Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
Annual Report 2013-2014 Contents
1. From the Executive Director’s desk 04 2. History of Indo-US S&T Cooperation 08 3. Structure of IUSSTF 09 4. Composition of the Governing Body 09 5. Funding 10 6. Objectives of IUSSTF 11 The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) established 7. IUSSTF Partners 12 under an agreement between the Governments of India and 8. Programmatic Activities 13 .. Indo-U.S. Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center 15 the United States of America in March 2000, is an autonomous, .. U.S.-India S&T Endowment Fund Program 23 bilateral organization jointly funded by both the Governments .. Flagship Program : Fifth Indo-American Frontiers of Science Symposium 30 .. India-U.S. Grand Challenge: Affordable Blood Pressure Measurement 34 that promotes science, technology, engineering and biomedical Technologies for Low-Resource Settings in India and the U.S. research and innovation through substantive interaction among .. DST-Lockheed Martin Innovation Growth Program 36 government, academia and industry. .. Startup Accelerator Workshop 39 .. U.S.-India Innovation Science and Technology Awards 41 .. Leadership of Women in Science and Technology 43 9. Visitation Programs 45 .. Indo-US Research Fellowships 47 .. Indo-US Public Health Fellowships 51 .. Stanford India Biodesign 53 .. Khorana Technology-Transfer Program 55 .. American Society for Microbiology (ASM) - IUSSTF Microbiology Visiting Professorships 57 .. IUSSTF-APS Fellowships 59 .. Bhaskara Advanced Solar Energy Fellowship Program 61 .. Research Internships in Science and Engineering 64 .. Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide 66 .. Khorana Program for Scholars 67 .. Viterbi-India Program 70 .. S.N. Bose Scholars Program 72 .. Resonance 76 10. Bilateral Workshops and Training Programs 79 11. Joint Centers 91
Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 3 We believe that fellowships for from winners of various national young scientists and internships science fairs will participate and for students are wonderful tools compete with more than 1600 for developing long term relations children from over 70 countries between Indian and US scientific to showcase their research and communities as it provides them bid for more than USD 5Mn in opportunities to forge linkages awards. These 20 students would with their mentors, other faculty then visit selected universities, From the ED’s Desk and their peers that lasts for science parks, museums etc in several decades. The SN Bose US to expose them to excitement Scholar program launched in of science. With this activity, 2013 proved to be an immensely IUSSTF covers a wide spectrum of popular program with more stakeholders ranging from school than 1200 nominations received children to college from Indian institutions, most of students to young them being top students in their scientists through These 20 students would classes. During 2013, more than various group then visit selected It has been the mandate of SERB and NIH to develop the 100 undergraduate / masters targeted activities universities, science parks, IUSSTF to catalyze linkages cooperation program. In view students from India interned in in addition to museums etc in US to expose between Indian and US science of IUSSTF’s proven ability to 15 US universities availing the SN core activities that them to excitement of science. and technology agencies. As implement cooperation programs Bose Scholars program, Khorana covers scientists part of this mandate, an Indo- with nimbleness and flexibility, With this activity, IUSSTF covers a Scholars program and Viterbi- and researchers wide spectrum of stakeholders US workshop was organized in IUSSTF was entrusted by SERB India program. About 30 US affiliated with ranging from school children 2011 in partnership of Stanford to administer this 5 year USD students also availed internships academic and India Bio-design Centre, All India 20 Mn SERB-NIBIB initiative. at Indian universities under our research institutions. to college students to young Institute of Medical Separate but synchronized calls programs. scientists through various group Sciences, Delhi and were issued in the US and India As part of the targeted activities in addition During 2013, the National Institutes and after a rigorous review Another new fellowship program endeavor to develop to core activities that covers more than 100 BASE (Bhaskara Advanced of Health (NIH) on process, 3 teams in India have linkages between scientists and researchers undergraduate/ masters Solar Energy Research program) institutions, dis- grand challenges in been selected for initial awards. affiliated with academic and students from India interned for capacity development in cussions are on health. Hypertension research institutions. in 15 US universities availing In another endeavor to develop solar energy supported by DST with MIT, Harvard was one of the linkages between SERB/DST and the SN Bose Scholars major tracks of this has been entrusted to IUSSTF and IITs for NIH, an MoU was also signed for implementation. 9 young enhancing scope program, Khorana Scholars workshop. We are by SERB and National Science program and Viterbi- very happy to report scientists and 12 students have of Resonance-India program Foundaiton (NSF) for partnering been shortlisted under this for organizing summer schools India program. About 30 that in the IUSSTF in the GROW (Graduate Research fellowship program for research in emerging areas such as US students also availed GB meeting held in Opportunities Worldwide) – India 2013, the Science in US universities for a period of neuroscience, disaster mitigation, internships at Indian program which would provide 3 to 6 months. climate modeling, etc in India universities under our and Engineering support for US Ph.D. students Research Board IUSSTF is also proud to partner involving faculty and post Docs programs. to work at Indian academic from partnering organizations. (SERB), Ministry and research institutions from 3 with DST and the Intel-Education of Science and months to 12 months. IUSSTF has India for participation of school It has also been a continuous effort Technology, India and the NIH been entrusted with implementing children in the Intel International of IUSSTF to create networks signed an MoU on Indo-US this program. With this, the total Science and Engineering between the future science and cooperation on affordable blood number of slots available for Education Fair (ISEF) in US, engineering leaders in India pressure measurement devices. exchange visits of US students which is the world’s largest science and the US. With this in mind, As a follow up, discussions to India in various IUSSTF fair. Under this activity about 20 IUSSTF has been organizing were held involving IUSSTF, programs has increased to 60. Indian school children selected biennial Indo-American Frontiers
4 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 5 of Science (IAFOS) Symposium and Engineering” with Sunita India Science and Technology from startups there as well as in partnership with the National Williams (NASA Astronaut) Endowment Fund (USISTEF) to showcase their innovations Academy of Sciences since 2004 as at Fulbright House, New Delhi with over 200 bilateral Indo- in partnership with TiE Silicon a flagship event. In this series, the on 1st April 2013. This was US teams applying in each call. Valley. th th th 5 IAFOS was held from 9 - 12 attended by women leaders from After joint review and diligence As part of regular networking April 2013 at Agra, India, where Federal Agencies, Academia and process, 7 teams were awarded activities, IUSSTF has supported more than 70 young scientists Industry. The IUSSTF has also projects in the broad categories 16 bilateral workshops and from India and the US spent three been in discussions with DST, of ‘Empowering Citizens’ and training programs through the days together discussing several leading Indian women scientists ‘Healthy Individual’. With total calls for proposals during the interesting emerging areas. The working in this area and Dr. 11 awardees, several forums th period of the Annual report. 10 5 Indo-American Frontiers of Geri Richmond, President elect and organizations promoting new Virtual Joint Engineering (IAFOE) Symposium American Association for the entrepreneurship and innovations R&D Network is being organized in May 2014 at Advancement of Science (AAAS) are increasingly noticing the Centers were also With the great support the Infosys Mysore and founder of COACh program USISTEF. Three awardees from initiated and 4 new campus with great to evolve suitable training initial round have also received of IUSSTF GB members As part of its Women Joint Centers were support of Lockheed programs for trainers in India. offers from angel and venture approved bringing notably DST, DBT, NSF, NIH, in Science initiative Martin and Infosys. The three consortia involving funds to take their projects at the total Joint Lockheed Martin and other IUSSTF has been organising While increasing more than 100 academic and higher levels. IUSSTF organized Centers supported/ partners such as FICCI, annual interaction meets number of women industry organizations in the area a startup accelerator workshop awarded to 46. USAID and various Indian in partnership with DST and in partnership with DST, US and US Universities, the IUSSTF have pursued science of solar energy, second generation With the great US Embassy, Delhi involving and technology of biofuels and building energy Embassy, Federation of Indian programmatic activities have women scientists, policy Chambers of Commerce support of education and efficiency of the Indo-US Joint IUSSTF GB grown with a lot of synergy makers and social scientists and Industries (FICCI) and professions in recent Clean Energy Research and members notably between them. Through from India and the US. As decades, many Development Centre (JCERDC) 91 Springboard, Delhi for awardees of USISTEF, Indo- DST, DBT, NSF, various programmatic part of this initiative, IUSSTF female students and have completed one year of US Millennium Alliance, Indian NIH, Lockheed activities, IUSSTF supported in partnership with DST professionals still collaborative research work. The Martin and other exchange visits of about face obstacles to JCERDC is a 5 year, USD 100 Innovation Growth Programme and the Embassy of the (IIGP) and other programs. The partners such as 600 Indian and US scientists United States of America pursuing a career in Mn initiative in public private FICCI, United during FY 2013-14 and it is science. It is essential mode with the Indian and the US overwhelming response to the organized a discussion on workshop was heartening and we States Agency estimated that interactions of “Women in Science and that the barriers that Governments each committing for International discourage women USD 5 Mn every year and the intend to continue such efforts about 4000 to 5000 scientists Engineering” with Sunita that bring together entrepreneurs, Development were facilitated during these from studying science industry providing matching (USAID) and Williams (NASA Astronaut) and pursuing it as a funds. This program is funded and investors, policy makers and interactions. mentors on a common platform. various Indian and career are identified guided by the Indian Departments US Universities, and overcome. As of Science and Technology (DST) The DST-Lockheed Martin India the IUSSTF programmatic part of its Women in Science and Biotechnology (DBT) and the Innovation Growth Program has activities have grown with a lot of initiative IUSSTF has been US Department of Energy (DoE). been taken to another level this synergy between them. Through organising annual interaction There are several important leads year. The quality of the program various programmatic activities, meets in partnership with DST and the Indo-US Energy Dialogue was further strengthened by IUSSTF supported exchange and US Embassy, Delhi involving leaders in its meeting held in New joining of Stanford Graduate visits of about 600 Indian and US women scientists, policy makers Delhi appreciated the progress School of Businessin program as scientists during FY 2013-14 and and social scientists from India and and noted the possibilities of academic partner with support it is estimated that interactions the US. As part of this initiative, deployment of research outcomes from Lockheed Martin. IUSSTF of about 4000 to 5000 scientists IUSSTF in partnership with DST in a few years time. also organized visit of team were facilitated during these and the Embassy of the United There has also been an comprising of IIGP winners and interactions. States of America organized a overwhelming response to the incubator mangers to Silicon discussion on “Women in Science Valley to learn from experience Rajiv Sharma third and fourth calls of US- Executive Director, IUSSTF
6 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 7 History of Indo-US S&T Cooperation Structure of IUSSTF
Management y Green revolution facilitated with the U.S. PL 480 Rupee Funds 1950’s y Establishment of Land Grant Colleges The IUSSTF functions as y Autonomous y Bilateral y Establishment of IIT, Kanpur y Not-for-profit organization y Establishment of NCERT, New Delhi y Co-governed and co-founded by Government of India and US Government 1960’s y Nuclear Cooperation Agreement y Tarapur Power Plant Governing Body To ensure that the activities undertaken by the IUSSTF conform to the highest standards of excellence, a joint Governing Body consisting of seven Indian and seven American eminent y NASA-ISRO–SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment) scientists provide leadership to IUSSTF. Composition of Governing Body during the report period 1970’s y Indo-US S&T Subcommission is :
India United States y STI (Science & Technology Initiative) Norman P. Neureiter T. Ramasami Senior Advisor, American Association for Advancement y USIF (US-India Fund) Secretary, Department of Science and Technology 1980’s of Science K. VijayRaghavan Michael Clegg Secretary, Department of Biotechnology Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Sciences y Indo-US Fellowships Program Director General Director y ICAR MoU Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Science Foundation y Indo-US Vaccine Action Program Roderic Pettigrew Indranil Manna Director, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and 1990’s y DST-NSF Program Director, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Bioengineering y NASA/NOAA-ISRO/DST MoU Vijay Chandru Phyllis G. Yoshida y DBT/ICMR-NIH/CDC Health & Medical Sciences Program Chairman and CEO, Strand Life Sciences Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy Vikram S. Kirloskar Ray O. Johnson Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Sr. V.P. and C.T.O., Lockheed Martin Corporation y Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Anuradha Mitra y Indo-US Science & Technology Agreement Leo M. Chalupa Financial Advisor, Department of Science and Vice President Research, Gorge Washington University • Indo-US Binational S&T Commission Technology y High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) y Indo-US Strategic Partnership The Executive Director manages the IUSSTF affairs from its headquarters at the Fulbright House, New Delhi. • Information & Communication Technology • Knowledge Initiative in Agriculture • Space Cooperation • Energy 2000’s • Safety & Security • Health Sciences y Indo-US S&T Agreement / Joint S&T Commission y NASA-ISRO Agreement / MOES-NOAA Agreement y Indo-US Nuclear Agreement y MoU on Energy Security, Energy Efficiency & Clean Energy and Climate Change y US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund y Indo-US Joint Clean Energy Research & Development Centre
8 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 9 Funding Objectives of IUSSTF
Annual interest earning from the endowment created by the US Government with matching contribution from Government of India through the Department of Science and Technology provides regular funds to administer the IUSSTF programs. Catalyst to facilitate seed and promote US-India bilateral collaboration in science, The IUSSTF also has the freedom to receive grants, gifts, donations or other contributions from technology, engineering and biomedical research through substantive interaction among industries, foundations and private benefactors. Contributions to IUSSTF are tax-exempted under academia, R&D laboratories, industry and government. Section 80G of the Indian IT Act. Toward furtherance of its objectives, the IUSSTF welcomes fund contributions both in India and USA. The India Science and Technology Partnership (INSTP) based out of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington y Support exciting and enabling science and technology program portfolio that paves way for sustainable interactions and potential collaborations through networking. D.C. provides outreach and proposals review support. y Promote and strengthen strategic partnership in science and technology under various intergovernmental initiatives and declarations. y Create awareness through exchange and dissemination of information and opportunities toward promoting bilateral scientific and technological cooperation. Co-Chair Governing Co-Chair y Encourage public-private partnership and technopreneurship to foster elements of innovation and enterprise India Body U.S. through knowledge networking between academia and industry. y Capitalize on the scientific and technological synergy on issues of common concern leading to long-term partnership based on shared values. y Explore new frontiers by nurturing contacts between young and mid-career scientists to develop mutual trust, leadership and fraternity in research and development. Executive Director
Finance and Scientific Programs US Outreach and Administration Unit Unit Support Unit
Core Activities Extramural
10 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 11 Partners
Government of India Government of India Government of India Department of Science & Technology Department of Biotechnology Science and Engineering Research Board Ministry of Science & Technology Ministry of Science & Technology Ministry of Science & Technology
Programmatic National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Activities
12 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Indo-US Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center
ecognizing the need scientists and engineers from to address climate India and the United States. change, ensure mutual R The overall aim of the JCERDC energy security, and build a is to facilitate joint research and clean energy economy that development on clean energy drives investment, job creation, to improve energy access and and economic growth; Prime promote low-carbon growth. Contact Persons Minister Manmohan Singh To achieve this objective, the and President Barack Obama Ariadne BenAissa Indo-US JCERDC supports launched the U.S.-India U.S. Department of Energy, multi-institutional network Partnership to Advance Clean Washington, DC projects using a public-private E-mail: [email protected] Energy (PACE) under the partnership model of funding. U.S.-India Memorandum of Nishritha Bopana The JCERDC is funded by Understanding to enhance Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi the Indian Ministry of Science cooperation on Energy Security, E-mail: [email protected] and Technology and the U.S. Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy Department of Energy. The and Climate Change. This MoU program is being administered in was signed on November 24, India by the Indo-U.S. Science and 2009 during Prime Minister Technology Forum (IUSSTF). On Singh’s visit to the United the basis of a rigorous binational States. As a priority initiative review and evaluation process, under the PACE umbrella, the three consortia were selected U.S. Department of Energy for award. The awards were (DOE) and the Government of announced as a press-release by India signed an agreement to the Press Information Bureau establish the Joint Clean Energy on 16th April 2012. Research and Development Center (JCERDC) on A brief summary on the first-year November 4, 2010 during progress of the projects awarded in President Obama’s head of state the space of Solar Energy, Building visit to India. The JCERDC Energy Efficiency and Second- is designed to promote clean Generation Biofuels is as follows: energy innovation by teams of
Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 15 2012. The Total JCERDC Grant- in-aid for Indian component of the SERIIUS project (over 5 years) is Rs. 50,07,52,800/- with a first year release of Rs. 1,505.722 Lakhs. SERIIUS carries out fundamental and applied research, analysis and assessment, outreach, and workforce development through specific bi- national projects in three Research Thrusts - Sustainable Photovoltaics (PV), Multiscale Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), and Solar Energy Integration (SEI). The vision is to ready these solar electricity technologies toward the long-term success of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Energy Mission and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative. SOLAR ENERGY The highlights of the first year include y Consortium research projects were format that will also be posted on the The Solar Energy Research Institute the following: for India and the United States initiated (starting January 2013), first page of the Web Gateway. y SERIIUS was officially launched with following the SERIIUS 10-Point y Consortium communications advance is co-led by the Indian (SERIIUS) a special event in Washington, DC, Work Plan, developed through an with teleconference and video Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore hosted by the U.S. Secretary of Energy all-SERIIUS consensus process conference schedules established for and the National Renewable Energy and the Government of India at the for the Sustainable PV, Multiscale Leadership, Research Thrusts, and Laboratory (NREL). U.S.-India Clean Energy Dialogue CSP, and SEI Research Thrusts. Research Projects. (September 28, 2012) and as a kickoff The JCERDC grant was awarded Administratively, the funding is now y Inter-SERIIUS-partner organization with the Government of India in with the partner organizations, and visits have blossomed, and are key to to SERIIUS on November 22, Mumbai (December 8, 2012). there is an agreement on Intellectual ensuring research interactions, sharing Property Management Plan (IPMP) of results, fostering relationships, SERIIUS Partners and Intra-Consortium Non-Disclosure and maintaining the enthusiasm for Agreement (NDA) finalized. SERIIUS among members. Collaborating Institutions, India Collaborating Institutions, USA y SERIIUS Fellowship and Scholar Lead Institution: Lead Institution: Program were inaugurated (February BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden 2013). The U.S.-India Joint Centre for y SERIIUS Web Gateway (www. Building Energy Research and Other Academia Partners Other Academia Partners SERIIUS.org) is in initial full Development (CBERD) will conduct • Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory operation, providing information collaborative research and promote • Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, • Arizona State University about the Consortium to the public, Kolkata • Carnegie Mellon University establishing a special and secure clean energy innovation in the area • ARCI, Hyderabad • Colorado School of Mines “Consortium Collaboration Tool” for of energy efficiency in building with • Solar Energy Center, Gurgaon • Massachusetts Institute of Technology sharing research information among measurable results and significant • Indian Institute of Technology, Madras • Purdue University SERIIUS partners, and social media reduction in energy use in both • CSTEP, Bangalore • Stanford University links (Facebook and Twitter). nations. CBERD is co-led by the • University of Central Florida y • University of South Florida SERIIUS research dissemination Centre for Environmental Planning & • Washington University begins with six journal publications Technology University-Ahmedabad and several conference presentations. and the Lawrence Berkeley National Other Industry Partners Other Industry Partners y To provide better focus on research Laboratory and includes the following • Thermax Ltd • RAND Corporation progress, SERIIUS has implemented partners. • Clique Developments Ltd • Corning Incorporated a procedure for research “Highlights”, • Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. • General Electric Company which reports these accomplishments The JCERDC Indian grant was • Moser Baer India Ltd • MEMC Corporation succinctly on a single-page PowerPoint awarded to CBERD on November • TurboTech Precision Engineering Ltd • Solarmer Energy Inc. • Wipro Ltd • Cookson Electronics
16 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 17 29, 2012. The Total JCERDC Grant- has been developed. To develop available in the market, their features, in-aid for the project (over 5 years) materials and construction database advantages and limitations. Literature is Rs.22,52,69,000/-with a first for energy simulation, the CBERD review and market research on MCHXs year release of Rs.550.912 Lakhs. team has identified selection criteria to was undertaken to identify various issues CBERD focuses on the integration of shortlist materials from a wide range that need to be addressed. y information technology with building of construction materials available Comfort Studies: Research methods in India. The CBERD team also for Online Survey finalized. Thermal controls and physical systems for has prepared set of rules for Energy Comfort Chamber construction initiated commercial/high-rise residential Conservation Building Code of India. with identification specifications and units. y Monitoring and Benchmarking: This standard procedure to operate. The highlights of the first year include study focused on historical summary, y Grid Responsive Buildings: The team the following: anecdotal evidence, markets covered, has conducted extensive literature and methodology analysis of the two review. This is relative to year 1 and 2 y Consortia Management Office major benchmarking programs in India deliverable to conduct a scoping study (CMO) facilitated interactions between - the BEE Building Star Rating program to link building technologies to Smart India and US R&D partners as well and the ECO-III benchmarking Grid needs and integration of building as industry. For effective research program. Further, analysis was also control systems to supply-side. operations, a detailed milestone and conducted of the achievements and y Renewable Integration: The study deliverable document was prepared limitations of both the programs. of literature, range of RE products for jointly by researchers. Under this task y Controls and Communication building integration has been done. IP framework document was prepared Integration: Various luminaire Discussions were held with the US covering IP management plan. products available in India have – R&D institutional partner LBNL. y Simulation and Modeling: A been identified for effective control The CBERD team has identified the detailed design specification for the mechanism. A concept for Smart following technologies for primary natural ventilation system interface Luminaire Controller (SLC) which considerations in building integration: integrates occupancy status, lux level, (1) Solar Air Conditioning (2) Enhanced temperature and input current to the use of solar energy in buildings: CBERD Partners luminaire has been developed. Embedded PV in windows, overhangs, Collaborating Institutions, India Collaborating Institutions, USA y Envelop / Passive Design: Development dynamic façade, and optimization of of material characterization database roof top BIPV to be mainly considered. Lead Institution: Lead Institution: has been initiated with approximately y Scientific Collaboration: CEPT, Center for Environmental Planning and Lawrence Berkeley 100+ materials tested. Specification for MNIT and IIIT from India interacted Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad National Laboratory, Berkeley Guarded Hot Box and Hygrothermal with UCB and RPI to establish student Other Academia Partners Other Academia Partners test facilities was developed. Cool exchange program and expert exchange roof calculator has been enhanced program. RPI would host a training • International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad • Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the backend is being updated to program in India in the third quarter • Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur • University of California Berkeley include radiant barrier systems and to of 2013. UCB has given a scholarship • Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay • Carnegie Mellon University run a parametric simulation to optimize to a post graduate student to carryout • Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • Auroville Center for Scientific Research insulation thickness for a given roof research under the CBERD project. albedo and radiant barrier system. • Indian Green Building Center, CII SECOND GENERATION • Indian Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Other Industry Partners Characterization of glass products • Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited was done. This data will be available BIOFUELS • Indian Society of Lighting Engineers • Autodesk, Inc. in International Glass Database • California Energy Commission maintained by LBNL. CBERD team The U.S.-India Consortium for Other Industry Partners • Delphi development of Sustainable • enLighted Inc. has included 65 weather files for Indian • Asahi India Glass Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuel • Honeywell locations in the COMFEN database • Biodiversity Conservation India • Infosys Public Services for the Indian version. This along Systems (SALBS) emphasizes on • Infosys Technologies. • Ingersoll-Rand/Trane with India version of COMFEN has sustainable feedstock cultivation • Neosilica Technologies • Lighting Science Group Corp been initiated. Criteria of selection for and supply, biochemical conversion • Oorja Energy Engineering Services • Nexant • Paharpur Business Centre/Green Spaces naturally ventilated buildings to be technologies for production of second • Saint Gobain Corp • PLUSS Polymers monitored were defined and a matrix generation biofuels with minimal • SAGE Electrochromics • Philips Electronics India was prepared listing all possible • SynapSense environmental impact, and analysis • Saint Gobain Corp candidates for the study. • The Weidt Group of overall sustainability and supply • Schneider Electric India y • Bay Area Photovoltaic Consortium Advanced Technologies: Literature • Sintex Industries Limited chain of feedstock. The consortium • City of San Jose review and market research on non- • Skyshade Daylights is co-led by the Indian Institute of • HOK Architects compressor based DOAS systems was • Wipro EcoEnergy • Natural Resources Defense Council undertaken to identify various options Chemical Technology-Hyderabad • Glazing Society of India and the University of Florida-
18 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 19 sustainability, marketing and policy. The highlights of first year are as follows: y High biomass sorghum genotypes were screened for various agronomic traits (plant height, fresh yield, stover yield, etc.) during the post-rainy season for potential high biomass producing lines. Thirty-six HBM genotypes were identified, out of which 10 showed superior stalk yields. y Similarly, 10 high biomass producing sorghum lines tolerant to drought stress were identified on the basis of screening done under glass house conditions. Seed multiplication of the potential sorghum lines was performed during the post-rainy (rabi) season for conducting multilocation trials (MLTs) in the partner organizations for the rainy (kharif) season. Gainesville and includes the partners y Land survey for the cultivation of Bamboo Mission (NBM). Six out of 20 consulted three independent experts given in the table below. coarse cereals as well as sorghum germplasm lines have been established working in the fields of social/woman was conducted in various areas of at Modasa for further studies, while development, extension education, The Indian JCERDC grant was Madhya Pradesh involving ICRISAT, others are in the process of being CESS, and an NGO group for their awarded on November 22, 2012. DSR and RVSKVV scientists. Sites established. inputs on the design of the baseline y The Total JCERDC Grant-in-aid for conducting MLTs for sorghum A stress tolerance study of existing survey forms. y for the project (over 5 years) is Rs. and pearl millet were identified as Bambusa balcooa under in-vitro and Similarly, primary and secondary data 12,88,86,000/- with a first year well. Preliminary interactive survey in-vivo conditions is ongoing. Genetic with respect to non-food based biofuels variation studies conducted on 6 has been reviewed and compiled. release of Rs. 555.14 Lakhs. The with local farmers with regards to cultivation of sorghum and pearl millet varieties of Bamboo using molecular CESS has independently compiled a project comprises of three work approaches showed Bambusa balcooa questionnaire for the baseline survey packages – WP-1 involves the for biomass production was conducted by CESS group. to be the most diverse variety. Pre- after a preliminary visit to the field feedstock development and supply, y Abellon has collected 20 different processing and commutation of 5 sites of Indore and Gwalior in Madhya WP-2 focuses on the conversion bamboo germplasm from various parts lignocellulosic biomass samples of Pradesh. y technologies, and WP-3 addresses of India after consulting with National sorghum and pearl millet was optimized Other JCERDC-related news…. at HPCL and the commuted biomass was dispatched to the WP-2 partners The India-U.S. Energy Dialogue SALBS Partners involved in conversion technology. was held in New Delhi on 11thMarch Collaborating Institutions, India Collaborating Institutions, USA y Cellulolytic fungi from various 2014. The Dialogue was co-chaired biosphere zones were isolated and Lead Institution: Lead Institution: by Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, 21 fungal cultures were identified at Deputy Chairman of the Planning Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad University of Florida, Gainesville TNAU. Standardization of alcohol Commission, and Dr. Ernest Moniz, Other R &D Institutions and Academia Partners: Other R & D Institutions and Academia fermentation to establish base levels on glucose substrate using in-house Secretary, U.S. Department of • International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Partners: Saccharomyces cerevisiae has Energy. The Energy Dialogue is part Tropics- Hyderabad • University of Missouri been initiated at IIT-D. Similarly, of the broader India-U.S. Strategic • Directorate of Sorghum Research-Hyderabad • Virginia Tech • Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad standardization of pre-treatment Dialogue. The Energy Dialogue was • Montclair State University variables of the biomass samples, launched in May 2005 with the last • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University • Texas A&M University • Rajamatha Vijayaraje Sindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalay, Gwalior isolation of microbial strains from meeting held in September 2012 in • Centre for Economic and Social Studies various biosphere zones, and screening Washington DC. Secretary Moniz • Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi of biomass degrading-enzymes led the U.S. delegation comprising of • Indian Institute of Technology-Chennai (xylanase and cellulase) have been senior officials from the Department initiated at IICT. Industry Partners: Industry Partners: of Energy and various national y Abellon has reviewed and compiled • Abellon Clean Energy • Show Me Energy globally available documents on laboratories. India and the United • Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited • Green Technologies certification systems. They have States affirmed that both countries had
20 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 21 a strong commitment to collaborating in shale gas, LNG imports, on energy and promoting greater energy efficiency and low carbon technological innovation, scientific technologies. The joint consortia collaboration, trade, research and members from the Indo-U.S. development, deploying environment- Joint Clean Energy Research and US-India friendly technologies and products, Development Center (JCERDC) and promoting sound regulatory also presented their progress in frameworks to deliver energy solar, advanced bio-fuels, and energy Science and solutions for sustainable growth. efficiency research projects under PACE-R, a unique program for Officials from the two sides held funding joint research by Indian and meetings from 5th March to 11th Technology US institutes. March, 2014, and reviewed the full range of cooperation under the U.S. – In their concluding remarks, the two Endowment India Energy Dialogue. co-chairs expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the energy sector The Co-chairs of the dialogue, Dr. through the co-operative process. Ahluwalia, and Secretary Moniz Fund Program They directed the members of the discussed progress made by the Working Groups to continue their working groups in renewable energy efforts, especially in the newer areas and new technologies, cooperation he United States–India Individual with a focus on of mutual interest. Science & Technology affordable biomedical devices, TEndowment Fund diagnostic/ preventive/ curative (USISTEF) was established in measures, or food and nutrition 2009 by the Governments of products to improve health, and the United States of America (2) Empowering Citizens with (through the Department a focus on reducing the digital/ Contact Person of State) and India (through technology divide including Smriti Trikha the Department of Science others, information and Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi & Technology). The fund communication technologies E-mail: [email protected] envisages to support and with societal impact in areas foster joint applied R&D such as water, agriculture, to generate public good financial inclusion, and through commercialization of education. technology achieved through sustained partnerships between Third Call of Proposals US and Indian researchers Over 202 Executive Summaries and entrepreneurial initiatives. were submitted under the third These initiatives can originate call and after the expert panels from government, academic, review, 19 proposals (9 in non-governmental or Empowering Citizens and 10 in commercial entities, and any Healthy Individual categories) combination thereof provided were shortlisted for Stage II: they focus on applied R&D, Business Plans submission. incorporate a business plan and The shortlisted teams were proof of commercial concept, requested to submit their and have significant sustainable detailed business plans online. commercial potential. The Two Joint Indo-US Expert program is coordinated and Panels, one in each category, administered through the bi- interacted with the teams face national Indo-US Science and to face or through skype on Technology Forum (IUSSTF). 24 and 25 April 2013 at Santa The areas covered under Clara, CA. On the basis of a the program are (1) Healthy
22 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 23 Joint Expert Panels review, 7 finalists Stephen Chen, Teco Diagnostics, Easy to use, Integrated Neonatal Resuscitation Solution (3 in Empowering Citizens and 4 in Anaheim) Healthy Individual) were taken up Neha Juneja, Greenway Grameen for Stage III: Site Inspection and Infra Pvt. Ltd., Navi Mumbai Due Diligence process. Based on for proposal “Affordable, clean the recommendations of the due- cookstove and electric power sources diligence experts and Endowment for rural India (submitted with Board co-Chairs, the USI- S&T Aleksandr Kushch, Hi-Z Technology Avijit Bansal Dan Harden Endowment Board approved five Inc. San Diego, CA, USA) Windmill Health Technologies Whipsaw, San Jose, USA proposals (3 in Empowering Citizens New Delhi, India and 2 in Health Individual category) under the third call. US-India Green and Afford- Avijit Bansal (Windmill Health Technologies New Delhi, India); Dan Harden able Event (Whipsaw, San Jose, CA, USA) and Anurag Mairal (Stanford Global Biodesign, Pala U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue Another US-India Green and Alto,. CA, USA) U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry Affordable Event was being jointly The Problem: In India, birth Asphyxia neonatal resuscitation solution that’s and External Affairs Minister of organised by Indo-US S&T Forum causes deaths in several neo-natal, much easier to use and suitable for India Shri Salman Khurshid met (IUSSTF), Federation of Indian which is largely preventable by basic field conditions. It will therefore in New Delhi co-chaired the fourth Chambers of Commerce and Industry resuscitation. Current devices are empower front-line health workers U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue on (FICCI), Ministry of Science and difficult to use, ineffective especially such as medical professionals, June 24, 2013. During their first Technology and USAID at FICCI in developing world. community health workers, midwives meeting, they reviewed the extensive House, New Delhi. This event was and other skilled birth attendants to The Solution: The innovation transformation of the bilateral graced by the presence of Shri S. perform basic neonatal resuscitation (NeoBreathe TM) is an integrated relationship and identified key sectors Jaipal Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for effectively – with minimal training. of cooperation that will continue to Science and Technology and Earth add strategic depth to the partnership. Sciences; Dr. John Holdren, Director Affordable and User-Centric Knee Joints to Remobilize of the White Office of Science In the event, the following three Above-Knee Amputees in India and Globally Endowment Awardees showcased and Technology Policy; Dr. Rajiv their technologies/products related Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency to proposals. for International Development, USAID; Dr. T. Ramasami, Nahush Katti and Vikram Arun, Secretary, Department of Science & DoctorOn for proposal “Blindness Technology, Government of India, Prevention through Integrated Dr. K. Vijay Raghvan, Secretary, Smartphone Technology” (submitted Department of Biotechnology, Pooja Sandeepan Krista Donaldson with Dr Sheila John, Shankar Government of India. The second Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklan Sahayata Samiti D-Rev, Design Revolution Netralaya, Chennai) Jaipur, India San Francisco, USA and third call Endowment Awardees and Millennium Alliance maiden Sidhant Jena, Janacare Solutions Pooja Sandeepan (Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Jaipur, call awardees were awarded and Private Limited, New Delhi for India) and Krista Donaldson (D-Rev (Design Revolution), San Francisco, CA, USA) proposal “Mobile Phone based felicitated in the same. HbA1c Analyzer” (submitted with The Problem: Over 1.9 million people resource users. ReMotion is radically in India are above-the-knee amputees and affordable. Unlike other prosthetic and unable to live productive lives. knees, ReMotion will be optimized With 77% of India’s population living specifically for the environment, under $2 a day, amputees rarely receive activities and price parameters of low- rehabilitation and have no access to resource users. The USISTEF will quality prostheses. support the final development, testing and launch of the Re-Motion knee The Solution: The team proposes to co- (version 3). This project places India develop an affordable polycentric and and the US at the forefront of affordable user-centric knee joints the ReMotion quality medical products design and Knee version 3 to remobilize above- implementation, and is the first step in knee amputees in India globally. The global scaling and commercialization ReMotion Knee is a high performance, low cost prosthetic knee joint for lower of the ReMotion Knee.
