The Department of Atomic and Molecular Physics is well established for its research in cutting edge interdisciplinary research areas; and teaching in niche areas of Photonics and Nanoscience and Technology under the aegis of Manipal University. The Department is identified as DST-FIST Centre for Nanobiophotonics and VGST Centre for Excellence in Biophotonics. The Department collaborate actively with foreign Universities as well as premier Institutes in India. The Department is thriving on its excellent research faculty including a JC Bose National Fellow, state of art research and academic laboratories, and funding from industry and government funding agencies.  The Department aims at becoming a world-class research hub in multi/interdisciplinary areas that integrate the expertise of Photonics, Biophotonics, Biophysics and Nanoscience and Technology.

Aside the postgraduate programs, the Department also offers certificate courses in Laser Applications in Medicine and Biology and Nanoscience & Technology. The Department regularly organizes international and national conferences, seminars by eminent speakers, workshops to create and promote the research culture among the young researchers. The Department has an active SPIE chapter that do lot of promotional activities and outreach programs in the field of Optics/Photonics. In order to catch them young, the Department offers a lot of programs for School students. Through these activities, the Department create enthusiastic minds to take up challenging scientific problems to fulfill the societal requirement.

The two centers; the Centre of Biophotonics and the Centre for Applied Nanosciences are established by Manipal University in Department of Atomic and Molecular Physics to foster and strengthen the research activities of the Department. The Department performs state of art research activities in the basic and translational research fields that include development of optical technologies for early detection of diseases including cancer, Laser induced breakdown Spectroscopy for trace element detection,  Hybrid and multi-modal spectroscopic techniques, Single cell spectroscopy using Raman Tweezers, Protein profiling  of body fluids using HPLC- LIF techniques for non-invasive disease detection, Photothermal Microscopic techniques, Nanobioimaging, Micro and Optofluidics, Nano-bio interface, Nanophotonics, Biophysics, Biomolecule crystallization, Plasmonics etc. The Department have well established state of art research facilities in these areas. As conducting cutting edge research is the main objective of the department, it strongly encourages faculties and students including postgraduate students to take up challenging scientific problems. The department has an active research collaboration with various institutes of the Manipal University. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and Mangalore Campus, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal and Mangalore Campus, Manipal Institute of Technology are a few prominent to mention.

The Department of Atomic and Molecular physics (DAMP) established in the year 2008, offers Master’s program in Photonics and Nanoscience and Technology with a unique feature of six-month research project. Students are encouraged to take up their project in premiere institutes in foreign as well as Indian institutes. The aim of these program is to generate skilled manpower to meet the shortage in these cutting-edge research areas so as to obtain professionals equipped with knowledge, competence, laboratory skills, commitment and capability to do independent research.