Meet Our India Fulbrighters Archive - Page 7 of 53

Chandan Pradhan

Dr. Chandan Pradhan is currently an NBHM postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. He earned his BSc in 2016 from Midnapore College, West Bengal, affiliated with Vidyasagar University, and completed his MSc in 2018 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. In July 2023, he was awarded a PhD from IIT Guwahati, Assam, under the supervision of Dr. Arup Chattopadhyay. Dr. Pradhan was an IoE postdoctoral fellow at IISc (October 2023–July 2024).

Dr. Pradhan’s research interests are primarily in the field of operator theory, with a focus on the trace formulas and spectral shift functions. He has published several research articles in reputed international journals. As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellow at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, Dr. Pradhan is working on higher-order spectral shift functions (SSF) using the theory of multiple operator integrals. During his fellowship, Dr. Pradhan aims to study higher-order SSFs for pairs of self-adjoint operators, especially in the realm of differential operators, and their connections to noncommutative geometry. He is primarily focusing on the existence of SSFs.

Atanu Betal

Dr. Atanu Betal is a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. He earned his BSc in 2014 from Garhbeta College, affiliated with Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, and completed his MSc in 2017 at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. In September 2023, he was awarded a PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur. He was a Senior Research Fellow from January 2024 to March 2024 at IITJ.

Dr. Betal’s research interests are in the field of experimental condensed matter physics, primarily focused on the fabrication of resistive memory, neuromorphic synaptic devices using organic materials, and scanning tunneling microscopy of low-dimensional materials. He has published 34 research articles (eight as the first author and 26 as a co-author) in reputable international journals.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellow at GIT, Georgia, Dr. Betal is focusing on the fabrication of vertical FETs and their application in neuromorphic synaptic devices — an area of growing interest among scientists for advancing artificial intelligence hardware. During his fellowship, Dr. Betal aims to explore different organic semiconducting materials for the FET with sub-nanometer channel length.

Arjun Bindu Sunil

Dr. Arjun Bindu Sunil is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Sahas Labs, a product development company developing deep-tech robotics and instrumentation solutions based in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. He also leads Embedite, another startup working on healthcare and sustainability, as the Chief Executive Officer. He completed his BTech in mechanical engineering at Government Engineering College Barton Hill in Trivandrum. He gained his master’s in research and PhD from the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in June 2024 with the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship. His research was focused on developing an intraoperative probe that integrates multimodal tissue characterization and soft robotics to enhance brain tumor margin delineation.

Dr. Sunil has made several significant contributions to neural engineering and biomedical engineering with skillsets in microfabrication, robotics and product design. He has 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, four granted patents and eight patent applications. He received the BIRAC SITARE-GYTI Award 2021 and Sun Pharma Science Foundation Science Scholar Award 2022, among others, and is the national winner of James Dyson Award 2022. He represented India at the BRICS Young Scientist Forum 2024 as a young innovator.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellow under the guidance of Prof. Shriya Srinivasan, Dr. Sunil is aiming to develop a myoelectric prosthesis that can be implanted in the upper limbs through modular surgical techniques. The technology used in the proposed prosthesis seeks to improve upper limb control in patients, providing a more accessible and less invasive alternative to existing solutions.

Arin Bhakat

Dr. Arin Bhakat is currently a project staff member (SRF-Direct) at the Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam. He earned his BSc in 2016 from Haldia Government College under Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, and completed his MSc in 2018 at Presidency University, Kolkata. In July 2024, he was awarded a PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Assam.

Dr. Bhakat’s research interests are primarily in the field of crystal engineering, especially 2D crystals and moiré superlattice, design, synthesis, characterization, and self-assembly of nanomaterials (QDs, metal NPs, NCs & Janus structure) and organic-inorganic molecular microcrystals for optoelectronic devices and sensors, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. He has published many research papers in various internationally reputed journals and has an Indian technology transfer patent. As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellow at the Stanford University, Dr. Bhakat is working with Prof. Zare and focusing on water micro-droplet assisted catalytic synthesis of nitric acid directly from nitrogen/air in the ambient conditions. He aims to explore sustainable water micro-droplet catalysis, scaling up the synthesis, and investigating reaction pathways.

Abhishek Dixit

Dr. Abhishek Dixit is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat. He earned his BTech in 2015 from JSS Noida, affiliated to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, and completed his MTech in 2018 at IIT Guwahati. In March 2024, he was awarded a PhD from IIT Guwahati. As part of his doctoral research, he worked as a guest PhD student at the University of Goettingen, Germany, under the NAMASTE+ program funded by DAAD and the German Ministry of Education and Research.