24 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 25 Affordable, clean cookstove and electric power sources for Commercialization of cultivated sea plants based organic rural India bio-stimulants for applications in the USA
Neha Juneja Aleksandr Kushch Abhiram Seth Ganesh Vishwanath Greenway Grameen Hi-Z Technology Inc. Aquagri Processing Pvt. Ltd. GloBridge Ventures Infra Pvt. Ltd. San Diego, USA New Delhi, India LLC Fremont, CA, USA Navi Mumbai, India Abhiram Seth (Aquagri Processing Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, India) and Ganesh Neha Juneja (Greenway Grameen Infra Pvt. Ltd., Navi Mumbai, India) and Aleksandr Vishwanath (GloBridge Ventures LLC Fremont, CA, USA) Kushch (Hi-Z Technology Inc. San Diego, CA, USA) The Problem: There are two to enhance its sustainability by The Problem: Over 70% of India’s demand power generation. The fundamental problems that are developing a wide range of value population are cooking on polluting project aims to develop a stove attempted the endemic poverty added products. Aquagri through cookstoves/indoor open fires. Half called “The Greenway Power in India and the rising consumer sea plant cultivation would help in of the households do not have Stove” which will employ a novel demand for organic products in the expanding the cultivation base itself. access to reliable electricity. clean combustion technology and a US Market. GloBridge Ventures LLC plans to low cost thermoelectric module to The Solution: The project aims work in collaboration with Aquagri to generate electricity from the stove The Solution: Aquagri has to provide a complete household market and distribute the products/ during cooking for mobile phone pioneered seaweed cultivation energy solution that combines solutions with a focus on organic charging. in India with a prime focus on clean cooking and reliable, on- creation of livelihood opportunities lowers cost and improves the health for the coastal communities and ofsegments livestock that and crop improves productivity. efficiency, Solar Electric Tractor - Agriculture and Power Young Entrepreneur Award The US India S&T Endowment Board (USISTEB) on 26 April approved a 25K USD Youth Entrepreneur Award to the proposal Ref. No: HI138, titled “Blindness Prevention through Integrated Smartphone Technology” submitted by Nahush Katti and Vikram Arun, DoctorOn, LLC, Columbia and Sheila John, Sankara Parimal Shah Keith Rutledge Nethralaya, Chennai. Lovson Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Solectrac LLC Willits, USA Ahmedabad, India Parimal Shah (Lovson Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, India) and Keith Rutledge (Solectrac LLC Willits, CA, USA) The Problem: Rising diesel prices home power, water pumping and make it very difficult for subsistence mechanical functions as well as for Nahush Katti Vikram Arun farmers in less developed countries hauling and transportation needs. Doctor On, LLC, Columbia DoctorOn, LLC, Columbia to afford tractors to increase The Problem: According to World in meeting their most important agricultural production. A battery-inverter system based on patented “quick change” battery Health Organization, estimates ophthalmic diagnostic requirements. The Solution: The primary aim packs would provide electric power suggest that over 80% of all The team strongly believe that of the project is to develop a full anywhere anytime. Its batteries undiagnosed cataract conditions will their innovative smartphone based function agricultural tractor with can be charged directly by clean lead to permanent blindness as acute diagnostic technology has tremendous a operating efficiency higher than renewable energy sources or from ophthalmic problem is exacerbated commercial potential because of its a diesel tractor performing the low cost electric utility grid at off- without timely diagnosis. simplicity and its ability to provide high-resolution images for the accurate same farming tasks. Solectracs can peak rates. The Solution: The ultimate objective diagnosis of cataract and various other also be used for portable power, of the proposal is to serve the rural/ debilitating human diseases for rural impoverished population of the world and impoverished patients.
26 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 27 OneBreath: Affordable mechanical ventilation for India Fourth Call of Proposals: In October Indo-US Expert Panels, one in each 2013, the IUSSTF announced Fourth category, interacted with the teams Ashwin Naik (Vaatsalya Healthcare, Bangalore, India) and Matthew Callaghan Call for Executive Summaries. face to face or through skype on (OneBreath, Inc., CA, USA) Over 192 executive summaries (83 February 25-28, 2014 at Santa Clara, in Empowering Citizens and 109 CA. On the basis of a Joint Expert Healthy Individual categories) were Panels review, following 4 finalists received in response. After a Joint (2 in Empowering Citizens and 2 in Expert Panel review process, 18 Healthy Individual) were taken up shortlisted teams (9 in each category) for Stage III: Site Inspection and Due Ashwin Naik Matthew Callaghan were asked to submit their detailed Diligence process. Vaatsalya Healthcare, Bangalore, India OneBreath, Inc., CA, USA business plans online. Two Joint
The Problem: Respiratory illness is OneBreath will develop a novel Ref. No. Project Title Lead Partners a leading cause of hospitalization ventilator and commercialize it HI042 Transforming arsenic and Mike German and death in developing nations. specifically to address the need fluoride crisis in drinking WIST Inc., Brighton, MA Each year thousands of patients die for high quality, pre-hospital and water into an economic Abhijeet Gan, Rite Water Solutions (I) Pvt. because of lack of early access to emergency care in India’s lower enterprise mechanical ventilation. income population. The cost, Ltd., Nagpur durability and ease of use are Arup K Sengupta, Society for Technology The Solution: In this project, critical factors to be considered. with a Human Face, Kolkata Vaatsalya Healthcare and HI094 Development of a low- Shivang R. Dave cost, portable auto- PlenOptika, Somerville, MA Commercializing a scalable low-cost arsenic remediation refractor Sriram Ravilla technology for societal impact Aurolab, Madhurai Joyashree Roy (Jadavpur University, Kolkata), Raja Mohanty (Luminous Water EC062 Developing novel Rusty Rodriguez Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, India) and Ashok Gadgil (Lawrence Berkeley biological seed treatments Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies, Seattle, WA to confer abiotic stress National Laboratory, CA, USA) Anup Karwa tolerance in crops SFPL Crop Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Krishidhan Seeds, Jalna HI113 Commercializing a Shashi Buluswar transformational modular LIGTT Corporation, Oakland roofing solution for low- Hasit Ganatra income urban homes Joyashree Roy Ashok Gadgil Re-Materials, Ahmedabad Jadavpur University Lawrence Berkeley Kolkata National Laboratory, CA, USA The Problem: About 60 million (ECAR) which enables locally- people in India and Bangladesh are affordable arsenic-remediation of exposed to high levels of naturally occurring arsenic every time they drink from their local well. Nearly safewater, water within is a provided sustainable to serviceschool all household and community scale childrendelivery model.while excess Under thisis sold model, at solutions deployed have failed a locally-affordable price. This public-private partnership avoids the abandonment due to failed because they were not maintained, maintenance that has plagued other The Solution: The team have repaired, or affordable. implementations. developed and patented Electro Chemical Arsenic Remediation
28 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 29 Flagship Program : Fifth Indo-American Frontiers of Science Symposium
he fifth Indo-American to both conveying and deriving Frontiers of Science cross-disciplinary information T(IAFOS) Symposium and insights through a format, was convened by the Indo-US which allows informed one-to- Science and Technology Forum one discussions amongst the (IUSSTF) as its annual flagship participants. a sustainable energy future. Jeff Session III: The session on Systems event in partnership with the US Sakamoto (Michigan State University) biology and medicine began with a Organizing Co-Chairs: National Academy of Sciences Session I: The acquisition of delivered a talk on keeping up with talk by K.V. Venkatesh (IIT-Bombay) (NAS) from April 7th to 10th at renewable, low-carbon forms the increasing demands for electrical who gave an overview of the field Kedar Damle of energy is perhaps the most Tata Institute of Fundamental Agra, India. The symposium energy storage and conversion. with system science principles in Research, Mumbai brought together about 70 important challenge facing Aninda Bhattacharyya (Indian Institute conjunction with experimental E-mail: [email protected] brilliant young scientists and mankind today. The introductory of Science) spoke about materials for methodologies required to achieve technologists from Indian and speaker in the session on modern rechargeable batteries using a system level understanding of Materials for energy conversion Todd Oakley U.S. academia, laboratories and Lithium-based battery as a case-study. cellular behavior. Raul Rabadan industry. At the symposium, and storage: Discovery through (Columbia College of Physicians University of California, Santa Barbara experimental and computational Session II: The lead speaker in the E-mail: [email protected] attendees presented their talks and Surgeons) delivered a talk on fast as part of eight interdisciplinary approaches was Don Seigel session on Planet/star formation evolutionary processes by genome sessions on contemporary (University of Michigan) who was Sujan Kumar Sengupta (Indian analysis of tumors and RNA viruses. research topics to colleagues spoke on Materials for energy Institute of Astrophysics) who spoke Anurag Agrawal (CSIR-Institute of outside their field with a view conversion and storage and about more than 800 extra-solar Genomics and Integrative Biology) what can be done to secure planets that have revolutionized our spoke about how systems medicine understanding of planets and their is an exciting new frontier of science formation. Maheswar Gopinathan and translational applications of (Aryabhatta Research Institute of analytical concepts from systems Observational Sciences) delivered biology to physiological or clinical a talk on the Bok Globules that are data is rewarding. identified as the sites of low mass star formation in the solar neighborhood. Session IV: Alison Pischedda The origin of the earth and solar (University of California-Santa system is one of the longest-standing Barbara) delivered the introductory questions in science and Andrew Youdin talk in the session titled Battle of the (University of Colorado-Boulder) sexes and spoke about interactions spoke about the birth of planets in the between males and females being solar system and beyond. fundamental to the evolution of
30 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 31 sexual mating systems. Ryan Calsbeek human activities are transforming (Dartmouth University) spoke about our planet and its climate in the resolution of sexual conflict and unprecedented ways and the fact N.G. Prasad (IISER-Mohali) talked that understanding the consequences about interlocus sexual conflict and of these changes represents one of the evolution of life-histories. the most pressing problems faced by ecologists today. Sabin T.P. (Indian Session V: In the session on Institute of Tropical Meteorology) Quasiparticles and semiconducting talked about high-resolution regional devices, the lead speaker Andrea Young climate downscaling. Joshua Lawler (MIT) spoke about massless electrons (University of Washington) spoke and fractionally charged particles in about projected future changes in graphene. Mandar Deshmukh (Tata climate and how they will likely result Institute of Fundamental Research) in shifts in flora and fauna to track presented the efforts to develop a suitable conditions. simple technique for lateral nanowire wrap around gate devices with high At the FOS, Bruce Alberts (Editor- capacitive coupling. Jay Sau (Harvard in-Chief, Science 2008-2013, U.S. University) talked about topological Science Envoy 2009-2011 and quantum computation and the search President, U.S. National Academy for non-abelian majorana modes in of Sciences 1992-2005) delivered a solid-state systems. talk on Science and the world’s future where he spoke about knowledge Session VI: Subha Majumdar (Tata sharing and capacity building; and, Institute of Fundamental Research) connecting scientists to each other delivered the introductory talk in the and to their local communities. session on Dark matter/dark energy. natural and human-made structures. Liben-Nowell (Carleton College) talked Sudhir Vempati (Institute Institute of Prahladh Harsha (Tata Institute of about some recent computational A unique dimension of the Indo-US Science) discussed particle physics Fundamental Research) delivered the research that studies information FOS Symposium is the Frontiers models of dark matter. Marcelle introductory talk of the session on propagation through the digital traces of Science (FOS) Awards that have Soares-Santos (Fermilab) presented Graphs, randomness and computation of online activity. been instituted by IUSSTF and an overview on dark energy and and surveyed the area of graph theory was announced by Rajiv Sharma discussed prospects for shedding light and its applications. Nikhil Srivastava Session VIII: Mahesh Sankaran (Tata (Executive Director, IUSSTF). The on this problem with current and (Microsoft Research) spoke about Institute of Fundamental Research) award consists of USD 10,000 to be upcoming methods. a recent line of work with Batson, delivered the introductory talk in shared between the partnering Indian Speilman and Teng which showed the session on Ecological impacts of and American awardees, spread over Session VII: Graphs are one of the that every graph can be approximated climate change. He spoke about how a period of two years. most ubiquitous models of both by one which is very sparse. David
32 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 33 Title of the Proposal Name of the Lead PI Development of a low cost arterial tonometry based Santosh Noronha India-U.S. Grand Challenge: blood pressure monitoring device Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay Arterial Compliance Probe for Cuff less Blood Pressure Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam Measurement Indian Institute of Technology, Madras Affordable Blood Pressure Rapid Real time Blood Pressure Measurement and Bala Pesala Hypertensive Predisposition Diagnostics using Pulse Senior Scientist CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Measurement Technologies Transit Time and Blood Pressure Variability Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani for Low-Resource Settings in India and the U.S.
ypertension diagnosis healthcare workers as well as and management is a feedback to the patients. SERB Hcritical healthcare issue. and NIBIB have launched However, the basic underlying two separate and parallel, but approach for the measurement fully coordinated, funding of Blood Pressure has opportunity announcements in essentially remained the same India and the U.S. respectively Contact Person for the past several decades. to promote research in this area Nishritha Bopana This is an obvious area that is and generate alternate scientific Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi ripe for disruptive technological approaches and technological E-mail: [email protected] innovation. The Science & options. It is expected that Engineering Research Board this partnership between the (SERB), Department of Science two countries will leverage & Technology, Government knowledge and material of India has partnered with resources to develop new the National Institute of technologies which are relevant Biomedical Imaging and for low resource settings not Bioengineering (NIBIB, NIH), only in their respective political USA to announce the Indo-U.S. domain but other similar settings Grand Challenge Initiative all over the world. on Affordable Blood Pressure Measurement Technologies for IUSSTF received 57 Low-Resource Settings in India Expressions of Intent (EOI) in and the U.S. The purpose of response to the call for EOIs the initiative is to encourage announced in August 2013. The collaborative research within Expert Committee set up by and between both the countries SERB and IUSSTF shortlisted to propose new approaches 15 Expressions of Intent for to the measurement of Blood further submission of detailed Pressure that are unobtrusive or proposals. After an in-depth passive, low cost and which can review and evaluation process, automatically provide frequent the following 3 proposals were data recording and reporting to selected for support.
