Two IIT-Kanpur professors selected for INSA fellowship

Kanpur: Two professors of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), Prof Bushra Ateeq and Prof Nitin Saxena have been selected for the prestigious Indian National Science Academy (INSA) fellowship 2023-24. Established in the year 1935, the academy works for the promotion of science and scientific research in India for the betterment of all. The fellowship recognizes the research of scientists from diverse fields and supports them to further their research with necessary assistance. Prof Bushra Ateeq is a Professor and Joy-Gill Chair Senior Fellow at the Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, IIT Kanpur. She is revered for her extensive work on cancer research. Prof Nitin Saxena is from the Computer Science & Engineering Department, and is also the founding Coordinator of the Centre for Developing Intelligent Systems at IIT Kanpur. Prof Ateeq’s research group is predominantly interested in delving into the genetic and epigenetic modifications that trigger the onset and progression of cancer. In their announcement, INSA has acknowledged her contributions to cancer research including her research on the role of a peptidase inhibitor, SPINK1 in the progression and drug resistance of Cancer. Prof Ateeq is recipient of several accolades, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Medical Sciences (2020), the highest Indian science award conferred by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India; Sun Pharma Science Foundation Research Award (2021) in the Medical Sciences - Basic Research category; Elected Fellow (2021) of the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc), Bangalore; Elected Fellow (2021) of the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), to name a few. Prof Saxena is also an alumnus of IIT-Kanpur. In 2002, he along with his batch mate Neeraj Kayal and mentor Prof Manindra Agrawal, successfully developed a deterministic polynomial-time algorithm. The trio were awarded the prestigious Gödel Prize for outstanding papers in the area of theoretical computer science, and the Fulkerson Prize, in 2006, for this breakthrough. A current faculty at the institute, Dr. Saxena has done extensive work on developing novel techniques for understanding algebraic independence over fields of small characteristics.

'Proud moment': IIT-D researcher among 12 to bag key science award

Dipti Ranjan Sahoo, an engineering researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, has been awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for 2022 in the engineering category. Sahoo's research focuses on earthquake-resistant design and he has written over 250 research articles in this field. He aims to develop new techniques to accommodate the variations in seismicity across different regions of India. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is given annually to researchers under the age of 45 in various scientific disciplines.

Odia researcher gets Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize

Dipti Ranjan Sahoo, an Odia researcher and IIT Delhi professor, has been awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for science and technology in 2022. Sahoo, known for his work in structural engineering and earthquake-resistant design, will be jointly receiving the prize in the engineering sciences category with Rajnish Kumar from IIT Madras. Sahoo has published over 250 research articles and holds five patents related to earthquake and structural fire engineering. He is currently serving as the associate dean and professor of structural engineering at IIT Delhi.

Bengaluru firm Vellon inks 3 pacts to boost life science research in space

Bengaluru-based space enterprise Vellon Space has signed multiple agreements to advance life science research in space. It has partnered with German space biotech firm Yuri to use its bioreactors on the International Space Station, while Vellon Space will contribute its miniaturized space laboratory. Additionally, Vellon Space has agreed to cooperate with Taiwan's HelioX Cosmos and Atgenomix Incorporated for microgravity research in bio and material science. The agreements aim to promote research and share facilities in India, Taiwan, Japan, and Europe. The partnerships are expected to unlock groundbreaking discoveries in life science research.