India Fellows Years: Indian Fellows 2024-2025

Harish Sankar Aghila

Harish S A is a Ph.D. candidate and teaching assistant at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. The broader domains encompassing his research interests include networks, systems, and security. His current research explores the security implications of in-network systems that leverage cutting-edge technologies like software-defined networks and programmable data planes.

Harish is a recipient of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) awarded by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. As a part of his doctoral research, he actively engaged in a security project alongside ASEAN countries and participated in their student exchange program. He published research papers and presented his work at reputed international venues. Additionally, he has received the notable SIGCOMM travel grant award, among many others.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the National Institute of Technology Puducherry, during which time he interned with the UMR TETIS Joint Research Unit in Montpellier, France. He holds a master’s degree in computer engineering (cyber security) from the National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at the University of Texas, Austin, TX, Harish is examining to secure data-driven, in-network systems built on high-speed programmable data planes against adversarial inputs. His vision is to bolster the resilience of next-generation computer networks against security threats. Harish teaches undergraduate students about network security. He enjoys road trips and chess.

Anjineyulu Kothakota

Dr. Anjineyulu Kothakota, is working as a Scientist in CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He has done his bachelors and master’s in food technology from Andhra Pradesh and Punjab respectively and Ph.D. in Agricultural Processing and Food Engineering from GBPUAT, Uttarakhand. He has a well proven track record of achievements in the field of post-harvest technologies and agri-waste management and has successfully developed technologies for conversion of agricultural residues to biodegradable products. The technology to produce such biodegradable products has so far been transferred to 18 companies.. A vital impact of these products is the reduction of the carbon footprint by 60 % when compared with plastic and paper counterparts, jobs for 5,000 to 7,000 rural workers; and additional income for 100 to 200 farmers for their raw material waste. He has also completed projects worth INR 3 crores from various funding agencies and private multinational companies like ITC Ltd. He has also recipient of several accolades like BRICS Young Scientist award 2023, Kerala State Young Scientist Award-2023, INAE –Young Engineer Award 2022, ICAR-NAAS Young Scientist Award 2021, ICAR-NAAS Associate Award 2023, CSIR Award for Science and Technology Innovations for Rural Development (CAIRD) 2020.

During Fulbright fellowship, he is focusing on the development and optimization non-thermal processing techniques for improvement of biodegradable food packaging materials sourced for U.S. based agri biomass like corn wastes, soybean wastes at South Dakota State University.

Kalyan K. Mondal

Dr. Kalyan K. Mondal is presently working as Joint Director (Research) at the ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. Prior to joining ICAR-NIBSM, he worked as Principal Scientist at Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He worked extensively on the bacterial type-3-secretion-system (T3SS)-effectors and how bacterial pathogens use the effectors to subvert plant immune responses, PTI/ETI. He profiled the T3SS-effectors in two important bacterial pathogens, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae (Xap) and X. oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) infecting pomegranate and rice. His group identified key effectors (XopF, XopR in Xoo; XopC2, XopL, XopN in Xap) that immensely contribute to suppress plant immune responses. Using Y2H system his team identified the interactor(s) for effectors and further demonstrated that silencing the interactors in host plants led to disease resistance. Dr. Kalyan is a Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

During his Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship, Dr. Mondal is investigating the TAL effector PthXo2 of Xoo and its functional role in activating OsSWEET15 during blight disease development using CRISPR-Cas editing tools. This work may help understanding OsSWEET-mediated pathogenesis and identify novel targets to counter bacterial blight disease in rice.

Utsav Shukla

Utsav Shukla, a civil servant of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS), works at the intersection of railroad network planning, operations, regional development and urban transport. He has been working for 10 years in northeast India, connecting habitations and nurturing opportunities for improving the living conditions of millions. Hailing from Varanasi, the spiritual center of India, and trained as a medical doctor at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore, Utsav has been instrumental in designing people-centric infrastructure, sustainably dovetailing into the eco-sensitive milieu of the region.