34 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 35 overwhelming response from the long training in basic principles of innovators in 2013. A total of 996 product commercialization, readiness applications were received as a result for market, business models, IP of nationwide roadshows. 19 pan- rights, competitive positioning, India Roadshows were conducted and mechanisms for revenue by in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Goa, experienced faculty members from Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai, the Stanford Graduate School of DST-Lockheed Martin Bangalore, Delhi, Vadodara, Business. Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, An Innovators’ Competition was Cochin, Guwahati, Ludhiana, organized during April 29 – May 1, Ranchi, Patna and Indore. A India Innovation 2013 at Federation House, New Delhi Technology Commercialization and followed by the Awards Ceremony on was Entrepreneurship Workshop May 2, 2013. The top 50 innovators Growth Program organized to provide training to the presented their innovations to innovators and also prepare them a panel of technologists and to participate in an Innovator’s commercialization experts from Competition during April 14-19, India and the United States. At the 2013 at Goa. The selected top end of the competition, the following 50 innovators were given week- he DST-Lockheed and Technology, Govt. of innovations were awarded: Martin India Innovation India; Lockheed Martin TGrowth Program (IIGP) Corporation; Indo-US Science was launched in 2008 to enhance and Technology Forum, Innovation Innovators the growth and development Federation of Indian Chambers A novel antibiotic adjuvant entity for lowering Manu Chaudhary of entrepreneurial economy in of Commerce and Industry; antimicrobial resistance Venus Medicine Research Centre India by adopting the prevalent Stanford Graduate School of Simple soil nutrient analysis using Alternative J Arunkumar Contact Person best practices both in US and Business and the IC2 Institute at Analytical Technology Shri AMM Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre India. IIGP is designed as an the University of Texas. Nirankar Saxena Low cost Indigenous raw materials for making Jaydeep Mandal accelerated technology assess- Federation of Indian Chambers of The Program is open sanitary napkins Aakar Innovations Pvt. Ltd. ment and commercialization Commerce and Industries, New Delhi to technologies in areas E-mail: [email protected] initiative through a business Flame ware / ceramic cooking ware Bharat Gidwani such as aeronautics, Ninads Pottery plan competition involving agriculture, biotechnology, commercial assessment Light weight unmanned drone Aakash Sinha and Suryansh Saxena chemistry, communications, of technology; business Omnipresent Robot Technologies Pvt. Ltd. computing,defence, electronics, development; and finally Mobile shoe charger Mandar Tulankar environment, IT, manufacturing, technology commercialization Zero Point Energy Pvt. Ltd. marine, materials, medical/life through structured mentoring. DeTect (normal/high temperature defect detection Tarun Kumar Mishra sciences, nanotechnology, etc. The program is a joint initiative technology) Indian Institute of Technology Madras of the Department of Science The IIGP received an Mobile Harvest Sachin Gaur Mobile Harvest Solution Private Limited Decision making tools using digital maps Amarsh Chaturvedi Transerve Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Hand pump integrated with filtration system for Kirti Ranjan treating contaminated ground water /Jeevan Dhara PayJal Solutions Alvel Omega 3 Egg Surekha S Bhalerao Center for innovation in nutrition health and diseases. SES- Molecular Diagnostic Services Ravi Kumar XCyton Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd. Environmental Remediation Catalyst Bharat Lodha Battelle Science and Technology India Pvt. Ltd. Fault tolerant unmanned aerial vehicle autopilot Srinath Mallikarjunan Unmanned Dynamics
36 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 37 Innovation Innovators Dr M Hope Cloud based SaaS application for B. K. Murali and Dr M Hope Hospital OcuDA: Ocular Digital Adaptor Ramesh S.Ve Indo-U.S. Manipal University Democratization of Business Intelligence with Vikram Kole Startup 1KEY MAIA Intelligence Pvt. Ltd. Papyrus Eficiencia - most eco-friendly and cost Anurag Kumar Kyal efficient paper KIIT school of Biotechnology Accelerator Clean energy generation using plasma process Rajeev Prasad Gupta Green Systems CareMother- Mobile Pre and High Risk Care Shantanu Pathak Workshop Science for Society Techno Services Pvt Ltd. Multifuel/fuel-hydrid I.C. Engine Das Ajee Kamath GYATK RVCR Apparatus Private Limited 22 - 23 November 2013 Universal Multifunction Accelerator Venu Kandadai Manjeera Digital Systems Pvt. Ltd. Vertical axis wind turbine Orlando Fernandes he Indo-U.S. Science and innovation to flourish in the country. He Nontional Conventional Power Devices Pvt. Ltd. Technology Forum in partnership remarked that the Unique Identification Beta thalassemia carrier detection kit Mahabaleshwar V Hegde Twith the Federation of Indian (UID) platform was created after looking An organic plant growth enhancer and yield M.S. Rao Chambers of Commerce & Industry, at the two successful innovations that promoter Indian Institute of Horticultural Research the U.S. Embassy, the Department took place in the U.S. namely, internet of Science and Technology and 91 and GPS. Both became platforms Photo dynamic therapy laser system Ramadas M R Pillai springboard organized the Indo- for numerous entrepreneurs and Vinvish Technologies Pvt. Ltd. U.S. Startup Accelerator Workshop at startups. However, he added that both VAJRA (Vessel desk) Raghunath P. Lohar New Delhi. The workshop, using these platforms initially were funded Center for innovation and business acceleration an unconventional format, brought publically. Citing the example of the Solar powered crop harvester T. J. David together startups, aspiring entrepreneurs, Aadhar Card, he said, platforms lead ENTICE-IIIT innovators, angel investors and venture to expansion. Aadhar cards have led to BASP biotech processing and filtration system Vikrant Patil capitalists from across the country to creation of an infrastructure of unique BASP Industries brainstorm and debate on the broad identity of people, digital authentication challenges that a startup faces. of a person, electronic KYC (Know Bamboo Greenhouse Arupratan Ghosh Your Customer) and capability of In his keynote address at workshop creating a financial address. Mr. Nandan Nilekani, (Chairman, The Department of Science and companies, start-ups, incubators Unique Identification Authority of Dr. T. Ramasami (Secretary, Technology, Government of India and universities. The delegation also India) said that the government needs to Department of Science & Technology) jointly with IUSSTF and FICCI took spent a day at Stanford University’s create platforms for entrepreneurs and identified financial support, access to a delegation of 9 innovators and 5 Graduate School of Business. incubation managers/ Govt. of India Two technology expositions were Officials to the Silicon Valley during organized in 2013 (in Ahmedabad August 26 – 30, 2013. The delegation on 6 September 2013 and in Patna was hosted at the Silicon Valley on 5 December 2013) to showcase by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) the commercialization deals signed for understanding the Innovation by the Indian innovators with leading and Entrepreneurship ecosystem industry partners. The innovators at Silicon Valley. The week-long also got a platform to exhibit their program included TiE’s immersion technologies at these expositions to (boot camp) for innovators, visits potential industry partners, investors to iconic/global Silicon Valley and other start- ups.
38 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 39 U.S.-India Science & Technology Innovation Awards market, material and technology as - but essential – for public and private the challenges that entrepreneurs and enterprises to collaborate across borders. startups face. He said that the government “We live in an exciting time where and entrepreneurs should learn and gain economic and social challenges can be from each other’s experiences. Startups overcome by human ingenuity. We look he Government of India, the Reddy; U.S. Ambassador to India have the advantage of being sensitive to forward to continuing our work with United States Government, the Nancy J. Powell; Assistant to the U.S. the needs of the place and can be a part the Indian government on promoting Federation of Indian Chambers President for Science and Technology of the development process. a collaborative entrepreneurial T of Commerce and Industry, and the Dr. John Holdren; U.S. Agency for environment. The potential for mutual Ms. Nancy J. Powell (U.S. Ambassador Indo-U.S. Science and Technology International Development (USAID) benefit through our cooperation is to India) in her special address, limitless”. While moderating the session, Forum announced the winners of the Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah; remarked, “Entrepreneurship is the Mr. Samuel Kotis (Deputy Minister Millennium Alliance and U.S.-India Secretary of Department of Science engine for global economic growth Counselor for Environment, Science Science and Technology Endowment & Technology Dr. T. Ramasami; and and increased productivity of workers & Technology Affairs, US Embassy) Fund awards. FICCI National Executive Committee in any economy. This is true for both said that there is a need to increase Member and CA Technologies India developed and developing economies. The award ceremony took place the success rate. Dr. Rajiv Sharma Chairman Mr. Saurabh Srivastava. The challenge for governments and in the presence of the Honorable (Executive Director, Indo-U.S. Science private stakeholders is to provide an Minister for Science and Technology The U.S.-India Science & & Technology Forum) said that in India environment where entrepreneurship and Earth Sciences Mr. S. Jaipal Technology Endowment Board, a series of events are being organized in can flourish and where entrepreneurs collaboration with the U.S. to promote can quickly bring their ideas and entrepreneurship and startups in the products to market. Entrepreneurs are country. Mr. Manav Subodh (Global by nature risk takers and sometimes Manager for Entrepreneurship & their ventures fail. Many successful Innovation, and Higher Education at entrepreneurs achieved their success Corporate Affairs Group, Intel) said that on third or fourth attempt to start a there is a need to create an ecosystem viable business.” She emphasized that where entrepreneurs are allowed to it is the entrepreneurs in clean energy, fail without being reprimanded. It is medicine, advanced manufacturing, necessary to realize that failures are information technology, robotics, bound to happen but one must look at nanotechnologies and other fields who a failed entrepreneur as an experienced will build the new industries of the 21st entrepreneur. He said that startups will century, and solve some of our toughest come and go but entrepreneurs will stay. global challenges. She added that as the Hence, one must build a relationship world becomes more interconnected, with the individual entrepreneur because and more countries become knowledge- he will have many more innovative ideas based economies, it is no longer optional to explore and work on.
Text courtesy: FICCI Media Division http://www.ficci.com/past-Events-page.asp?evid=21727
40 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 41 Leadership of Women in Science and Technology
he Indo-U.S. Science was attended by women leaders from and Technology Forum Federal Agencies, Academia and a bi-national initiative to support Fund, Department of Science Tin partnership with the Industry. commercialization of jointly and Technology to support new Department of Science and Captain Williams received her developed innovative technologies innovations that strengthen early- Technology (Govt. of India) and commission as an Ensign in the with social impact, awarded eight grade reading as well as increase the Embassy of the United States of United States Navy in May 1987. winners and two young entrepreneurs access to clean and affordable energy, America, organized a discussion on She was designated a Naval Aviator from its second and third calls for safe drinking water, quality health “Women in Science and Engineering” in July 1989. Selected by NASA in proposals. The winners will each care, and a nutritious food supply to with Sunita Williams (NASA June 1998, she reported for training receive up to INR 2.5 crores and the those most in need. Out of over 1,400 Astronaut) at Fulbright House, New in August 1998. Astronaut Candidate entrepreneurs will together receive applications in the first round, nine Delhi on 1st April 2013. The Open Training included orientation approximately INR 14 lakhs. The awardees were announced with the Discussion on Issues of Leadership briefings and tours, numerous Millennium Alliance is a partnership award amount totaling approximately of Women in Science & Engineering scientific and technical briefings, between USAID, FICCI, and INR 8.9 crores. was moderated by Dr. Vinita Sharma intensive instruction in shuttle and India’s Technology Development (Advisor, Department of Science International Space Station systems, & Technology, Govt. of India) and Text Courtesy: U.S. Embassy New Delhi Full text can be accessed at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/pr130624.html
42 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 43 physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. Following a period of training and evaluation, Williams worked in Moscow with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the space station and with the first Expedition Crew. Following the return of Expedition 1, Williams worked within the Robotics branch on the station’s Robotic Arm and the follow- on Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator. As a NEEMO2 crew member, she lived underwater in the Aquarius habitat for 9 days. After her first flight, she served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. She then supported a long duration mission as Flight Engineer for Expedition 32 and International Space Station Commander for Expedition Visitation 33. Williams has spent a total of 322 days in space on two Programs missions; she ranks sixth on the all-time U.S. endurance list and second all-time for a female. With 50 hours 40 minutes, she also holds the record total cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut.