Dr. Dixit’s research spans fluvial sedimentology, groundwater, glaciers, and oceans, with publications in leading international journals. He has also visited the University of Leeds under the BRAINSTORM project, funded by the university’s International Strategy Fund, to advance collaborations on Himalayan research.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. Dixit is studying the impacts of large mass-wasting events, such as landslides and ice-rock avalanches, on river dynamics and flooding risks in the Brahmaputra River basin. His work combines geochronology, remote sensing, and numerical simulations to evaluate the consequences of these events in a warming Himalayan environment.

Aarthi Kannan

Dr. Aarthi Kannan is currently an Ingenieur de recherche (research engineer) at the Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Sorbonne Université, France, since December 2024. She got her PhD degree from SASTRA Deemed University, Tamil Nadu, in August 2024. Aarthi earned her MTech in medical nanotechnology (integrated) from the same institution in May 2019.

Dr. Kannan’s research primarily focuses on nanotechnology, particularly in materials science (hybrid and 2D nanomaterials) and electrochemical nanosensors for environment and health applications. She has published 10 research articles in reputed scientific Q1 journals and holds two Indian patents. She is also the co-founder and innovator of SENSOIL, a start-up incubated at ABLEST-TBI, SASTRA.

Dr. Kannan was awarded the UGC-Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child to pursue her PhD. Also, she was awarded the prestigious Mitacs-SICI Globalink research (Indo-Canadian) grant to pursue her research internship at McMaster’s University, Ontario, Canada. She has actively participated in national and international conferences, delivering both oral and poster presentations.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Kansas State University, Dr. Kannan is working with Dr. Suprem R. Das in the Micro/Nano Materials and Device Manufacturing Group. During this fellowship, her research will focus on developing two-dimensional, atomically thin nanoscale materials to fabricate innovative dual-selective phosphate electrochemical sensors for soil and water analysis in neutral pH conditions.

Anirudh Gaurang Gudlavalleti

Dr. Anirudh Gaurang Gudlavalleti has a bachelor’s degree in dentistry, a master’s degree in social entrepreneurship, and is currently completing a PhD in public health from Maastricht University. He is passionate about community health and in 2024, he founded Pragyaan Sustainable Health Outcomes Foundation (PRASHO). His interests lie in utilizing technology and coaching community health workers to detect and treating diabetes, cancers, and eye diseases in India’s villages.

Dr. Gudlavalleti has won grants to develop a prototype for an AI diabetes screening tool. He was named as one of Asia’s 50 leading social entrepreneurs by DBS Bank.

During his fellowship, Dr Gudlavalleti is focusing on leadership and technical skills that will help him advance the mission of PRASHO. These include sharpening his project leadership skills, health economics and budget impact analysis skills, grant writing and partnership negotiation skills while working with mentors, faculty, peers and university partners.

Haulianlal Guite

Mr. Haulianlal Guite is an IAS officer of the Indian government, currently serving as the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Control in the Government of Rajasthan. In this assignment, he is tasked to ensure public health/hygiene within Rajasthan by regulating the manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and all food products. He has extensive governance experience over the last 13 years in sectors that include rural/urban development, healthcare services, law and order, and e-governance initiatives at the rural, municipal and state government levels in Rajasthan and Manipur.

Haulianlal graduated in Philosophy, completed a master’s in Sociology, and recently submitted his doctoral dissertation to MNIT, Jaipur, India, in Political Science. He has also published a philosophical non-fiction work titled Confessions of a Dying Mind.

During this fellowship Haulianlal will be studying the workings of U.S. local governments, imbibing the best practices and examining their replicability in India. He will also be engaging with other academic interests at the interface of policymaking and theorizing, particularly in the area of religion-state relations, and the place of civil liberties in the age of social media and AI.

Mamu Hage

Ms. Mamu Hage is the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of West Siang District in Arunachal Pradesh. She is a 2017 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer. Her previous stints have included being Collector and District Magistrate of North Goa District with additional charge as MD & CEO of Panaji Smart City Corporation. As District Magistrate and Collector in various districts and states she has conducted two Legislative Assembly Elections and Parliamentary Elections, ensured implementation of key Government schemes and initiated several developmental projects.

During her stint in West Siang, Mamu focused on district developmental goals such as Clean Aalo Initiative and urban transformation through a range of measures. She has been instrumental in securing various awards and accolades for the district in urban innovation, health and wellness and election management.

Mamu is the first Apatani Tribe IAS officer and only the second from Arunachal Pradesh to be selected as a Humphrey Fellow under the Fulbright Scholarship.

Mamu is also a swimming enthusiast. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, and a master’s in Applied Psychology from South Campus, Delhi University. As a Humphrey Fellow, Mamu is studying urban sanitation, urban roads and mobility, and how to make cities smart.