Rajan Lal (Music 2017) is to further his research career at Trinity College, Cambridge following seven years at Gonville and Caius, after winning a Junior Research Fellowship.

Rajan came to Caius as an undergraduate to read Music, followed by an MPhil in Musicology supported by the College's Tammy Chen Fund. He is in the third year of his PhD, supervised by Professor Nicholas Marston (King's College, Cambridge). His dissertation develops a novel system for analysing music from the early 20th century and applies this framework to the late compositions of Aleksandr Scriabin.

Rajan's new projects at Trinity, beginning in the Autumn 2024, will include the application of his doctoral theory to other composers from Scriabin's period and a detailed study of the music of Kaikhosru Sorabji. He is also keen to write a book on mathematics, music analysis, and perception.

Moving along Trinity Street will mark the end of a chapter for Rajan.

“It will be very emotional for me to leave Caius after seven really very wonderful years here,” Rajan says.

“Throughout my time at the College, the Caius Fellows, College staff, my supervisees, and all my friends have been so supportive, academically and personally. I am most grateful for the years spent here.”

News of the Caius Research Fellowship Competition is to follow in February.