44 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Indo-US Research Fellowships
n an effort to augment scientific excellence Iin emerging areas of science and technology, IUSSTF announced the fifth batch of Indo- US Research Fellowships Contact Person awarded to outstanding Smriti Trikha young researchers from Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi India below the age of E-mail: [email protected] 40, to carry out research in frontier areas of science and technology (DST), Government of India. at a leading institution in the The fellowship will allow the United States. This fellowship awardees to spend between 3 is aimed to introduce Indian to 12 months in any premier scientists and engineers from host institution in USA and will leading academic institutions cover monthly stipend, return and laboratories, in the early air-fare, preparatory allowances, stages of their careers, to conference allowances, etc. research opportunities in the US thereby helping to forge long- The areas covered under the term collaborative relationships fellowship include atmospheric and linkages between the and earth sciences; chemical scientific communities of the sciences; engineering two nations. sciences; life sciences; medical sciences; mathematical and This prestigious fellowship computational sciences; and, scheme is implemented with physical sciences. funding support from the Science and Engineering Research Board The following 45 Indian (SERB) of the Department researchers were chosen for the of Science and Technology 2013 awards :
Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 47 Indian Researcher US Host Subject Area Indian Researcher US Host Subject Area A. Vanniarajan Arupa Ganguly Retinoblastoma genetics Madhurima Jana Alexander D. MacKerell Jr. Computer simulation of biomolecules Aravind Medical Research University of Pennsylvenia National Institute of Technology University of Maryland Foundation, Chennai Philadelphia Rourkela Amit Sethi Peter Gann Application of machine learning Madhusudan Reddy Nandineni Arthur Eisenberg Human forensic DNA profiling Indian Institute of Technology, University of Illinois at Chicago and image processing to the study Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and University of North Texas Health Guwahati of prostate cancer risk assessment Diagnostics, Hyderabad Science Center, Fort Worth and treatment responce using Manas Kumar Dalai T. C. Chiang Experimental condensed matter morphmetry of histological images CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana- physics Ankhi Roy Moskov Amaryan Experimental hadron physics New Delhi Champaign Indian Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk Mani Bhushan Lorenz T. Biegler Efficient decentralized constrained Indore Indian Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University state estimation Arup Kumar Nandi, CSIR-Central Robert G. Landers Manufacturing Mumbai Pittsburgh Mechanical Engineering Research Missouri University of Science and Manish Tiwari Syee Weldeab Palaeoclimatology and Institute, Durgapur Technology, Rolla National Centre for Antarctic & University of California Santa Palaeoceanography Ashutosh Tiwari, Translational Anindya Bagchi Molecular biology Ocean Research, Goa Barbara Health Science & Technology Masonic Cancer Center, University of Manjusha V. Shelke P. M. Ajayan Synthesis of functional nanomaterials Institute, Gurgaon Minnesota, Minneapolis CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Rice University, Houston and hybrid devices for electrochemical B. Parameswari, Sugarcane Breeding S.P. Dinesh Kumar Virus induced gene silencing Pune charge storage Institute, Coimbatore University of California, Davis Nripen Chanda Michael J and Fabrication of micro/nano devices Bapurao B. Shingate Larry E. Overman Organic synthesis CSIR-Central Mechanical Sharon R. Bukstein University of (e.g. sensors, actuators, drug delivery Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar University of California Engineering Research Institute, Missouri-Columbia systems) for biomedical application Marathwada University, Aurangabad Irvine Durgapur Bilal Ahmad Bhat Salvatore D. Lepore Total synthesis of natural products Parimal Acharjee Sukumar Brahma and Intelligent control and protection of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Florida Atlantic University Boca National Institute of Technology, Wenxin Liu smart grid Medicine, Srinagar Raton Durgapur New Mexico State University Las Bireswar Das Eric Allender Computational complexity theory Cruces Indian Institute of Technology, Rutgers University Patri Venkata Srilakshmi Kaushal Rege Bio-organic Chemistry (Non-viral Gandhinagar New Jersey National Institute of Technology Arizona State University, Tempe gene delivery) Bittagopal Mondal Partha P. Mukherjee Water management in PEM fuel cell Warangal CSIR-Central Mechanical Texas A&M University, College Priyanka Ghosh Ronald Y.S. Park Soil dynamics and earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Station Indian Institute of Technology, University of Colorado, Boulder geotechnical engineering Durgapur Kanpur Debarati Paul Andy Ogram Molecular microbial ecology Rahul Swarup Sharma R D K Misra Bulk nanostructured materials for Amity Institute of Biotechnology, University of Florida, Gainesville with respect to bioremediation of Dayalbagh Educational Institute, University of Louisiana at Lafayette medical implants Noida contaminated environment Agra Dhanjit Kumar Das Vishwajit L. Nimgaonkar University Molecular genetics Rajarshi Pal Kapil Bharti Stem cell biology National Institute for Research in of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Manipal University, Manipal National Eye Institute, Bethesda Reproductive Health, Mumbai Rakesh Kumar Singh H L. Nakhasi Infectious tropical diseases Dibyendu Chakravarty P M Ajayan Synthesis of nanopowders using Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Centre for Biologics Evaluation and The International Advanced Research Rice University, Houston Induction plasma technique, spark Research, Bethesda Centre for Powder Metallurgy and plasma sintering of nanocomposites Ram Rup Sarkar Ilya Shmulevich Theoretical studies of biological New Materials, Hyderabad for structural applications CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle systems at different levels and scales Erathimmanna Bhoje Gowd Tadanori Koga Polymer science and technology Pune CSIR-National Institute for Stony Brook University Ramakrishnan Ganeshan Ganpati Ramanath Mesostructured nanothermoelectric Interdisciplinary Science and Stony Brook Birla Institute of Technology & Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute, materials for heat management and Technology Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus Troy, New York energy harvesting Himadri Sekhar Das LudmillaKolokolova Astrophysics Ranjan Kumar Jana Bruce C. Berndt Bessel function series Assam University, Silchar University of Maryland S.V National Institute of Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana- K. Tirumalesh Carol Kendall and Megan Young Contaminant hydrology and Surat Champaign Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Isotope Tracers Project, biogeochemistry in surface and Ranjan Tamuli Katherine A. Borkovich University Cell signaling in Neurosporacrassa Mumbai US Geological Survey groundwater systems Indian Institute of Technology, of California Riverside Konjengbam Darunkumar Singh Zdenek P. Bazant Northwestern Tubular structures Guwahati Indian Institute of Technology University Evanston Guwahati
48 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 49 Indian Researcher US Host Subject Area Sandeep Kumar Sharma Allen Paine Mills Jr. University of Fabrication and testing of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, California Riverside micro cavities for Bose-Einstein Mumbai condensation of positronium and annihilation gamma ray laser research Sanjay Yadav Levi J. Beverly Lung cancer and post-transcriptional CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology James Graham Brown Cancer Center, regulation of ubiquitin Research, Lucknow Louisville Indo-US Sanjib Kumar Panda Leslie M.Hicks Plant proteomics Assam University, Silchar Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St Louis Public Health Sarika Dwight German Central Nervous System diseases CSIR-Central Drug Research University of Texas, Dallas Institute, Lucknow Fellowships Seraj Ahmad Ansari Linfeng Rao Nuclear waste remediation Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Lawrence Berkeley National Mumbai Laboratory, Berkeley Shivakumar Angadi J. D. Miller Processing of rare earth minerals CSIR-Institute of Minerals and The University of Utah, Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar Salt Lake City n an effort to augment health research and education. Suboj Babykutty Rakesh K. Jain Role of nitric oxide in tumor scientific excellence in area Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum Harvard Medical School, Boston metastasis This prestigious fellowship of public health, the Indo-US Sudheesh Kumar Kattumannil, Hira L Koul Time series analysis I scheme was formally launched Science and Technology Forum Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Michigan State University, East in March 2012 and will allow (IUSSTF) in partnership with Lansing the awardees to spend between the Public Health Foundation Suresh Kumar Filip G. Kondev Experimental nuclear physics and 3 to 12 months in any premier of India launched the University of Delhi, New Delhi Argonne National Laboratory, nuclear data evaluation Indo-US host institution in USA and will Lemont Contact Person program Public Health Fellowships cover monthly stipend, return Uma Shankar Anne Martin Trehu Gas hydrates (marine seismic) supported by the Science and Smriti Trikha air-fare, preparatory allowances, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Oregon State University, Corvallis Engineering Research Board Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi conference allowances, etc. Institute, Hyderabad (SERB), Government of India. E-mail: [email protected] These fellowships will encourage Vivek Bindal Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti Robotic surgery and its application in The objective of this program is young and mid-career scientists Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi University of Illinois at Chicago gastrointestinal surgery to promote research and capacity to interact with the international building in the crucial area of public health community and public health. It is envisaged build long-term sustainable that these fellowships will help linkages. strengthen and expand the knowledge base of Indian public
50 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 51 Researchers from academia and laboratories chosen for the 2013 awards were: Indian Researcher Broad Area of Research US Host 1 Anitha Thippaiah Infectious disease epidemiology Mo Salman Indian Institute of Public Health, Colorado State Stanford India Hyderabad University 2 Susmita Chattopadhyay Health Economics Richard Gosselin Public Health Foundation of University of California Biodesign India, New Delhi San Francisco 3 Ramesh S Ve Epidemiology of glaucoma, Blindness, David S. Friedman Manipal University, visual impairment and age induced ocular Johns Hopkins Karnataka changes and Tele Optometric Practice and University Fellowships standardization of ophthalmic Image analyzing software 4 K. Chandrasekaran Spatial Statistics Koushik Ghosh National Institute for Research in University of Nevada, Tuberculosis Las Vegas 5 Prabhat Kumar Chand • Substance and drug abuse Sanjeev Arora National Institute of Mental • Experience in use of technology in and Miriam Komaromy Health and Neurosciences, providing care in underserved areas University of New Bangalore Mexico 6 Deepak Kumar Zoonotic diseases and food-borne infections Siddhartha Thakur College of Veterinary Science & North Carolina State he Stanford-India fellowship where SIB fellows Animal Husbandry R. K. Nagar, University (NCSU), Tripura Raleigh Biodesign (SIB) Fellowship will work with other young Tis a leadership training innovators with a combination program in biomedical of engineering, medical and technology innovation industry backgrounds. The initiated by the Department of team will examine clinical needs Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of within the Indian setting, identify Contact Persons India, and Stanford University opportunities for biomedical Balram Bhargava in partnership with IUSSTF. technology innovation with All India Institute of Medical Sciences The goal of this program is the goal to potentially invent, New Delhi to train the next generation prototype, develop and patent E-mail: [email protected] of biomedical technology one or more new technologies. innovators in India through a Fellows will also be mentored fellowship to be held jointly at by “real-world” experts from the Paul Gordon Yock Stanford University, the Indian biomedical technology, legal and Stanford University Medical Center Stanford Institute of Technology (IIT)- venture capital industries both E-mail: [email protected] Delhi, and, All India Institute of in the United States and India. Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New The program would also include Delhi. This program is directed exchange of faculty between the to candidates with advanced academic institutions. degrees in engineering, In September 2013, a biopsy medicine or business who tool for the liver has been could be potential innovators in licensed out of the Department early-stage development of new of Biotechnology on behalf biomedical technologies for of the SIB fellows from 2012 emerging healthcare needs. (Siraj Bagwan, Sid Joshi, Over the course of the one-year Jonathan Pillai and Jagdish program, approximately half of Chaturvedi are the inventors of the Fellows’ time will be spent BioScoop). In December 2013, in India and the other half at the 7th Annual Indian MedTech Stanford University. The core Summit was held in Delhi, with objective of the program is a more than 175 participants from multidisciplinary team-based India, Singapore, US, Australia
52 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 53 and elsewhere. Several licenses were an indigenous company that issued to SIB fellows for furthering develops and manufactures their devices: disposable devices in India. • Noxeno (foreign body removal • Thorashield (a device that makes Funding Company Khorana Projects t ry Indus from nose) was licensed out to thoracentesis safer) was licensed Research i a Innaccel, a medtech accelerator out to Mecmaan Healthcare Projects G enome based out of Bangalore. Private Limited, New Delhi. Program Patents Technology Market License Innovation Analytical A greemen t s R esearch S erv i ce
i a Business t vers it y • Parasafe (a kit to perform safer • Accufeed (an accurate guide to Ind G enome Ind i a Technology A greemen t s G enome Ind Funding India paracentesis) was licensed nasogastric feeding) was licensed Technology M arke U n i St ar t -ups B i o t echnology out to Mecmaan Healthcare out to Mecmaan Healthcare M arke t Research Market
Products ti Innova on Private Limited, New Delhi, Private Limited, New Delhi. Service
Transfer Course Intellectual PropertyPatents G enome Business Analytical Four outstanding individuals were selected for the 2014 SIB Fellowship: Patents United StProjecattses Transfer Company License t M arke Funding Projects Indus t ry
he Department of managing technology in its Biotechnology (DBT), journey from the laboratory to TGovt. of India, the marketplace through a series University of Wisconsin- of pedagogical lectures, round Madison (UW) and the Indo- table discussions, case studies, US Science and Technology and site visits. The course would Deevish N. Dinakar Neeraj Kumar Forum (IUSSTF) partnered to include some of the following with a background in Medicine and Surgery with a background in Product Design Contact Persons support the Technology Transfer specific aspects: structuring Shailja Gupta Course under the aegis of the the research environment to Department of Biotechnology prestigious Khorana Program facilitate commercialization Govt. of India named in honor of Dr. Har while at the same time not E-mail: [email protected] Gobind Khorana, who won the compromising the scientific Nobel Prize in 1968 for his work process; entrepreneurship Aseem Z. Ansari at the interface of Chemistry business education; Department of Biochemistry and Biology while a member of management of conflict of University of Wisconsin-Madison E-mail: [email protected] the UW faculty. interest; patenting – disclosure, screening, filing and defending The Technology Transfer patents; marketing and licensing Nishritha Bopana Course is specially designed Pranav Chopra Sohail Gupta new technologies; venture Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi as an intensive two-week with a background in Industrial Design with a background in Biochemical Engineering E-mail: [email protected] capital – raising funds, selecting program at UW-Madison, Manufacture and Management and Biotechnology investments, mentoring new aimed to provide participants companies, etc. with significant insight into
54 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 55 The following 17 candidates participated in the Technology Transfer Course in 2013: Name Name Vinita Jindal Rajan Sharma American 1 Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance 10 ICAR-National Dairy Council (BIRAC), New Delhi Research Institute, Karnal Society for Ankkur Goel Prasanna Belur Devarabhatta 2 Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics 11 National Institute of Technology Karnataka (CDFD), Hyderabad (NITK), Surathkal Microbiology (ASM) - Hajimalang Husensab Pattekhan Aruna 3 CSIR-Central Food Technological Research 12 TIFAC, New Delhi Institute, Mysore IUSSTF Microbiology
Sanjay Kumar Koustubh Panda 4 CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and 13 Visiting Professorships University of Calcutta Aromatic Plants, CIMAP, Lucknow
Jyoti Yadav Meenakshi Munshi CSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative 14 5 Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India Biology (IGIB), Under an arrangement between between India and the US on New Delhi IUSSTF and American Society issues of global concern. Up to Sundeep Sarin for Microbiology (ASM), Anil Sood 15 eight professorships are offered 6 CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India the Indo-US Professorship per program year. Technology, Palampur H.P Awards in Microbiology were instituted in 2003 with the aim The following visitations were Dhananjay Kumar Tiwari Nitin Shukla Tiwari 16 awarded in 2013-14: 7 Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India to foster scientific cooperation, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune Contact Persons education, training and capacity Daniel O’Sullivan from Todd Peterson building at individual and University of Minnesota, Food Daman Saluja Kakali Dey Dasgupta institutional levels through Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical 17 American Society for Microbiology Science and Nutrition, St Paul, 8 Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India Research, Washington DC exchange visitation. The ASM- MN, was awarded the Teaching E-mail: [email protected] University of Delhi IUSSTF Visiting Professorships Professorship to deliver a course award is administered parallel on RNAseq and functional analysis Rabindra Prasad Singh Smriti Trikha with the ASM International of probiotic bifidobacteria at CSIR- 9 ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Indo-US S&T Forum Professorship Program. Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh New Delhi Central Food Technological E-mail: [email protected] The program enables: Research Institute, India which • Microbiologists in India and was hosted by Prakash Halami. the United States to visit Jamboor Vishwanatha from institutions in the two countries University of North Texas to teach and interactive short course on a topic in any of Health, Science Center the microbiological disciplines was awarded Teaching (Teaching Professor) Professorship to deliver a • Microbiologists in India to course on Bacterial Antibiotic participate in an interactive Resistance and Nanotechnologies, short course on a topic in any of at the Dayananda Sagar the microbiological disciplines, College of Engineering, India or conduct a research project and was hosted by Rajeshwari in partnership with colleague in a research facility in the US Narayanappa. (Research Professor) Kalia Vipin from CSIR- Open to ASM members and Institute of Genomics and non-members alike, the program Integrative Biology, Delhi was seeks to broaden collaboration awarded Research Professorship
56 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 57 to pursue the research project titled lignocellulosics-based bioprocesses at the Quorum sensing in aid of anticancer University of Cincinnati, USA with therapy with Thomas Wood at Jagjit Yadav. Pennsylvania State University, USA. Rajesh Sani from South Dakota Pratyoosh Shukla from M.D. School of Mines and Technology, University, Rohtak was awarded a was awarded Professorship to deliver Research Professorship to conduct a short course entitled Anaerobic IUSSTF-American the research project Functional genomic Microbial Processes for Energy and characterization of novel fungal P450 Environment at Guru Nanak Dev oxygenases from basidiomycete genomes University, India and was hosted by Physical Society with enhanced potential for use in Chadha Bhupinder. (APS) Fellowshipss
USSTF and the American Visiting Professorship is to Physical Society (APS) enable physicists to build strong Ihave partnered to support collaborative linkages in physics a bilateral exchange program education and research between that includes the Indo-US the scientific communities of Professorship Awards in Physics US and India. which will be awarded to The Physics Student Visitation Contact Persons faculties and scientists from Program aims to mostly India and USA every year to Amy K. Flatten support graduate student travel teach short courses or provide The American Physical Society to India by US citizens, while physics lecture series and, College Park, Maryland still enabling some students E-mail: [email protected] the Indo-US Physics Student of Indian citizenship to travel for student Visitation Program to the United States. These exchange every year. The Nishritha Bopana studentship programs will help program was launched in 2008. Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi to build early career relationship E-mail: [email protected] ‘Professorships and between the next generation of Lectureships’ consist of 1-2 physicists from US and India. week courses or a lecture The students can apply for this series delivered at an Indian visitation program to attend or US institution. Recipients a short-course, or summer are selected by a joint APS- training; to visit with a professor IUSSTF review committee, in his/her field of study; to with a call for proposals twice work temporarily in a lab; or each year. Awards are typically for any other opportunity that used for travel, materials and the student/professor feels is expenses associated with course worthy of support. delivery. The objective of the
