Archives: Meet Our India Fulbrighters

Anjitha K. S.

Ms. Anjitha K. S. is a PhD candidate in the Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Division at the Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala under the guidance of Prof. Jos T. Puthur. Her doctoral research focuses on cell wall remodeling under arsenic stress and associated functional biology in rice. By employing a multidisciplinary approach that integrates plant physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology, her work will delve into the cellular and molecular responses of rice plants to arsenic stress, with an emphasis on cell wall remodeling. The cell wall serves as a critical barrier against arsenic uptake, and understanding its dynamic alterations under stress conditions is crucial for developing strategies to enhance arsenic tolerance.

Anjitha holds a bachelor’s degree in botany from St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, Kerala and a master’s degree in applied plant science from the University of Calicut, Kerala. She has qualified in various competitive exams and has published several research articles in reputed international journals, reflecting her interest in plant stress biology.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Anjitha is exploring the key mechanisms and pathways that govern arsenic stress-induced plant responses in collaboration with Prof. Om Parkash Dhankher’s lab. The ultimate goal of this study is to apply this knowledge to develop arsenic-stress resistant rice cultivars, which will help secure food production and safety in arsenic-affected regions. Anjitha is also passionate about teaching and mentoring. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening and travelling.

Aditi Barman Roy

Ms. Aditi Barman Roy is a PhD candidate and a teaching assistant at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Roorkee. She completed her graduation and post-graduate studies in English from the University of Calcutta and Delhi University respectively. In addition, Aditi has completed her MPhil in gender studies from Jadavpur University. Currently, as a Senior Research Fellow in English at IIT Roorkee, Aditi delves into the bioethical complexities of modern biotechnological innovations through the lens of literary fiction.

Aditi’s research on bioethics has been published in well-known journals such as the English Academy Review (Taylor and Francis) and Symposium: A Quarterly Journal in Modern Literatures (Taylor and Francis). She has also contributed chapters to academic books related to her field of study and presented her research at various international conferences. Among her accolades is the prestigious Indian Council of Social Sciences Research grant for presenting her work at Brunel University in London and full funding to pursue her research at the University of Oklahoma for six weeks.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at Harvard, Aditi is working in the field of science and technology studies (STS) to address the complex bioethical challenges arising from the recent biomedical advancements in the 21st century. Her research is focused on the narratives of speculative fiction that investigate the bioethics of medical practice from the lens of critical posthumanism. In her free time, Aditi enjoys painting, reading, trekking, and exploring new genres of cinema.

Twisha Mehta

Ms. Twisha Mehta is a researcher, designer, and educator. Trained as a designer in visual communication design, her pedagogies and practice lie primarily in democratic rights and social and ecological justice and in centering feminist principles of resource sharing.

She currently works with the Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights, Asia & Pacific as a strategic communications facilitator, where she leads a political and anthropological inquiry into conceptualizing storytelling techniques to amplify feminist resistance in Asia and the Pacific. Twisha has studied communication design at MIT Institute of Design, Pune and has a post-graduate diploma in human rights law from the National Law School of India University. In earlier projects with the Society for Informal Education and Development Studies, Jatan Sansthan, and South Asian Women’s Foundation India, Twisha explored the role of design in shaping and shifting cultural narratives and recognizing its potential in driving social change.

Twisha’s experiences with feminist activist-led communities proved that as part of movements, communities thrive in spaces of care, convening, and critique. In late 2021, she ventured into teaching critical systems thinking to undergraduate students of design and her endeavor culminated in creating learning communities through co-organized initiatives such as ‘Visual Fossils’ and the ‘Learning Circle: Decolonial and Feminist Knowledge Production’ with the Swiss Anthropological Society’s Interface Commission for Engaged Anthropology.

Through her Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellowship, Twisha is working on tracing the complexities between designer and anthropological traditions and the ecological crisis through the lens of sociocultural and feminist struggles around rights, care, and vulnerability.

