Meet Our India Fulbrighters Archive - Page 9 of 53

Sehajpal Singh

Mr. Sehajpal Singh is a PhD candidate at the Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering, IIT Bombay. His doctoral research focuses on studying water and dry ice’s impact in Martian climate using modeling and data analysis. He is a planetary science enthusiast and believes one should explore the cosmos, for there might be a compelling reason for its vastness. He is also a Board Member at OpenPlanetary, an international non-profit organization.

Sehajpal holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET), Patiala, Punjab. He also co-founded the Thapar Amateur Astronomers Society, a TIET student club dedicated to the love of space and astronomy. This keen interest in space science motivated him to pursue an MTech in remote sensing and GIS (specialization: water resources) from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), ISRO, Dehradun. In his MTech research project, he studied the spatio-temporal dynamics of Mars’ north polar ice cap and subsurface water ice detection on Mars.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, Sehaj is understanding the role of volatile ices in the Martian climate. His research will characterize the substrate and frost surrounding the araneiforms (spider-like features) present near the south pole of Mars. The study strives to contribute to the knowledge of araneiform morphologies and their correlation with local environmental conditions, which can provide insight as to whether there is ground ice within the topmost layer of the substrate.

Seema Rani

Ms. Seema Rani is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali. Her current research focuses on developing novel 2D metal chalcogenides-based sensors, electronics, and memory devices, aiming to contribute innovative solutions to advance these fields. Her research also extends to micro-electrochemistry methods and micro-electrocatalysis. Over the course of her doctoral studies, she has published more than ten research articles in reputed journals and presented her findings at numerous national and international conferences.

Seema holds a bachelor’s degree in science from BPS Women’s University, Khanpur Kalan, Haryana and a master’s degree in physics from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana. She has been a recipient of various scholarships throughout her academic journey and ranked fifth in her master’s program. Additionally, she qualified in the CSIR-UGC NET examination in physical sciences with an all-India rank of 141 and was awarded the CSIR-JRF fellowship. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, meditation, cooking, and reading.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow, Seema is aiming at developing advanced biomimetic eye systems with in-sensor computing capabilities, specifically mimicking the functionality of bipolar cells essential for visual processing.

Samriddhi Saxena

Ms. Samriddhi Saxena is a PhD candidate in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science at the Indian Institute of Technology Indore, focusing on the development of oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries. Her doctoral research focuses on designing efficient and eco-friendly alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, addressing the critical need for sustainable and scalable energy storage systems. She has expertise in synthesizing and characterizing air-sensitive materials using various structural and electrochemical techniques.

Samriddhi holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from R.V. College of Engineering, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree from IIT Indore, where she received the Institute Silver Medal for her work on biphasic layered oxide cathodes. She has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship and has presented her research at various conferences, publishing in top journals. She has also worked as a Process Engineer at Hindustan Zinc Limited, leading a Six Sigma project on magnesium removal from ZnSO4 solutions.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology, Samriddhi is hoping to develop technologically relevant sodium-ion-based solid-state cells by employing melt infiltration of solid-state electrolytes into electrodes. Her research seeks to achieve performance metrics comparable to liquid electrolyte-based cells at practical charge/discharge rates, addressing key challenges in solid-state energy storage. This work contributes to global advancements in renewable energy technologies by tackling the scalability and performance barriers of sodium-ion-based solid-state batteries. Samriddhi is passionate about teaching and enjoys traveling, cooking, and gardening.

Rutwij Nakhwa

Mr. Rutwij Nakhwa is a PhD candidate in philosophy at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. His dissertation is on Hegel’s political philosophy. His research interests lie in Marx, psychoanalysis, film and literary theory, and B. R. Ambedkar. Since 2018, he has taught and guest-lectured at the Mass Media Department of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. For years, Rutwij covered India’s film festivals as a journalist and in various other capacities. He has written on cinema for The Hindu. He holds a post-graduate diploma in critical theory, aesthetics, and practice from Jnanapravaha Mumbai (2018) and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Media (Journalism) from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai (2017).

In 2024, Rutwij’s paper, ‘An Absolute Hegelianism for Postmodern Times: Hegel with Lacan after Bataille and Derrida’, was published in the Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society journal. He has presented his work on Hegel at several conferences including those organised by Hegelian and philosophical societies, and on Ambedkar at the Centre for Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow, Rutwij’s interdisciplinary work will interface Hegel’s philosophy with poetic and literary work, primarily that of Samuel Beckett. His research aims at a philosophical-literary examination of (conceptual and figural) endings and beginnings in relation to our time of repetitive crises, a time in which even the imagination of alternatives seems impossible. In response, this project’s wager is to think of a different repetition, which will pinpoint the peculiar conditions of possibility for imagination and creation of alternatives, allowing for a transformative reactualization of Hegel’s philosophy, for our present.

