USA Fellows Year: U.S. Fellows 2025-2026

Vasubandhu Misra

Dr. Vasubandhu Misra is a professor of meteorology at Florida State University, where he earned his PhD. He has over 30 years of research experience and 16 years of pedagogical experience. Dr. Misra has authored over 150 peer-reviewed articles and three textbooks: An Introduction to Large-Scale Tropical Meteorology (Springer, 2023); Regionalizing Global Climate Variations: A Study of the Southeastern US Climate (Elsevier, 2020); and Tropical Meteorology: An Introduction (co-author, Springer, 2012). He has worked extensively on tropical climate variability, both from an observational perspective and using numerical climate models. His research work includes: examining land–atmosphere–sea interactions; interactions between discrete temporal scales of climate variability; the role of land cover and land-use change in hydro-meteorological variations; and the low-frequency variation of weather and climate extremes in the tropics.

Dr. Misra’s Fulbright-Nehru project is exploring the low frequency variations of the diurnal variability of the Indian Summer Monsoon from sub-seasonal to interannual and even longer timescales. He is also teaching a graduate-level/senior undergraduate-level course on large-scale tropical meteorology, as well as a course for undergraduate seniors and graduate students based on his textbook on large-scale tropical meteorology.

Ravikumar Majeti

Dr. Ravikumar Majeti (cited as Kumar MNVR) is a distinguished university research professor, assistant vice president for interdisciplinary research, and founding director of the Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. He is internationally recognized as a leading authority on nanomedicine, with a research portfolio spanning drug delivery, therapeutic repurposing, and personalized treatment strategies for chronic diseases.

Dr. Majeti’s academic journey began with a BSc in physical sciences from A.J. Kalasala, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, followed by an MSc in applied chemistry from SGSITS, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and a PhD in drug delivery from IIT Roorkee.

Prior to his appointment at Alabama, he held academic positions at Texas A&M University, College Station; the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK; and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, India.

Dr. Majeti’s research focuses on the mechanisms of transcytosis at the intestine–blood barrier leading to the development of tunable, biodegradable nanoparticles for the oral delivery of poorly bioavailable small-molecule drugs and drug-like compounds (https://sites.ua.edu/dreamlab/). His patented delivery platforms have shown substantial efficacy in preclinical models of diabetic complications, lupus, and acute kidney injury, offering precision therapies where standard treatments are inadequate or unavailable.

As a dedicated mentor and scientific leader, Dr. Majeti has fostered international collaborations, guided the growth of early-career researchers, and spearheaded high-impact interdisciplinary programs supported by leading global funding agencies. His work has significantly advanced both the fundamental science and clinical translation of next-generation drug delivery systems.

For his Fulbright-Nehru project, Dr. Majeti is investigating the therapeutic promise of plant-based polyphenolic nutraceuticals through interdisciplinary collaboration at the crossroads of biomaterials and medicine. Focusing on oral bioavailability, a central challenge in the field, he is designing nano-engineered delivery systems to improve the efficacy of compounds such as Urolithin A. By integrating fundamental research with applied testing in models of chronic metabolic diseases, Dr. Majeti seeks to bridge laboratory innovation with clinical relevance. His work aims to realize the untapped potential of nutraceuticals and advances them as viable tools in the prevention and management of modern chronic health conditions.

John Lesieutre

Prof. John Lesieutre is an associate professor of mathematics at Pennsylvania State University, working in the field of algebraic geometry. He completed his education from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, after which he held a postdoctoral position at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research focus is on the geometry of higher-dimensional algebraic varieties, which are sets of solutions to systems of polynomial equations in many variables. He is particularly interested in how symmetries of the solution sets of these systems can shed light on the geometry of the underlying systems of equations. He has published numerous articles in this field.

Prof. Lesieutre’s Fulbright-Nehru project has three major components: to initiate a new research collaboration on the algebraic aspects of K-stability with a researcher at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc); to teach an informal mini course for IISc graduate students on algebraic dynamics; and to continue his studies on algebraic dynamics.

Christopher Kaczmarek

Prof. Christopher Kaczmarek is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and academic leader whose work spans sculpture, installation, new media, performance, and socially engaged practice. He holds an MFA in visual art and an MA in modern and contemporary art history, theory, and criticism from Purchase College, SUNY, as well as a BFA in visual art from Appalachian State University. Currently an associate professor of interdisciplinary art at Montclair State University, Prof. Kaczmarek has served as the head of the Visual Arts Program and as chair of the Department of Art and Design.