Over the last decade, he has headed operations and business verticals, providing policy inputs on freight rebates and cargo aggregation, giving small agro-producers of the region access to national and international markets. He was pivotal in planning, coordinating and executing rail connectivity projects to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. For the safe and successful operations of 232 Shramik specials (trains carrying stranded people) while resuscitating the supply chain of life-saving drugs and essential commodities in six northeastern states during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was awarded the National Railway Award 2021, the highest honor for any railway servant by the Minister of Railways, Government of India.

In his latest assignment at the Northeast Frontier Railway’s headquarters in Guwahati, Utsav influenced the operationalization of international connectivity links with Bangladesh and Nepal. Further, his commitment to wildlife conservation and sustainable development has institutionalized effective mitigation mechanisms along the elephant corridors in northeast India, reducing elephant deaths by 60%. Anchoring station redevelopment projects in Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri under the Amrit Bharat scheme, he is currently working on integrating the passenger and freight railway transit nodes with the urban transportation system.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow, Utsav is studying urban planning to gain insights into policies, technologies and institutions which can make cities more humane, livable and equitable. He intends to explore leadership roles and reforms in governance to bring about citizen engagement in delivering urban services.

Aashraya Seth

Aashraya Seth is the Founding President of Impact91 NGO, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (https://www.theintelligentindian.org/). An award-winning social innovator and inventor of India’s most affordable sanitary pad vending machine, he has over eight years of experience in advising the British, Indian, and Australian governments, and leading the transformation of education and social systems. He is India’s Climate Ambassador, World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Yenching Global Symposium China Scholar, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeeper (SDG 5) and Queen’s Commonwealth Trust’s Young Leader. For his work on menstrual and educational rights of tribal and underserved people, he was placed amongst the top 80 social innovators in India, top 50 emerging policy leaders in the world, and honoured at the UK Parliament in 2024.

Apart from his professional accomplishments, Aashraya has professionally played 10m Air-Rifle shooting and writes for The Times of India. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and master’s in business administration. He has fellowships from University of Cambridge, University of Chicago, KDI School, and UN.

As a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Aashraya will focus on public policy analysis and public administration. He aims to study evidence-based policy making to advocate for gender-friendly policies interpreting data that will contribute to menstrual equity and STEM for girls.

Liyi Marli Noshi

Born into a family of 12 in remote Arunachal Pradesh, India, Liyi Noshi has defied societal expectations to become a lawyer and activist in New Delhi.

In her 16 years of legal career, Liyi has focused on social justice issues, particularly racial discrimination, child sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence and human trafficking, as an acclaimed champion for marginalized communities in India. She has secured legal representation for over 400 victims of sexual abuse and trafficking. Notably, her advocacy led to the establishment of a special police unit for Northeast Indians in Delhi. She has co-founded Helping Hands, a legal team working with Delhi Police to combat racial discrimination. Her dedication has also seen her collaborate with inspiring figures like senior advocate Indira Jaising, and various organizations which are working on issues of women and children.

Committed to long-term impact, Liyi seeks to empower vulnerable communities through policy changes and upskilling initiatives. As a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow at the American University, Washington, DC she is continuing with this endeavor. The fellowship will equip her with the knowledge and network to refine these goals and create lasting change.

Rajamanickam Marimuthu Gurusamy

M. G. Rajamanickam is an esteemed Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, renowned for his strategic vision and transformative leadership. Hailing from the humble village of Thiruvathavur in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, Rajamanickam’s journey is marked by the firm belief in the power of determination and hard work. His academic accomplishments include a gold medal in MTech from Anna University, and a master’s in public policy from King’s College, London, providing him with a solid foundation for innovative governance.

Throughout his tenure in the Kerala government, Rajamanickam has been deeply committed to addressing environmental challenges and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Notable initiatives like Ente Kulam Ernakulam for pond conservation and Anbodu Kochi for disaster relief underscore his dedication to sustainable development and community engagement. His efforts have garnered recognition, including the prestigious ‘Best District Collector Award’ from the Government of Kerala, acknowledging his outstanding contributions to administration and public service.