Rishabh Yadav

Mr. Rishabh Yadav is a PhD candidate at the MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. His research focuses on drawing linkages between the construction of state identity and state interests with the foreign policy and security issues. In his doctoral thesis, India’s Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Period: Constructing Identity, Interests, and (In)securities, Rishabh is examining the contestations in state identity and its effect on India’s foreign policy in the post-Cold War period. His broader areas of interest are foreign policy and security issues in South Asia, constructivist international relations theory, populism and politics of rising power.

Rishabh’s work has been published on popular media platforms such as The Diplomat, East Asia Forum, and The National Interests. His review essays have been published in academic journals such as India Quarterly and Cambridge Review of International Affairs. He is a Network for Advanced Studies of Pakistan (NASP) Fellow 2024-25. Rishabh enjoys fiction, sports and popular culture. He plays tennis and football.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow, Rishabh is planning to work on a section of his doctoral thesis in which he will examine the underlying norms, beliefs and perceptions that have shaped India-US relations in the post-Cold War period.

Oishi Choudhury

Ms. Oishi Choudhury is a PhD candidate at the Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi. She qualified for the University Grants Commission (UGC) NET-JRF (Junior Research Fellow) in 2022 and began her doctoral journey in 2023. She completed her master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Delhi, specializing in biological anthropology with a focus on epidemiology and public health.

Oishi has published a book chapter and a manuscript revolving around biological anthropology and public health. Her research interest extends to molecular anthropology. Her doctoral research aims at screening, awareness, and counselling of beta thalassemia trait among young adults in Delhi-NCR India.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at University of California San Francisco, Oishi is conducting a comparative study on thalassemia carrier screening and genetic counselling protocols in India and the US. Oishi is enhancing her expertise in advanced screening techniques for diagnosing thalassemia trait in the U.S. As part of her research, she will work at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, home to one of the largest thalassemia programs in the U.S.

Nipun Jain

Mr. Nipun Jain is a PhD candidate at the Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. His doctoral thesis focuses on developing a 3D bioprinted lungs-on-a-dish platform to investigate pulmonary fibrosis. He employs extrusion bioprinting and cultures the prepared lung tissue at an air-liquid interface which also incorporates advanced material characterizations to examine cellular structural morphology and functional expression.

Nipun holds a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. He has completed multiple internship projects offered by the Indian Academy of Sciences prior to joining the PhD program at IISc. He is a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) and has published several research and review papers. He has also participated and presented his work at various national and international conferences.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at The Pennsylvania State University, Nipun is integrating 3D bioprinting with microfluidics to provide more reproducible insights into disease progression for evaluating therapeutic efficacy. The insights gained from his research will contribute to translation of novel drug screening platforms for pulmonary fibrosis and other lung-related disorders. When not in the lab, he can be found reading non-fiction or playing games. He is a music enthusiast, enjoys playing the guitar and is fond of travelling to explore new places for food.

Lokeswari Malepati

Ms. Lokeswari is a direct PhD candidate at the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Telangana. Her research focusses on developing computer vision algorithms suitable for usage in combination with drones for assessment of structures. She leverages multi-modal imaging and deep learning models for quantification of surface and subsurface damages in infrastructure.

Lokeswari holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. She has two years of experience in L&T’s research and testing laboratory where she worked on evaluating the suitability of lightweight concrete for structural applications and developing alternative connections for precast wall panels.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at University of Houston, Texas, Lokeswari is implementing the developed algorithms in the field for bridge inspections using drones. This research aims to evaluate the performance of these algorithms under practical scenarios and propose modifications to their architecture and training strategies. This work contributes to advancing unmanned aerial vehicle-based technologies for faster and more efficient structural assessments. In her free time, Lokeswari enjoys playing volleyball and table tennis.

Lalremruati

Ms. Lalremruati is a PhD candidate at the School of English Language Education at The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in linguistics, both from EFLU Hyderabad. Before her doctoral journey, she served as an assistant professor of English at the College of Horticulture, Central Agricultural University, Mizoram.

Her doctoral research is an ethnographic exploration of grassroots-level implementation of English language education policies in Mizoram. Her research focuses on the lived experiences of English teachers in government schools, examining how they navigate, negotiate, and recontextualize a technologically assisted program in their resource-challenged contexts.

As a Junior Research Fellow, Lalremruati has presented her work at several prestigious conferences in India and abroad on how teachers recontextualize policy measures. She is an active member of the History of English Language Education (HELE) Studies Society, India, where she disseminates the history of English language education in Mizoram through conferences and publications.

Through the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Fellowship, Lalremruati is acquiring a cross-cultural comparative perspective on how language education policies affect minority groups in low-resource contexts. Her goal is to contribute to equitable and inclusive education for marginalized communities. In her free time, she enjoys watching documentaries on pretty much anything. She also writes whimsical little poems on her Instagram account.