Tanaya Singh

Ms. Tanaya Singh has been a writer, editor, and content strategist for 12 years, and has extensively reported on individuals developing solutions to challenges in their communities. Most recently, she served as Chief Editor at The Better India, Asia’s largest solutions-based publication, where she led a team of journalists covering changemakers, unsung heroes, and development initiatives, with particular emphasis on human rights, social justice, and gender equity. Previously, Tanaya was the Executive Editor at Youth Ki Awaaz, a media platform empowering young citizens to voice their concerns.

Through her work, Tanaya has seen transformative stories reach millions around the world. These reports showcase the good in India shaped by civil society interventions. She has designed editorial strategies in collaboration with organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and EkStep Foundation on topics such as sustainability, girls’ education, and women empowerment. She played a key role in shaping content strategies that foster collaboration within India’s early childhood development ecosystem, other than hosting discussions on ‘Bringing Girls Back to Schools after COVID-19’, and ‘Women at Workplaces’.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow, Tanaya is expanding her understanding of the first principles of reporting and communication for social change. She is interested in exploring how solutions journalism can be shaped as an ethically grounded and socially responsible field in India, while reviving its nuances and potential for impact. She aspires to contribute to the training of young journalists in this field, especially in Indian media.

Sheetal Mary Arockiamani

Ms. Sheetal Mary Arockiamani is a higher education professional based in Chennai, with extensive experience across diverse facets of the education sector. Over the past eight years, her work has encompassed pre-service teacher education, language and literacy program implementation for primary school students, and academic program management.

Sheetal has played a pivotal role in building two emerging higher education institutions in Tamil Nadu and has contributed significantly to shaping their academic journeys. As a founding team member at Sai University, Sheetal played a crucial role in establishing the Admissions Office and the Academics Office. At Vinayaka Mission’s Law School, she managed the Academics Office and facilitated a communication skills lab for students. Sheetal earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Anna University and completed the Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University.

As a recipient of the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship, Sheetal is exploring the factors that drive student success in higher education. She is committed to fostering inclusive educational environments and creating impactful learning experiences that empower students to achieve their full potential.

Sampada Mehta

Ms. Sampada Mehta is a career civil servant with the Indian Administrative Service. She has worked in challenging geographical areas including the insurgency-affected district of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. She has delivered upon diverse public service objectives which included managing centralized procurement of medicines and medical equipment for public health institutions and promoting integrated development of indigenous communities.

Sampada has led the World Bank-funded Maharashtra Agricultural Competitiveness Project and focused on promoting farmer producer companies. In her current assignment as Private Secretary to the President of India, she plays an important role in enhancing the interaction and engagement of the common man with the highest office of the Republic of India.

Sampada is a chartered accountant by training. Prior to joining the civil services, she rendered consultancy services in accounting, auditing, and taxation to various entities.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow, Sampada is pursuing a Master in Public Administration degree with the sub-specialty of public financial management. She hopes to gain advanced insights into efficient resource mobilization and optimum resource utilization. She looks forward to contributing to making fiscal policies that promote growth with equity and sustainability. As a cultural ambassador from India, Sampada is keen on sharing the Indic knowledge of yoga and meditation with her cohort and making friends with students from diverse backgrounds.

Renu Raj

Dr. Renu Raj is a medical doctor and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, currently serving as Director of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Government of Kerala. She has held key roles, including District Collector of Wayanad, Ernakulam, and Alappuzha, as well as Director of Kerala’s Urban Development Department. Her work spans governance, development, and public health, with a focus on welfare programs for over 3,300 tribal settlements, implementing the Aspirational Districts Program, urban infrastructure projects under AMRUT, and managing COVID-19 responses effectively.

Dr. Raj earned her MBBS degree from Government Medical College, Kottayam, and an MA in Public Management from Jawaharlal Nehru University. She has also completed leadership and governance training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, which honed her administrative capabilities.