Rajamanickam’s commitment to environmental stewardship has been acknowledged by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which lauded his initiatives as best practices in youth volunteering for disaster relief operations. Additionally, he has received the Jala Mithram award from the Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI) for his significant contributions to water conservation. Guided by a holistic approach rooted in sustainability and inclusivity, Rajamanickam continues to lead efforts toward building resilient communities and a brighter future for all.

As a Humphrey Fellow, Rajamanickam aims to deepen his expertise in sustainable development and environmental conservation, focusing on water resource management and climate change adaptation. Committed to addressing India’s challenges, he seeks to contribute significantly to environmental sustainability.

Prashant Ram Jadhao

Dr. Prashant Ram Jadhao is a postdoctoral researcher at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. Previously, he worked as a project scientist at the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology, Hyderabad. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, Maharashtra. Subsequently, he pursued his master’s and doctoral degrees at IIT Delhi.

Dr. Jadhao has received the prestigious Gandhian Young Technological Innovation appreciation award. Additionally, in 2022, he was conferred the Sumant Sinha Sustainability Leadership Award by IIT Delhi for his outstanding contribution to research in the domains of sustainability, environment, and climate change. His research endeavors have garnered recognition on both national and international platforms.

During his Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research at the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Jadhao is developing eco-friendly technology for recycling of spent batteries. The exponential increase in the use of electronic devices and electric vehicles has resulted in increased battery production, leading to a significant volume of spent batteries. These spent batteries contain valuable metals and potentially hazardous materials. Ensuring the sustainable management of spent batteries is crucial for resource recovery, conservation, and the mitigation of environmental hazards.

Kausik Ghosh

Dr. Kausik Ghosh is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal. He is involved in interdisciplinary research and teaching on river geomorphology, sedimentology, hydrology and river regulations, climate change, transboundary river water-sharing and governance, ecosystem services, and water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. He uses remote sensing and GIS techniques, hydrological modeling, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and field surveys for conducting geoscience research. He leads the GeoBridge research group which is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnected and complex relationship between geosciences and social sciences.

Dr. Ghosh earned his master’s degree from Banaras Hindu University before pursuing M.Phil. at CSRD, Jawaharlal Nehru University. In 2018, he was a Water Advanced Research Innovation (WARI) visiting scholar at the University of Nebraska, funded by DST, IUSSTF, and DWFI. He also received the DST AWSAR award, Acceleration Award by DTU and Denmark under the Inclusive and Integrated Water Management, Microsoft Innovative Educator Learner Award (MIELA).

During his Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research at the Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Ghosh is developing a comprehensive framework for adaptive water management in transboundary river basins. The existing water-sharing treaties and governance mechanisms overlook aspects of river ecology, flow-sediment relations, climate variability, socio-economic demands, and the WEF nexus in transboundary basins. This study will simulate disparities in river water demand and supply, analyze synergies and trade-offs within the WEF nexus framework, and assess the role of transboundary institutions in mitigating risks associated with climate change.

Abhisek Sahoo

Abhisek Sahoo grew up close to nature, in the coastal city of Puri, Orissa. He believes in creating a safe and healthy ecosystem for all species. Innovations in the field of solid waste management eventually led him to work in the area of sustainable development during his tenure at the esteemed laboratories of the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and the Indian Institute of Petroleum Dehradun. Abhisek is currently working at IIT Delhi on the development of a process for the upgradation of bio-liquids via the thermo-catalytic route. Previously, he worked at University College London (UCL) as a Commonwealth fellow.

As a Fulbright-Kalam Climate fellow at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Abhisek is working on the thermo-catalytic conversion of waste biomass and plastic into aromatics and fuel-range hydrocarbons for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Employing green carbon-supported heterogeneous catalysts, his research aims to unlock the vast bioenergy potential inherent in waste substances. This breakthrough could pave the way for establishing biorefineries, supported by comprehensive techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessments.

Abhisek advocates for the idea that sustainability is our responsibility. His research endeavours reflect a dedication to addressing environmental challenges through innovative and practical solutions. His journey exemplifies the spirit of academic excellence and a deep commitment to the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. He is also interested in photography, traditional cuisines, and exploring historical sites.