58 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 59 The recipients of the 2013 Indo-US Professorship Awards in Physics are: Name and Institution Host Research area Michael Weinert Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Lectures and hands-on session on University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Advanced Scientific Research, Dirac materials—graphene and Bangalore topological insulators Bhaskara V. Kumaran University of Florida Lecture series on condensed matter Department of Science & Technology Indian Institute of Science, sciences in physics and the PIRE Govt. of India Bangalore center for multiphase flows in Advanced Chemical Engineering
The recipients of the 2012 Indo-US Physics Students Visitation program are: Solar Energy Bhaskara Advanced Name and Institution Host Research area Adam Iaizzi Tata Institute of Fundamental Properties of doped valence-bond Fellowship Boston University, Boston Research, Mumbai solids FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Anshuman Das Massachusetts Institute of New methods in imaging Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Technology Program Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore Recognizing that climate change, clean and efficient energy and environmental protection are among Arya Dhar Colorado School of Mines Matrix product states methods the biggest challenges facing India and the United States; the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India through its Solar Energy Research Initiative, and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Forum (IUSSTF) are committed to tackling these issues by building capacity in these frontier areas. Bangalore ecognizing that climate issues by building capacity in To nurture future innovators and thought leaders in Solar Energy, the Bhaskara Advanced Solar Energy Benjamin Legum Institute of Science Education and Tribology and heat transfer of carbon change, clean(BASE) F ellowshipand Pr ogramthese - a dynamic frontier and tr ansareas.formativ e program has been developed to foster efficient energycontacts betw eenand studen ts and scientists from India and the United States. Drexel University, Philadelphia Research, Kolkata nanoparticulates R To nurture future innovators and environmental protection are Karan Jani Tata Institute of Fundamental ICTS Program on Numerical Eligibility thought leaders in PSolarlace o fEnergy, work among the biggest challenges Georgia Institute of Technology, Research, Mumbai Relativity For Student Internships the Bhaskara AdvancedThe applicant should Solar have a let ter of acceptance from a Atlanta facing India and ¡theIndian citizUnitedens currently pursuing a Ph.D. on a full-time reputed U.S. scientific/technological institution where Contact Person basis in the field of Solar EnerEnergygy in a public-funded (BASE) R&D he/ she Fellowshipwould undertake the research work under the Krista Limmer International Workshop on Materials Materials Modeling and Simulation States; the Departmentlab/S&T institution of (non-priv ate) / recognized academic Fellowship/Internship. institute / university / collegeProgram in India; - a dynamic and Missouri University of Science and Modeling and Simulation, Bhilai Nishritha Bopana Science and Technology, Govt. The Program is envisaged to: ¡Age: Upto 32 years as on 31 Decembertransformative 2013 program has Technology, Rolla Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi of India throughF or Fellowshipits sSolar ¡provide an opportunity to the best and brightest Indian E-mail: [email protected] ¡Indian citizens with a Ph.D.been in Science, Engineeringdeveloped or studentsto and scientisfosterts to g ain exposure and access to Sudeep Ghosh Old Dominion University, Norfolk Analysis of CLAS data Energy Research TechnologyInitiative, world class research facilities in leading U.S. institutions; contacts between students and Indian Institute of Technology and the Indo-U.S. ¡ScienceApplicants mus andt provide proof of independent research ¡promote research and capacity building in the frontline Indore work in internationally recognizscientistsed academic journals. from Indiaarea of Solarand Energy; the Technology Forum¡ Open(IUSSTF) only to applican ts working in the field of Solar ¡encourage and motivate outstanding students to take up Energy United States. research as a career path; and are committed to tackling¡Age: Upto 40these years as on 31 December 2013 ¡pave the way for the next generation scientists and ¡A permanent position in a public funded R&D lab/S&T technologists from India to interact with American peers, institution (non-private)/recognized universities/ thus helping to build long-term R&D linkages and colleges in India. Student Internships 2014 collaborations. Broad categories for Research (indicative list) Fellowship/Internship includes Advisor¡Solar Photovolt andaics Host ¡Monthly Stipend ¡ Air-fare Name Parent institution ¡Solar Thermal Subject¡Conting Areaency allowance ¡GridUniversity Interaction including Smart Grids 1. Anima Ghosh Indian School of Mines, Arunava¡Energy Gupta, storage Structural andD opticaluration ¡System Development and Integration ¡Internship: Minimum 3 months and upto 6 months Dhanbad University¡Other (an yof other Alabama, related area in Solar Energy)properties of solar cell Tuscaloosa materials ¡Fellowship: Minimum 3 months and upto 12 months 2. Aparajita Indian Association for the Juejun Hu, SUBMISSIONProcessing DEADLINE: and 20 DECEMBER 2013 Mandal Cultivation of Science, University of Delaware, Forcharacterization program information con oftact: noble Kolkata Newark lightDr. Nishrithatrapping Bopana structures Indo-US Sciencefor ultimate and Technology light trapping Forum Fulbright House, 12, Hailey Road,enhancement New Delhi - 110001, in next E-mai l: [email protected] Website:generation www.indousstf solar cells .org 3. Arun Kumar Indian Institute of Rajit Gadh, Grid Energy Solar energy integration and Verma Technology, Delhi Research Center, Los electrical vehicle interaction Angeles to smart grid 4. Balaji K. Anna University, Chennai Muthusamy Swami and Thermodynamic analysis of Richard A. Raustad, Florida new working pair for solar Solar Energy Center absorption heat pump
60 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 61 Advisor and Host Advisor and Host Name Parent institution Subject Area Name Parent institution Subject Area University University 5. Chalapathi Sri Venkateswara University, Michael A. Scarpullaz, Preparation of high quality 7. Sudhakar Indian Institute of Mihir Sen, Thermal and flow interaction
Uppala Tirupati University of Utah Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin Subudhi Technology, Roorkee University of Notre Dame, in the series and parallel films by a two-stage process Notre Dame networking of solar thermal and fabrication of a solar cell collectors 6. N. Madurai Kamaraj K. Mahendra Sunkara, Investigation on multiferroic 8. Suhash Indian Institute of David Ginley, Pulsed electrodeposition Rajamanickam University, Madurai University of Louisville, nanomaterials for dye Ranjan Dey Technology, Hyderabad National Renewable Energy development of
Louisville sensitized solar cell Laboratory, Golden Cu2ZnSn(S/Se)4 p-layer application for solar photovoltaic 7. Rakesh Kumar Indian Institute of Joel W. Ager III, Lawrence Study of defect passivation applications Technology, Delhi Berkeley National properties of graphene over- 9. Suneet Singh Indian Institute of Prashant K. Jain, Solar and nuclear energy Laboratory, Berkeley layer on silicon solar cells Technology, Bombay Oak Ridge National integration concepts for 8. Rajeev Kumar Indian Institute of Robert Hebner, University Smart energy management Laboratory, Oak Ridge dispatchable power and Chauhan Technology, Mandi of Texas, Austin system for DC micro-grid process heat 9. Saatviki Gupta Dayalbagh Educational Brian A. Korgel, University Synthesis and Institute, Agra of Texas, Austin characterization of nanorod heterojunctions for solar cell applications 10. Santanu Pradhan Indian Institute of Sean Shaheen, Studies on the methods of Technology, Kharagpur University of Colorado, enhancing the performance Boulder of nanostructured zinc oxide/conjugated polymer based solar cells 11. Sreekanth ARCI, Hyderabad Rakesh Agrawal, Purdue Performance evaluation Mandati University, West Lafayette of CIGS based solar cells fabricated by different techniques 12. Venu Sonti National Institute of Subhashish Bhattacharya, Multilevel inverter based Technology, Warangal North Carolina State grid connected PV systems University, Raleigh Fellowships 2014 Advisor and Host Name Parent institution Subject Area University 1. Muthukumar Indian Institute of D. Yogi Goswami, Design and performance Palanisamy Technology, Guwahati University of South Florida, predictions of high Tampa temperature large–scale thermal energy storage system for solar thermal power plant. 2. Nanda Gopal Kumaun University Nainital James T. McLeskey, Development of highly Sahoo Jr., Virginia Commonwealth efficient transparent University polymeric solar cell 3. Pratap Pathi CSIR - National Physical Rana Biswas, Light trapping enhancements Laboratory, Delhi Iowa State University, Ames in thinner c-Si solar cells 4. Ranjan Indian Institute of Olorunfemi Ojo, Dynamics and control of all Kumar Technology, Patna Tennessee Tech University, solar hybrid micro-grid Behera Cookeville 5. Sachin Jain National Institute of Jih-Sheng (Jason) High efficiency photovoltaic Technology, Warangal Lai, Virginia Polytechnic power conversion systems Institute and State University with energy storage 6. Subhendu CSIR- Central Pulickel M. Ajayan, Development of highly Kumar Panda Electrochemical Research Rice University, Houston efficient hybrid solar cells by Institute, Karaikudi incorporation of graphene nanostructures in quantum dot sensitized solar cells
62 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 63 Student Mentor Subject Area Barbara Kelso Klenke Ramanan Laxminarayan Medical Sciences (Public Health) University of Michigan Public Health Foundation of India, Delhi Research Jennifer Lynn Erchinger Prabhat Munshi Health Physics (Radiation Physics) Texas A&M University Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Internships in Mathew Paul Hutchinson Prasun Roy Neuroscience and Biomedical University of Michigan National Brain Research Center, Sciences Science and Manesar Sriram Srinivasan Niloy Ganguly Computer Sciences University of Nebraska, Omaha Indian Institute of Technology, Engineering Kharagpur Supriya Jalukar Mrinalini Puranik & Neurosciences (song initiation in University of Michigan Raghav Rajan Zebra Finches and using MatLab to IISER, Pune understand preparatory mechanism in song development) he Indo-US Science both the interns and their host and Technology Forum institutions. The result will be the Anna Borkowoska Akash Gulyani Chemical Engineering; supported Research development of joint efforts that University of Iowa National Center for Biological Pharmaceuticals and Innovative Drug T Delivery Methods Internships in Science and builds long-term collaboration Sciences, Bangalore Engineering (RISE) program and mutually beneficial Gautam Sankar Surya Ramana Athreya Ecology/ Conservation Biology provides unique opportunities professional relationships. University of Texas, Austin IISER, Pune for science, technology, Indian and American citizens Contact Person engineering and medical currently enrolled at a recognized students from the United States Lun Ou Alok Adholeya Agricultural Sciences (Post-Harvest Smriti Trikha institution of higher education TERI University, Delhi Technology) to undertake internships in University of Illinois at Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi pursuing Doctoral programs in Urbana-Champaign national laboratories, federal E-mail: [email protected] science, engineering, technology research centers, academic Ashwin Dalal Molecular & Cellular Biology and medical disciplines Rahul Harish Panchal research institutes, and private University of Illinois at Centre for DNA Fingerprinting are eligible to apply for the R & D laboratories in India. Urbana-Champaign and Diagnostics, Hyderabad internship. The internships Objectives of the internships will provide for monthly Stephen Gerlt Vivek S. Borkar Nuclear Engineering are to provide students on stipend, accommodation and University of Illinois at IIT Bombay, Mumbai (Non Proliferation) exposure to Indian S&T airfare. The RISE program Urbana-Champaign milieu, gain practical skills and was formally launched during develop collaborative networks. the IUSSTF Governing Board Internships are envisaged as a meeting in December 2008 and source of mutual cultural and was implemented from 2009. professional enrichment for
The following 12 students interned in India under the RISE Program in 2012-2013:
Student Mentor Subject Area Alex Burford P. Dasaradhi Palakodetti Biochemistry University of Wisconsin – Madison inStem, National Center for (Autism Syndrome Disorders) Biological Sciences, Bangalore
Alexa Renae Wilson Sarala Khaling Environmental Biology Univ. of Massachusetts Boston ATREE, Darjeeling
64 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 65 R A Graduate O N H A Research Khorana K Opportunities Program Worldwide for Scholars P Program R M O G R A he Khorana Program for The Khorana Program is Scholars is a tripartite envisaged to: he Graduate Research talented American students arrangement between the Opportunities Worldwide to research laboratories and T • Provide encouragement to Department of Biotechnology, (GROW) program is a academic institutions in India young scholars to undertake T Govt. of India, the University of R&D partnership between the Science to build a deeper appreciation Wisconsin-Madison [representing and Engineering Research of the culture of innovation • Enable students to carry out partner US Universities], and the research at a premier University Board (SERB), Department of and long-standing tradition of Contact Person Contact Persons in the United States Science and Technology (DST), scientific enquiry in India. Indo-US Science and Technology Forum in order to nurture contacts Nishritha Bopana Govt. of India and the National Aseem Z. Ansari • Transform research into In his statement Dr. between students in the field of societal benefits Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi Science Foundation (NSF) to Department of Biochemistry Chandrashekar said “The E-mail: [email protected] provide NSF Graduate Research University of Wisconsin-Madison biotechnology and biomedical • Build a seamless scientific GROW Initiative provides an E-mail: [email protected] Fellows with opportunities sciences from India and the US. community between India and excellent opportunity to introduce to enhance their professional The program is named in honor the United States talented American students to of Dr. Har Gobind Khorana who development through research Keeping in mind the success the S&T landscape and the long- Nishritha Bopana won the Nobel Prize for his work collaborations at top-caliber of the program so far and the standing tradition of scientific Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi at the interface of chemistry and science and engineering research E-mail: [email protected] large pool of quality applicants inquiry in India. We also hope biology in 1968 while a member sites in India. National Science available, we have expanded that the program helps foster long- of the UW faculty. Foundation (NSF) Acting the Khorana Program to term interactions between the Director Cora B. Marrett signed several premier US Universities next generation of innovators and The Khorana Program is a this new research partnership (University of Iowa, University thought leaders from India and the summer internship program with Dr. T.K. Chandrashekar, of Illinois, University of United States and contributes to the for Indian students (currently Secretary of the Science and Michigan, University of prosperity of not only our respective enrolled in B. Tech., M. Tech. and Engineering Research Board Minnesota, Michigan State countries but the world at large.” M. Sc. programs in Biotechnology (SERB). The objectives of University, Indiana University, Dr. Cora Marrett remarked, and allied areas) to undertake a the program are to promote Georgetown University, MIT “GROW fosters increased research internship at UW and research and capacity building and University of Wisconsin- collaboration between Graduate partner U.S. Universities for a in frontline areas of science and Madison) to enable a larger Research Fellows and their peers period of 10-12 weeks. Out of a technology; to pave way for the number of students to gain a around the world. Connecting them pool of more than 500 applicants next generation scientists and transformative international to leading scientists and research each year, 12 students interned technologists from the United experience. In 2013, the infrastructure outside of the U.S. under the Khorana program in States to interact with their following 29 students were will help them engage successfully in 2009 and 15 students were selected Indian peers, thus helping to selected under this program: the global research enterprise.” in 2010 and 2011 respectively. build long-term R&D linkages and collaborations; and, to bring
66 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 67 Advisor and Host Name Parent institution Subject Area University 17. Mohanish Borana University of Mumbai- Mark D. Distefano, Protein prenylation and Department Of Atomic University of Minnesota protein labeling of Hcp1 and Energy- Centre for Excellence CNTF proteins in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE- CEBS), Mumbai 18. Mohd Tayyab Adil Indian Institute of Meelad Dawlaty, Epigenetics of stem cells and Technology, Roorkee Massachusetts Institute of development Technology 19. Munish Chhabra Delhi Technological Heedeok Hong, FtSH purification, expression Advisor and Host University Michigan State University and characterization Name Parent institution Subject Area University 20. Ovia Margaret Bannari Amman Institute of Ruma Banerjee, Enzymology 1. Abhishek Persad Indian Institute of Harkamal Walia, University Computational modeling of Thirukkumaran Technology, Tamil Nadu University of Michigan Technology, Delhi of Nebraska, Lincoln biological systems 21. Raghavendran Indian Institute of Jeffrey P. Mower, Comparative genomics of 2. Adithie Maddaala SRM University, Chennai Chi Zhang, University of Bioinformatics and Partha Technology, Madras University of Nebraska- chloroplast genomes within Nebraska – Lincoln computational biology Lincoln the plant genus Plantago 22. 3. Aditi Bhat A.C. College of Technology, Roger Innes, Indiana Molecular plant-microbe Ria Mishra National Institute of James Glazier, Effects of arsenic exposure Anna University, Chennai University interactions Technology, Durgapur Indiana University on regulation of angiogenesis by VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 in 4. Animesh Anand Indian Institute of Science Charles Brenner, Non-enzymatic acetylation of Zebrafish Mishra Education and Research, University of Iowa proteins 23. Bhopal Rishika Vij National Dairy Research Steven Singer, Mucosal immune responses Institute, Karnal Georgetown University 5. Anjaney Kothari Indian Institute of Adam C. Martin, Developmental biomechanics 24. Technology, Kanpur Massachusetts Institute of Samadrita St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata Supriya G. Prasanth, Cell cycle regulation and Technology Bhattacharyya University of Illinois at chromatin organization Urbana-Champaign 6. Annie Rathore Indian Institute of Michael K. Schultz, Small molecule oxidative 25 Technology, Roorkee University of Iowa metabolism inhibitors for Sameer Jayanth Dixit Indian Institute of Aseem Ansari, Identification of affinity levels metastatic melanoma therapy Technology, Guwahati University of Wisconsin- of various DNA motifs to Madison nuclear receptor heterodimer 7. Archita Sanjeev VIT University, Vellore C. Cheng Kao, Innate immunity; cell complexes Agrawal Indiana University signaling; antiviral responses 26. Sanjibita Mishra National Institute of Sandra Rodriguez Zas, Bioinformatics and statistical 8. Avantika Gupta Birla Institute of Technology Chandan Kumar, Gene fusions in prostate Technology, Rourkela University of Illinois at genomics and Science, Pilani University of Michigan cancer Urbana-Champaign 9. Babukrishna National Institute of Kannanganattu V. Prasanth, Noncoding RNAs and gene 27. Shachi Mittal Indian Institute of Rohit Bhargava, Classification of breast tissue Maniyadath Technology, Calicut University of Illinois at regulation Technology, Delhi University of Illinois at using FT-IR imaging tools Urbana-Champaign Urbana-Champaign and random forests algorithm 10. Dennis Robert Indian Institute of Mari Palta, University of Biostatistics and for histopathology Technology, Kharagpur Wisconsin-Madison Epidemiology 28. Srishti Batra Indian Institute of Science William Pomerantz, Developing a new biophysical 11. Eddy Hudson Indian Institute of Xin Huang, University of Systems Neuroscience Education and Research, University of Minnesota NMR tool to study protein- Technology, Madras Wisconsin-Madison Mohali protein interactions 12. Kaivalya Shantanu Institute of Bioinformatics Harkamal Walia, University Bioinformatic analysis of 29. Surabhi Balagopal National Institute of M. Paranjape, Electrochemistry Shevade and Biotechnology, of Nebraska, Lincoln microarray and RNA seq Nair Technology, Raipur Georgetown University University of Pune dataset in rice 13. Kanika Khanna Indian Institute of Aseem Ansari, University of Exploring DNA-binding Technology, Delhi Wisconsin-Madison preferences of human transcription factors using CSI-Seq 14. Kanupriya Tiwari Indian Institute of Claire Vieille, Bacterial genetic engineering Technology, Banaras Hindu Michigan State University University, Varanasi 15. Kanwal Puneet Kaur Indian Institute of Science Andrew C. Zelhof, Photoreceptor biology Education and Research, Indiana University Mohali 16. Mainak Mustafi Indian Institute of Heedeok Hong, Biophysical Chemistry Technology, Kharagpur Michigan State University
68 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 69 VITERBI-INDIA PROGRAM The Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California (USC) and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) have partnered to support the Viterbi-India Program. This program will provide opportunities to Indian students to undertake a research internship at the Viterbi School of Engineering in summer 2013 for a period of 8 weeks. students (pursuing Computer any recognized Indian Institution Sciences, Electrical Engineering to compete for the 20 internships and Computational Sciences) from available each year.