Recognized for her outstanding contributions to governance, Dr. Raj has received several honors, including a Good Service Entry from NITI Aayog and the GFiles Governance Award. She was ranked second in the 2015 UPSC Civil Services Examination and featured in India Today’s prestigious List of Doers and Makers, highlighting her impactful career.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow, Dr. Raj is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. She seeks to combine her expertise in public administration and medicine to strengthen global healthcare systems, bridge public health and policy gaps, and improve healthcare access worldwide.

Nivedhitha Kalyanaraman

Nivedhitha is a Lawyer specializing in Constitutional Law. She graduated with a BA LLB from Alliance University, Bangalore in 2014, where she secured the gold medal for academic excellence.

She served as a Law Clerk and Research Associate to Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, the former Chief Justice of India, for nearly four years. She worked on crucial constitutional issues. She assisted the Chief Justice on the cases relating to the challenge to Electoral Bonds, the sub-classification within the Scheduled Castes, the right to marriage of queer persons, the special status of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University, the challenge to the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the ban on Media One, among others. During her clerkship tenure, she also worked on drafting the Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes and the Sensitization Module for the Judiciary on LGBTQIA+, both published by the Supreme Court of India. She is currently working on a project on electoral democracy at the Vidhi Center for Legal Policy, New Delhi.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow, Nivedhitha is studying constitutional law and philosophy with a focus on the law of democracy. She wishes to identify the social, political, and legal structures that dilute electoral democracy during her study in the United States. After returning to India, Nivedhitha plans to work towards strengthening the democratic process through impactful legal and policy interventions.

Midhun Vijayan

Hailing from Kerala, Mr. Midhun Vijayan has been working for the last four years as a video journalist and producer at Down To Earth magazine in New Delhi. Apart from producing reports on science, technology, agriculture, health and public policy, he has travelled across India to make documentaries on climate change adaptation and mitigation from the perspective of rural communities.

Midhun has been honored with a Special Jury Mention at the India International Science Film Festival for a report that explored the solid waste management practices of India’s megacities. He was part of the team that received the Ramnath Goenka Award for Broadcast Journalism in the Environment and Science category, one of the highest journalism honors in the country.

Midhun has more than five years of experience producing documentaries, explainers and ground reports for India’s traditional media, new media as well as not-for-profit organizations. Based on his extensive experience, he was chosen to be a part of PSBT’s prestigious Doc_Commune cohort in 2024-25. He started his video production career with The Better India, Bangalore after graduating from the Mass Communication Research Department of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, with a university rank and gold medal.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow, Midhun is working to expand his craft to explore complex concepts of empathy, duty, morality and social justice in the backdrop of contemporary news topics. In the long run, he aims to contribute to the new wave of documentary culture in India through mentorship programs for India’s youth.

Anviti Chaturvedi

Ms. Anviti Chaturvedi is an officer of the Indian Foreign Service, with over 10 years of work experience in law, policy and diplomacy. Currently, she is posted as Political & Media Officer in the Embassy of India, Tokyo.

Anviti graduated with a BA LLB from the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. Thereafter, she worked as a senior analyst with PRS Legislative Research, New Delhi, supporting Members of Parliament with research across a range of sectors including external affairs, defense and home affairs.

As part of her diplomatic duties, Anviti was deployed as Liaison Officer at the G7 Summit, Hiroshima, and the G20 Summit, New Delhi, in 2023. She also had the opportunity to be a part of the Indian delegation in various high-level bilateral (India-Japan) and Quad (Australia-India-Japan-US) dialogues in Tokyo. Concurrently, with her role as Political and Media Officer, she served as the officer-in-charge of bilateral relations with the Republic of the Marshall Islands. While posted in Tokyo, Anviti also studied the Japanese language, and attained a high-level of proficiency.

Under the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship, Anviti is pursuing an LLM focusing on the intersection of law of the sea, technology regulation, and national security law. After completing the course, she intends to work in areas relating to international law and India’s policy initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region, while serving with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.