Prior to Montclair, he was a faculty member and administrator at Purchase College, where he was the director of instructional support for the School of the Arts and general manager of the Center for Community and Culture. Prof. Kaczmarek’s creative work has been exhibited in China, India, Scotland, Italy, Greece, Ireland, South Korea, and the United States. His works engage with themes of contemplation, embodiment, and connection through hybrid processes that combine analog, digital, and participatory strategies.

Prof. Kaczmarek’s scholarly and artistic activities include presentations at the College Art Association, the International Walking Arts Encounters Conference in Greece, and the European League of Institutes of the Arts in Brussels. He has also contributed to the journal Technoetic Arts and the Walking Art – Walking Practices proceedings. He is active in shaping national conversations around arts pedagogy and academic leadership, and his projects often involve collaboration and community participation, exemplified by initiatives like the Student Led International Collective Exhibition course at Montclair and remote performance collaborations across continents.

His interests include experimental and experiential teaching methods, walking as creative inquiry, labyrinths, collaborative exhibition models, and the inner workings of collective artistic practice. He is especially drawn to understanding how creative groups operate as effective collectives – structurally, interpersonally, and ideologically.

Prof. Kaczmarek’s Fulbright-Nehru project is engaging both traditional artisans and contemporary artists, combining research and teaching to explore and share dynamic practices, and fostering lasting collaborative ties and cross-cultural dialogue between Indian and U.S. artists.

Sachin Handa

Dr. Sachin Handa is MizzouForward Faculty and a tenured associate professor of chemistry at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Earlier, at the University of Louisville, he had served as an assistant professor before being promoted to the position of associate professor. He earned his PhD in chemistry from Oklahoma State University and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Dr. Handa’s research lies at the intersection of synthesis, material chemistry, energy, nanocatalysis, photochemistry, and electrocatalysis. His work is recognized for its innovative approaches to sustainable chemistry, particularly in the development of environmentally benign catalytic systems. He has authored over 85 peer-reviewed publications, including papers in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature Communications, JACS Au, ACS Catalysis, Advanced Functional Materials, and Angewandte Chemie. His notable research contributions include advancements in micelle-driven electrocatalysis, ligand design for sustainable catalysis, and nanoparticle-mediated transformations in aqueous media. Many of his research products are commercialized by Sigma-Aldrich.

His excellence in research and commitment to green chemistry have earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious NSF CAREER Award and the ACS Peter J. Dunn Award for Green Chemistry and Engineering Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry. He has also received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award in Physical Sciences. He currently serves as an associate editor for ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering and holds editorial board positions with Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews and Molecules. He is also a member of the ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference Advisory Committee.

Dr. Handa’s Fulbright-Nehru project is developing a sustainable electrocatalytic-electromicellar method for synthesizing fluorinated heterocycles, which are key pharmaceutical intermediates. By using electrons as clean reductants and aqueous micelles from benign designer amphiphiles as solvents and electrolytes, the research aims to minimize environmental impact and improve atom economy. The project is also exploring the delayed adoption of green chemistry in India’s pharmaceutical sector. The fellowship integrates teaching a graduate course on green chemistry and catalysis, fostering international collaboration, and promoting sustainable practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing through academic–industry partnerships and student engagement.

Smita Guha

Dr. Smita Guha is a tenured and full professor at St. John’s University, NY, in the School of Education. She is also the chairperson of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
She received her PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research involves preparing teachers in the areas of math and science education, and in child development.

Dr. Guha has written three books: Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders; Healthy Children; and Teacher as Researcher. Her fourth book, Critical Literacy for Socio-emotional Learning is in the print stage. She has also written several book chapters. Forty-one of her articles have been published in scholarly journals, and she has presented at more than 60 international, national, state and regional conferences.

Dr. Guha is also the founder of an after-school program that demonstrates the collaboration of family, school, and community. She has received several grants and has worked with underprivileged mothers and children living in homeless shelters in the U.S. and India. She is also the recipient of honors such as the Talent Award from New York State Assembly, the New York City Corps Artist Award, and the Outstanding Citizen award from the Council of the City of New York. Further, twice she has received the merit award and the faculty recognition award from St. John’s University.

A vocalist of Indian music, Dr. Guha is the founder and president of the nonprofit organization, Anandasangit.

Culture can impact how children build values, belief systems, thinking, and understanding of themselves as individuals and as members of society. The unique cultural influences that children respond to from birth include customs and beliefs around food and artistic expression. While a healthy diet is associated with overall development and improved cognitive function, so also is early exposure to music which ignites all areas of a child’s faculty. Both help the body and the mind to work together. The purpose of Dr. Guha’s Fulbright-Nehru study is to focus on child development across cultural contexts regarding food and music in India.