The following twenty outstanding students have been selected for the program year 2014: Mentor Name Parent Institution Subject Area Viterbi – India at USC 1. Aditya Kamath Indian Institute of Technology - Minlan Yu Implementation of OpenSketch in Hyderabad OpenVSwitch Program 2. Ajay Singhvi Birla Institute of Technology & Science Peter Beerel Design and analysis of delay (BITS) - Pilani elements for 2-phase bundled data asynchronous circuits 3. Apratim Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi Urbashi Mitra Thread count analysis of paintings Mukhopadhyay using 2-D discrete wavelets 4. Ashwini Pokle Birla Institute of Technology & Science Yan Liu Robust stochastic optimization (BITS) - Pilani 5. Asim Anand Indian Institute of Technology - Richard Leahy Cortical changes in autism Kharagpur The Viterbi-Indian important Program aspect of at USC for summer research.Eligibility: 6. Dheeraj M N Indian Institute of Technology - Madras Todd Brun Quantum walks over graphs engineering education The goals were to provide 7. Dhruva Kartik Indian Institute of Technology - Urbashi Mitra Sampling and navigation cost for is envisaged to: • Indian students currently pursuingMokhasunavisu a Bachelors Guwahatior target localization using mobile in the 21st century an excellent opportunity for A Masters degree at recognized institutions of higher agents • Provideis anto opportunityprovide the experience to the best scholars and brightestto encourage them 8. Goutham Ezhilarasu Anna University, Chennai Stephen Cronin Analyzing the behavior Indianof students international to gain research exposure to to and pursue access research, to interacteducation in India. (optical and electrical) of 2D nanocrystals of MoS2 when world classyoung researchscholars and facilities a practical in the with Viterbi students School. from all •overOpen the to students of Electrical Engineering, way to achieve this would be world, and foster education and placed on different substrates • Promote research and capacity building in Computer Sciences and Computational Sciences. and also fabricating opto- Contact Persons to foster their participation research collaborations with electronic devices based on these Cauligi Raghavendra frontlinein areasinternational of engineering research and technology.students and faculty between characteristics programs. Such initiatives US and India. Both students USC Viterbi School of Engineering• Encourage outstanding students to take up 9. Radhika Natesh National Institute of Technology - Paul Bogdan SPH modelling; Analysis of social University of Southern California would offer them an array of from Indian institutionsScholarship and includes: Surathkal interaction of Shewanella bacteria E-mail: [email protected] researchexperiences as a career. both academic USC faculty participating in using image processing • Pave theand waysocial for that the wouldnext generationhelp this program engineers have expressed• Stipend 10. Raktim Pal National Institute of Technology - Trichy Bhaskar SINR optimization with mobile Krishnamachari robotic nodes Nishritha Bopana them gain a global perspective strong sentiments about how from India to interact with American peers, thus • Airfare 11. Ramnandan Indian Institute of Technology - Madras Craig Knoblock Assigning semantic labels to data Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi and prove invaluable in their this program has been valuable E-mail: [email protected] help building long-term R&D linkages and Sirumangalam sources professional careers through to all concerned stakeholders. collaborations. Krishnamurthy a cross-cultural exposure. To The Indian students who came 12. Ranjan Anantharaman Birla Institute of Technology & Science Murali Speeding up massive graph address this need for human to USC were typically toppers (BITS) - Hyderabad Annavaram applications on GPGPU 13. Sanjana Singireddy Birla Institute of Technology & Science Mike Chen Linearization techniques in voltage resourceFor developmentapplication formatand from and high-ranking guidelines Institutions please visit: capacity building in the field of in India and were able to www.indousstf.org (BITS) - Hyderabad controlled oscillator based analog- computer sciences and electrical conduct outstanding research in to-digital converters 14. Shrihari Amarendra Indian Institute of Technology - Gerard Medioni Structured sampling for 3D face engineering, IUSSTF and the a short amount of time. Keeping Bhatt Khargpur recognition Viterbi School of EngineeringFor in program view the success information of the program contact: 15. Sidharth Gupta Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur Kristina Lerman The friendship paradox in egonets at the University of Southern thus Dr.far and Nishritha the interest Bopanait has 16. Soham Rajesh Phade Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay Rahul Jain Freeway traffic modelling using California partneredIndo-US to support Science created among and Indian Technology students in Forum (IUSSTF) queueing theory the Viterbi-India Program just two years; the program has 17. Sudipta Biswas Indian Institute of Technology - Hossein Improving isolation in wireless 12, Haileybetween Road, Indian Fulbright institutions House, been extendedNew Deland hi-110001,expanded to E-mail: [email protected] Hashemi transceivers capable of simultaneous and the Viterbi School of enable a larger number of Indian transmit and receive Engineering. 18. Sukanya Vijaysing Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay Alice Parker Circuit implementation of neural students to gain a transformative Patil network responsible for locomotion international experience which Under the Viterbi-IndiaAPPLICATION Program, DEADLINE: 15 November 2012 in C. elegans each summer for the last two is expected to also provide the 19. Vaibhav Gandhi Indian Institute of Technology - Viktor Prasanna High-performance online traffic years, 10 students from top motivation to pursue scientific Gandhinagar classification using FPGA This would be 20. Vaishnavh Nagarajan Indian Institute of Technology - Madras Milind Tambe Multi-agent team playing for Indian Institutions were hosted careers. accomplished by allowing computer go domain
70 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 71 world class research facilities in U.S. India to interact at an equal footing academia and labs; with American peers, thus helping to • promote research and capacity build long-term R&D linkages and building in frontline areas of science collaborations; and, and technology; • bring talented American students to • encourage and motivate outstanding research laboratories in India to build students to take up research as a a deeper appreciation of the culture career path; of innovation and long-standing S.N. Bose tradition of scientific enquiry in • pave the way for the next generation India. scientists and technologists from
Scholars In 2014, the following 43 students were selected under this program: Program Name Parent Institution Subject Area Mentor at USC 1 Aadithya Indian Institute of Fabrication of a continuous Noah Malmstad, Kannan Technology-Kharagpur microfluidic vesicle swelling University of Southern device and the study of shear on California giant unilamellar vesicles 2 Abhinav Gupta Indian Institute of Deterministic and stochastic Pierre F.J. Lermusiaux, Technology-Kanpur modelling of coupled ocean Massachusetts Institute of o address the need physics has been studied ever biological-physical dynamics Technology for human resource since. The class of particles that 3 Aiman Khan Indian Institute of Manipulating uniformity of Jim Freericks, Tdevelopment and obey Bose-Einstein statistics, Technology-Roorkee spatial and spin-spin interactions Georgetown University capacity building in science and Bosons, was named after him. using anharmonic trapping and technology, the Department The inception of this program triangular rotating wall of Science and Technology, would be particularly opportune 4 Akshit Indian Institute of Assessment of confidence level Lalita Udpa, Govt. of India, the Indo-U.S. as it would coincide with the Budhraja Technology-Roorkee that is attached to each flaw Michigan State University classification in auto analysis Contact Persons Science and Technology Forum discovery of the Higgs-Boson detection results (IUSSTF) and the University earlier this year at the Large Aseem Z. Ansari 5 Amol Mittal Indian Institute of Assigning semantic labels to Craig A. Knoblock, Department of Biochemistry of Wisconsin-Madison have Hadron Collider at CERN in Technology-Delhi data sources University of Southern University of Wisconsin-Madison partnered to develop a dynamic Switzerland. It would honor an California E-mail: [email protected] student exchange program Indian scientist’s fundamental 6 Anish Devendra Indian Institute of Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) of Pratim Biswas, Washington between Indian institutions and contribution to the completion Khandelwal Technology-Bombay cooking fuel alternatives in rural University in St. Louis Nishritha Bopana premier U.S. Universities led of the Standard Model of the India: utility and implications Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi by the University of Wisconsin Universe. 7 Arkopal Dutt Indian Institute of Adiabatic lapse rate in the Venus Sanjay S Limaye, University E-mail: [email protected] at Madison. This program is Technology-Bombay atmosphere of Wisconsin- Madison The S.N. Bose Scholars named the S.N. Bose Scholars 8 Ashna Bindra Indian Institute of Nanometer-scale structural Paul Voyles, Program will provide an Program after the late Prof. Technology-BHU relaxation in Pd82Si18 bulk University of Wisconsin- opportunity to Indian and U.S. Satyendra Nath Bose, a metallic glass Madison students (enrolled in Bachelors visionary Indian physicist best 9 Chaitanya Indian Institute of Electrical Engineering Parmesh Ramanathan, and Masters programs in Krishna Phani Technology-Patna University of Wisconsin- known for his work on quantum Atmospheric and Earth Sciences; Thota Madison mechanics in the early 1920s, Chemical Sciences; Engineering 10 Chinmay Indian Institute of Composite polymer gels for Sadhan Jane, providing the foundation for Sciences; Mathematical and Mangesh Saraf Technology-Roorkee energy application University of Akron Bose–Einstein statistics and the Computational Sciences; and, 11 Dinumol Indian Institutes of Single nanoparticle resolved Prashant Jain, University of theory of the Bose–Einstein Physical Sciences.) to undertake Devasia Science Education and heterogeneous catalysis Illinois-Urbana-Champaign condensate. A Fellow of the a research internship each Research-Trivandrum Royal Society, he was awarded summer for a period of 10-12 12 Gibran Ahmed National Institute of Calculations of van Der Waals Nicholas Kotov, India’s second highest civilian Khan Technology Karnataka forces between nanoparticles University of Michigan weeks in each other’s countries. award, the Padma Vibhushan 13 Guneet Singh Indian Institute of Implementation of image Kevin Eliceiri, University of in 1954 by the Government The broad objectives of the Mehta Technology-Jodhpur processing techniques for Wisconsin-Madison of India. He made important program would be to: collagen analysis in cancer research contributions to the field of • provide an opportunity to best quantum physics in the 1920s and brightest Indian students that changed how particle to gain exposure and access to
72 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 73 14 Hafeezul Indian Institute of Predicting the impact of a traffic Cyrus Shahabi, University of 33 Rohit Raj Indian Institute of Petro-physical models of a Priyank Jaiswal, Rahman Technology-Delhi incident in real-time Southern California Technology-Roorkee leachate plume Oklahoma State University Mohammad 34 Sahil Chhabra Indian Institute of Quantum Phenomena modelled Dirk - André Deckert, 15 Himanshu Indian School of Mines Coal processing / mineral Jan D. Miller, Technology-Kharagpur by interactions between many University of California- Gurnani Dhanbad beneficiation University of Utah classical worlds Davis 16 Hitesh Arora Indian Institute of Machine learning- neural Tomaso Poggio, MIT 35 Sai Sneha Indian Institute of Energy storage technology Surya Prakash and Prof. Technology-Guwahati decoding Juturu Technology-Madras Sri Nrayan, University of 17 Jophin George Indian Institute of Microfluidic centrifuging chip Zeta (Tak For) Yu, Southern California Joseph Technology-Hyderabad for blood cell separation University of Michigan 36 Sayan Kar Indian Institute of S-difluoromethylationof aryl Surya Prakash, 18 Kajari Bera Indian Institutes of Graphene liquid cells and their James John, Technology-Kanpur thiolsusing the Ruppert-Prakash University of Southern Science Education and characterization University of Minnesota reagent California Research-Bhopal 37 Shivali Goyal Indian Institute of Thin film block copolymer Venkat Ganesan, 19 Kunal Sharma Indian Institutes of Coupling of normal modes (two Hartmut Haeffner, Technology-Delhi morphology using Self- University of Texas at Austin Science Education and ions) via parametric resonance University of California, consistent field theory Research-Bhopal Berkeley 38 Siddharth Indian Institute of Machine learning for natural Dan Roth, University 20 Linta Joseph Indian Institutes of Quantum Computation Selim Shahriar, Venkata Ancha Technology-Guwahati language processing of Illinois at Urbana- Science Education and North Western University Champaign Research-Trivandrum 39 Srujan Singh Indian Institute of Developing optical biosensors Joseph Irudayaraj, 21 Manisit Das Indian Institute of Design of a high performance Joseph Irudayaraj, Technology-Kanpur Purdue University Technology-Kharagpur Surface enhanced Raman Purdue University 40 Vamsi Krishna Indian Institute of Decision support system Indrajeet Chaubey, Spectroscopy integrated Vema Technology-Madras for participatory watershed Purdue University lateral flow immunoassay for management biomolecular detection 41 Venkatavaradan Indian Institute of Fabrication of 3D solid network Pulickel M. Ajayan, 22 Md. Javed National Institute of Multi-agent Sysyten Control Joydeep Mitra, Sunderarajan Technology-BHU structures through covalent Rice University Technology-Rourkela Michigan State University bonding of nanoscale non- 23 Mihir Sudhir Indian Institute of Format conversion of NASA Sanjay S. Limaye, University metallic structures Kulkarni Technology-Bombay Venus image data of Wisconsin-Madison 42 Washim Alam Indian Institute of Role of kinetic parameters in Anupam Madhukar, 24 Neha Singh Indian Institute of Developing interface for Parmesh Ramanathan, Technology-Kharagpur influencing the nature of MBE University of Southern Chauhan Technology-Jodhpur automated design of synthetic University of Wisconsin- growth California genomes Madison 43 Yogesh Kumar National Institute of Investigating the formation and Greg Swain, 25 Neha Hemant Indian Institute of Cloud-level wind tracking in Sanjay S. Limaye, Modi Technology-Rourkela corrosion inhibition imparted to Michigan State University Joshi Technology-Madras polar stereographic projected University of Wisconsin- AA2024-t3 aluminium alloys by images in the atmosphere of Madison trivalent chrome process (TCP) Venus coating 26 Nikilesh BITS-Pilani, Goa Quantification of permanent Marcial Gonzalez, Krishnakumar Campus losses in granular crystal Purdue University dynamics 27 Nilay Mukund Indian Institute of Sorbent enhanced water gas Ed Rubin,
Shah Technology-Bombay shift for pre-combustion CO2 Carnegie Mellon University capture 28 Pawandeep Visva-Bharati University, Developments and applications Stuart R. Borrett, Singh West Bengal of the enaR software University of North Carolina Wilmington 29 Prachi Pramod University of Pune Enhancements to the Venus Sanjay S. Limaye, Bedekar express cloud tracking applet University of Wisconsin- Madison 30 Pranav National Institute of Parallelisation of algorithms, Gurinder Sohi, Thirthahalli Technology-Karnataka and identification of University of Wisconsin- Bhat synchronisation sections Madison 31 Pranav Indian Institute of Synthesis of tin oxide nano Pratim Biswas, Ajitkumar Technology-Bombay columns for use as lithium ion Washington University in St. Shetty battery anodes Louis 32 Pranav Suresh Indian Institute of Investigate a turbulent flow over Surya Pratap Vanka, Puthan Technology-Madras an open channel University of Illinois at Naduvakatte Urbana-Champaign
74 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 75 R&D in this area. This program and students in the same location. was designed so that a select group These informal discussions were of students had the chance to spend vital because it helped impart the two weeks with several scientists from culture of interactive exchange that MIT and Harvard, immersed in a rich is taken for granted in the US, but is Resonance set of experiences that include lectures not prevalent in India. These informal that covered background material and periods allowed fertile meandering An MIT-Harvard- also offered a glimpse of the cutting of discussions, imparting a sense of edge in neuroscience research, along excitement and wonder about the with exercises that promoted hands- subject matter that may not become IUSSTF-IIT initiative on learning. The student selection apparent in didactic lectures. process was highly competitive The program also linked up with and the class size was limited to industry in India through a Corporate for focused 25 students. Lectures covered a Day, during which scientists and wide range of key neuroscience executives from the private sector topics and gave the students a sense discussed neuroscience opportunities. learning of the interdisciplinary nature This link to industry was much of neuroscience (encompassing appreciated by students and the molecular biology, genetics, teaching faculty, and has led to physiology, engineering, physics ongoing connections. GE India, IBM, n the domain of higher initiative formalizes this and computer science). The evening Infosys, and government officials education in science and mutually beneficial confluence. demonstrations allowed students to offered insight and awareness of technology, India and It is structured as short, get exposed to methods and tools of I research possibilities in top corporate the United States have two intensive instructional programs research in neuroscience. A vital part laboratories and government as future pressing needs. India has several conducted by exceptional of the course was the discussions career destinations. outstanding institutions for young US scientists for Contact Persons that continued through dinner and higher education that provide talented students selected from beyond, facilitated by housing faculty Mala Ghosh world-class training in numerous institutions across the India. MIT INDIA disciplines. However, many For the pilot course, neuroscience Massachusetts Institute of Technology, of the more recent domains Cambridge was identified as a key topic that of research are not adequately E-mail: [email protected] would benefit from a Resonance represented in their programs. program, and a summer school This limits their students’ in neuroscience was organized in opportunities for pursuing June 2013 in New Delhi. Three higher studies in these areas and, major institutions committed more broadly, India’s ability to themselves to supporting have an impact on cutting-edge Resonance: MIT, Harvard, and research.The United States IIT Delhi (which served as the has several outstanding young host). The Indo-US Science researchers, typically at the and Technology Forum saw the post-doctoral level, who have bilateral benefits that Resonance excellent training in specialized could yield and provided critical research fields, but have not had funding support. opportunities for teaching and mentoring students. This greatly The goal for Resonance 2013 limits their training as well- was to provide an intensive rounded scientists with good introduction to neuroscience to teaching and communication students who might not yet have skills.Clearly, the two needs are had an exposure to this field; complementary and provide among other things it would perfect answers for each other. prepare them for undertaking Resonance - the newly launched higher studies or corporate
76 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 77 Bilateral Workshops and Training Programs 24-26 June 2013 Organic Solar Cells Golden, USA
Organic Solar Cell (OSC) technology is a report path-breaking work related to OSCs at promising and potentially disruptive technology regular intervals. Many research groups in for large area, high throughput and large volume institutes across India too have been reporting a production of Photovoltaic (PV) devices and number of novel ideas and exciting discoveries modules. This area has seen remarkable success over the last decade. OSC technologies are in research and has made remarkable progress important for both the countries in the coming in pushing power conversion efficiencies to over decade and are a critical area of research and 10% in research labs. Better understanding of development in these countries. Keeping this in stability and lifetime of these devices have also mind, S. Sundar Kumar Iyer (Indian Institute been got in the past decade. These have led to of Technology-Kanpur) and Vikram Dalal the spawning of a few enterprises which are (Iowa State University, Ames) organized a working to commercialise products using this workshop on Organic Solar Cells to bring technology. Many of the early discoveries and together scientists and researchers from the two inventions related to this technology have been countries in this important area to initiate new in the United States. The country continues to collaborative projects as well as to give a momentum to existing collaborative work.
