous sulfur hydride at extremely high pressure, and the second using nitrogen-doped lutetium hydride at near-ambient pressure. Both papers were later retracted after accusations of scientific misconduct, including data fabrication and manipulation. Dias denied those charges, with an initial investigation by UR in 2021 reporting no evidence of misconduct. A later independent investigation performed by the American Physical Society did find such evidence, and a March 2024 investigation by the University reported that Dias "engaged in research misconduct."

As of 2024, Dias and his collaborator Ashkan Salamat at University of Nevada, Las Vegas have had five of their research papers retracted.

Dias founded a company related to his superconductivity interests, Unearthly Materials, which made misleading claims about its funding and investors.