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Ms. Chandrika Konwar is a Ph.D. scholar at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research (ACBR), University of Delhi, Delhi. Her Ph.D. project explores the impact of gene regulation on cell death and aging which includes extensive experimentation with Caenorhabditis elegans (a nematode worm), molecular biology, microscopy and proteomics in parallel with big data and systems biology.

During her Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, Konwar is studying the role of SIN3 in cancer by using C. elegans as the model system. This is expected to add new knowledge on cancer development and diagnosis and will help create the prospect of using the nematode as a disease model to elucidate the cellular and molecular markers underpinning tumorigenesis.

Prior to her Ph.D., she completed her B.Sc. (Biochemistry) and M.Sc. (Biomedical Science) from the University of Delhi. She has worked on several research projects including but not limited to finding new drug targets and natural remedies for infectious diseases like gonorrhoea and tuberculosis. She has also done some exciting interdisciplinary research on the social connotations of health and well-being within Indian sub-populations. Most of her findings have been published in reputed peer-reviewed journals and presented in conferences.

Ms. Konwar is a firm believer in open science and interdisciplinary research, and a strong proponent of science communication, public policy and sustainability. Apart from research, she devotes her time towards developing new skills and writing creative articles for different media as well as volunteering for social causes.

Dr. Sumeet Anand is a performing vocalist of the extant form of Hindustani classical music, Dhrupad. He is also a methodical teacher and a meticulous researcher, a distinguishing combination. He received early training from his grandfathers (including noted vocalist Pandit Siyaram Tiwari) and advanced his skills under the tutelage of Pandit Abhay Narayan Mallick of Darbhanga-Mallick Dhrupad tradition.

A familiar name in major music festivals across India, Dr. Anand also broadcasts from AIR, Delhi. He is an empaneled performer with ICCR and has toured extensively across Europe. He has delivered lecture-demonstrations at UCLA, NID Haryana, NSD, and IHC New Delhi. He received fellowships from the Government of India and the Government of Delhi, and completed his research on Dhrupad, it’s evolutionary history and pedagogical shifts.

During his Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award (Research and Teaching) fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Anand is sharing the theoretical and practical aspects of Hindustani classical Dhrupad with his students. The fellowship will enable him to be a part of a truly global music community chance, and get introduced to music genres like jazz, western classical, African, Thai, and Turkish music traditions which will be an enriching experience for his artistic development. He will also be undertaking minor research under Prof. Anna Morcom on the evolving performance repertoire of Dhrupad.