Originally trained as a synthetic polymer chemist specialising in living anionic polymerisation of methacrylates, Shameer went beyond that to tailoring azobenzene-functionalised molecules and studying their photoisomerisation dynamics. Now, he is working on incorporating these photoswitches in various matrices to make new and interesting smart materials. Occasionally he can be found experimenting with organic emitters and hiking in his leisure time to remain cool under fire.