Ana Enriquez

Ms. Ana Enriquez is a librarian and lawyer who advocates for copyright law and research practices that enable all people to access and contribute to research. She is the copyright officer and head of the Office of Scholarly Communications and Copyright in the University Libraries at Pennsylvania State University. At Penn State, she manages the implementation of the university’s open access policy and the library services for researchers on scholarly communications and copyright.

Ms. Enriquez has been teaching copyright for 12 years, most recently for CopyrightX: Libraries, a global network of copyright courses for people working in libraries, archives, and museums around the world. She has also taught for the Library Copyright Institute and the Association of College and Research Libraries (U.S.). Her research focuses on making copyright work for libraries and researchers, and on using library expertise to advance access to knowledge. She has published, presented, and submitted comments to U.S. federal agencies on these topics. She holds a JD from the University of California, Berkeley, and an AB in history and literature from Harvard College.

Ms. Enriquez’s Fulbright-Nehru project is attempting to advance access to knowledge by strengthening shared understanding among U.S. and Indian lawyers and librarians. At the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru, she is co-teaching a copyright course with Professor Arul Scaria and also offering a course for librarians. Besides, she is creating course materials to enrich her own future teaching assignments and sharing them for broad reuse by copyright teachers, including those at CopyrightX. In parallel with teaching, Ms. Enriquez is advancing her research on copyright law and access to knowledge, with a particular focus on copyright’s impact on libraries, archives, and museums under Indian and U.S. law.

Arun Yethiraj

Dr. Arun Yethiraj was born in India and received his BTech in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He received an MS from Louisiana State University, a PhD from North Carolina State University, working with Professor Carol Hall, and did postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois, working with Professor Kenneth Schweizer. He joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin in 1993. His research interest is in the statistical mechanics of complex fluids, including polymers, surfactants, ionic liquids, and biopolymers.

His hobbies include tennis, guitar, and running.

“Active matter” refers to a class of systems that are composed of self-propelled entities that convert stored energy into directed motion. The goal of Dr. Yethiraj’s Fulbright-Nehru research is to obtain a fundamental understanding of active matter in complex environments. His research project at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is using computational studies with machine learning analyses to reproduce experimental studies on robotic and molecular systems in order to obtain a fundamental understanding of the effect of crowding and noise on active processes, thereby allowing for the elucidation of transport mechanisms in other systems.

Ajay Verghese

Dr. Ajay Verghese is an associate professor of political science at Middlebury College, Vermont. He received his PhD in 2013 from George Washington University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University. His research interests include Indian politics, ethnic violence, historical legacies, religion, and methodology. His first book, The Colonial Origins of Ethnic Violence in India, was published by Stanford University Press in 2016, and his articles have been published in Modern Asian Studies, Terrorism and Political Violence, Journal of Development Studies, Politics & Society, Politics and Religion, Sociological Theory, and Journal of Historical Political Economy. He is a winner of the Ted Jelen Award and has been honorably mentioned in the IPSA Award for Concept Analysis in Political Science.

Dr. Verghese’s Fulbright-Nehru project entails two studies of political Hinduism over the course of six months in India. The first study is based in Udaipur, where he is developing a novel theory explaining the rise in the popularity of spiritual teachers (often called “gurus”, “yogis”, or “godmen”) who are explicitly associated with political parties and organizations. The second study is examining a potential backlash to the increasing politicization of religion via the growth of “secular Hinduism” among upper middle-class Hindus in Delhi.

Saikat Talapatra

Dr. Saikat Talapatra is a professor and director of the School of Physics and Applied Physics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He obtained his BSc degree in physics and BEd from RIE Bhubaneswar, India, and MSc in physics from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Thereafter, he graduated from the Department of Physics at Southern Illinois University with an MS in physics and a PhD in engineering science. He worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, before returning to Southern Illinois University as a faculty. He is a condensed matter physicist/materials scientist, with research interests in the synthesis and characterization of a variety of nanoscale materials and structures materials for multiple applications related to electronics, energy, and environment.

Dr. Talapatra’s Fulbright-Nehru project is investigating the adsorptive surface properties of the porous carbon materials obtained from biowaste products in order to develop them for carbon dioxide capture and storage. The success of the project could lead to applications that are needed for a carbon neutral (net-zero) society.