15-17 July 2013 Molecular Materials Bengaluru, India
Research, Frederick) aimed at addressing key global challenges and providing solutions through chemical sciences. This summit brought together the best minds in chemical research from both India and the United States; and challenged them to propose innovative solutions for society’s The Indo-U.S. workshop on Molecular materials most pressing needs in the organized by Uday Maitra (Indian Institute of areas of health, food, energy, and the Science, Bangalore) and Sanjay V. Malhotra environment, through the application of (Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer chemical principles.
Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 81 attract students from the best colleges in India modules aimed at providing a focused NeuroAIDS IN INDIA: CURRENT FINDINGS AND 24-25 September 2013 and inspire them to work in neuroscience; introduction to the problems and concepts in FUTURE DIRECTIONS Pune, India second, the workshop served as an outstanding various aspects of neuroscience. These mechanism to facilitate scientific interchange modules were vision, attention and rhythms, on NeuroAIDS in India: Current findings between India and the United States; and motor systems and memory. Each module and future directions organized by third, the workshop focussed on the rapidly lasted for three days and consisted of 9 lectures, Manisha V. Ghate (National AIDS growing neuroscience community in India. a panel discussion on open challenges, and a Research Institute, Pune) and Thomas The workshop was organized into four lab component. D. Marcotte (University of California, San Diego) was aimed to help Indian Bio-inspired supramolecular 15-17 December 2013 scientists to develop protocols with and polymer assembly Trivandrum, India experts who have extensive experience in this field. U.S. investigators gained exposure to the multiple factors that influence the development of HAND One of the important non-opportunistic in the Indian context which encompassed conditions that may affect the quality of issues of comorbidities often not found in life of HIV infected individuals is HIV Western countries, including infections such Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND). as tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus, as well as Neurocognitive consequences of HIV have conditions such as low literacy. The workshop gained attention since it was demonstrated acted as a Forum to identify the gaps in the that cognitive performance affects routine research done so far and to develop collaborative activities, employment, adherence to treatment strategies for generating the data to plug these and quality of life. The Indo-U.S. workshop gaps. Polymeric materials are unique in a sense that advanced materials. The Indio-U.S. workshop they are man-made, unlike minerals or wood on 17-20 November 2013 Bio-inspired supramolecular and polymer THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN COGNITION Pune, India and therein lies an opportunity for researchers assembly organized by Suhrit Ghosh (Indian towards structural variation to fine tune the Association for the Cultivation of Science, The nature of human cognition and was structured keeping in mind the fact that properties to meet the ever increasing demand Kolkata) and S. Thayumanavan (University of consciousness is one of the oldest questions the United States is currently the leader in this for versatile materials. The field of polymer Massachusetts, Amherst) aimed at generating of our species, for which we hope to gain area of research and modern India with strong research has witnessed a revolution in last intensive discussions on scientific topics a clearer understanding in the 21st century. traditional strength in mathematics, logic and two decades due to the influence of synthetic in polymer and supramolecular chemistry The subject is truly multi-disciplinary and philosophy is rightly poised to take up a goal to chemistry. This has helped to achieve molecular- which are highly complementary in terms of recent studies on animal behaviour and their pursue the understanding of human cognition level precision in macromolecular systems by design and development of new bio-materials. cognitive abilities have provided necessary and consciousness and its evolutionary origins. using various controlled polymerization routs. Specific research topics covered included insights into evolutionary origins of the The aim of the workshop was to help forge In parallel, the field of supramolecular chemistry synthesis development of biologically relevant human mind. The Indo-US symposium on The bilateral research collaborations in this frontier has grown to an extent where concepts related macromolecules and their self-assembly, drug Evolution of Human Cognition organized by of science and also help to encourage a new to strength of various directional non-covalent delivery, gene delivery, peptide-based assembly, L.S. Shashidhara (Indian Institute of Science generation of students to take up research in interactions and its implications in generating bio-sensing, supramolecular assembly of pi- Education and Research, Pune) and Ajit Varki cognitive neuroscience. advanced materials with higher-order structure conjugated amphiphiles, interactions between (University of California-San Diego, La Jolla) is well-established today. In this exciting era of bio-macromolecules and synthetic polymers, multidisciplinary science, it is only appropriate tissue engineering, stimuli-responsive polymer The 3rd Bangalore cognition workshop 8-21 December 2013 that scientists from supramolecular and polymer assembly and gels. Bengaluru, India fields come together to design bio-inspired An Indo-U.S. workshop titled Bangalore cognition workshop was organized by Recent advances in micro/nano-scale 16-18 December 2013 S.P. Arun (Indian Institute of Science, heat transfer and applications in Ropar, India Bangalore) and Thomas D. Albright clean energy technologies (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla) with a three-fold Microscale and nanoscale heat transfer plays and theoretical research in this field due to purpose: first, as cognitive and systems a critical role in determining the efficiency exciting new potential applications in clean neuroscience in India is at a key point of energy conversion processes. There has and renewable energy conversion. While on in its evolution, this workshop aimed to been an increased interest in experimental one hand, there is significant potential in the
82 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 83 and devices. Research in this field has been research on the use of these tools for best practices and cooperation; increasing ongoing at institutions in both the U.S. and India, conservation. The workshop aimed to explore technological and scientific know-how in although interactions between the two countries areas of cooperation between the United States remote sensing and Geographic Information have been somewhat limited. The Indo-U.S. and India particularly relevant to experience Systems (GIS); and, building scientific workshop on Recent advances in micro/nano-scale sharing regarding sustainability; reinforcing cooperation and collaborations. heat transfer and applications in clean energy technologies organized by Himanshu Tyagi ICME for integrated realization of 16-20 December 2013 (Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar) and engineered materials and products Pune, India Ankur Jain (University of Texas, Arlington) aimed to bring researchers from leading institutions from the two countries on a common platform to facilitate discussions for application of micro/nanoscale heat transfer possible collaborative research between the two principles for high-efficiency energy conversion; countries. This workshop featured invited talks there is also much promise in efficient thermal from leading researchers and a poster session energy storage based on engineered materials with participation from graduate students and post-doctoral scholars. Land use optimization for coordinating 16-18 December 2013 conservation goals and regional development Ooty, India in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, southern India Integrated Computational Materials workshop on ICME for integrated realization of Engineering (ICME) has emerged as an area of engineered materials and products was organized interest for both academic and industrial by Madhusudan Chakraborty (Indian Institute research communities. ICME provides of Technology-Bhubaneswar), B.P. Gautham opportunities for breakthroughs at the interface (Tata Consultancy Services, Pune), G. of IT and materials engineering leading to Phanikumar (Indian Institute of Technology- considerable savings in the cost and time for Madras), Farrokh Mistree (University of commercialization of new materials in Oklahoma, Norman) and Surya Kalidindi industrial applications and integrated look at (Georgia Tech, Atlanta) to identify the state-of- product design, material design and the-art and gap areas towards the success of manufacturing process design. ICME as a ICME for the industrial utility. The themes discipline is in its early stages and a large focus were past successes and lessons learnt; is currently placed on computational materials integration across scales and processes; and, engineering (CME) across length scales of the enabling aspects such as standards, databases, material to link composition-processing- IT platforms, design methods, experiments. It is structure-properties. While CME research is expected that the workshop would enhance maturing to enable better predictability of cooperation amongst researchers from India Biodiversity provides the basis for life on earth, of the Indo-U.S. workshop on Land use material evolution, it is needed to look closely and the U.S. to work on joint research programs, and the economic value of ecosystem services optimization for coordinating conservation goals at product development from a functional and, aid various governmental agencies in is estimated to be higher than the world’s GDP. and regional development in the Nilgiri Biosphere component perspective in an industrial design identifying areas requiring governmental Paradoxically, conservation of biodiversity is a Reserve, Southern India organized by Priya and production environment. The Indo-U.S. support for immediate and long term needs. challenge globally, because (i) development Davidar (Pondicherry University) and Samuel efforts in general ignore the irreplaceable value Cushman (U.S. Forest Service, Center for Advanced turbo-machinery: Power of a sound environment and (ii) business Landscape Science, Flagstaff) was to gather the 06-07 January 2014 generation and transportation for a Mumbai, India practices remain business-as-usual and have main stakeholders of the NBR (Scientists, Sustainable and environmentally responsible future very little flexibility to encompass the need of Forest Department, public administration, plantation, agriculture, tourism, energy, the environment. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Turbo-machineries are an integral part of today’s plants. In fact, more than 98% of electric power transport, etc.) to share visions and introduce (southern India) or NBR, is such a place where society and economy. They cover a large variety that is added to US electric grid is aided by a the concept of appropriate land use for optimal conservation interests seemingly runs against of machines such as gas turbines for power turbo-machine, and almost 100% of passenger- economic development within the NBR. The development. The most blatant evidence of a generation and aviation; wind turbines; steam miles are flown by turbine-powered airplanes. United States is the leader of technology in failed integrated management is the lack of a turbines for coal-based, nuclear, solar thermal As the above systems involve significant remote sensing and geographic information transition zone around the NBR. The purpose and geothermal power plants; hydro power capital investments with a long service life, and systems, and has carried out cutting edge
84 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 85 addressing the challenges in the prevention annotating the metabolome; spatially resolved and treatment of various diseases in India. sampling and temporal flux measurements; The workshop emphasized on discussions instrumentation, dynamic range, depth of around the current technological challenges coverage and infrastructure; and, informatics, in metabolomics such as defining and databases, and standardization.
01-02 February 2014 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Pune, India
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore) aimed to bring together American and Indian clinicians, healthcare providers, healthcare policy makers since many of the newer technologies being Jayanta Kapat (University of Central Florida) and researchers to bridge the gaps in knowledge proposed have uncertain or unknown long-term and Farrukh Alvi (Florida State University, that each country has in the field of COPD reliabilities, and have severe cost barriers, there Tallahassee) intended to lay the foundation prevention, control and management. The is a need for more research and development, for vigorous discussions resulting in concrete main objectives of this workshop were to in complete partnership between academia and plans for bilateral collaboration. The workshop develop ideas that will guide future research and industry, in order to bring the newer technologies identified the following key areas for possible funding support in the area of interventional to the market at a cost that the society can pay. collaboration between the two countries - and preventive strategies for COPD, indoor The Indo-U.S. workshop on Advanced turbo- advanced materials; coating and corrosion air pollution and non-smoking factors related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease machinery: Power generation and transportation control; risk based inspection strategies; to COPD, respiratory infections and other co- (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and for a sustainable and environmentally responsible materials for environment; component morbidities to decrease the burden, mortality morbidity both in the developed as well as future organized by A.M. Pradeep (Indian dynamics of a system; multi-disciplinary and morbidity associated with the diseases; developing countries of the world. COPD is Institute of Technology-Bombay), Bhaskar optimization methodologies; and, additive bring together investigators from bpth countries the third leading cause of death in the United Roy (Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay), manufacturing and materials technologies. on a common forum to exchange knowledge States, while it is one of the top five causes of and expertise to improve the understanding of death in India. By 2030, COPD will become Mass spectrometry-based proteomics 23-24 January 2014 COPD, investigate the mechanisms of disease the third leading cause of death in the world. and metabolomics in disease biology Thiruvananthapuram, India development and help develop novel prevention COPD is a silent epidemic in India, with very strategies directed to the affected population little awareness about the disease amongst in the future; phenotyping and management lay people, healthcare providers, healthcare of COPD; translation of basic research to policy makers and researchers. The Indo-U.S develop novel therapies; medical education to workshop on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary combat COPD; risk communication and public Disease organized by Sundeep Salvi (Chest awareness of COPD in Indian population; Research Foundation, Pune) and Shyam and, develop strategies to overcome funding, Biswal (Bloomberg School of Public Health, research and public health policy challenges. Cognitive reserve in dementia and 02-04 February 2014 aphasia: Interaction between lifelong Hyderabad, India experiences and neurobiology
coupled with an increasing Over the last decade, genomics and proteomics molecule metabolites generated in a particular interest in understanding have been used as important tools to better cellular process. The Indo-US workshop their scientific basis. understand the complexities in biology, and on Mass spectrometry-based proteomics and Significant advances made to discover diagnostic biomarkers and drug metabolomics in disease biology organized by M. in clinical characterization targets. To integrate the above two “omics” Radhakrishna Pillai (Rajiv Gandhi Center for of disease, use of in systems biology, metabolomics, a new Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram) and K. advanced neuroimaging science is evolving for analysing the basic Sreekumaran Nair (Mayo Clinic, Rochester) techniques, and evidence metabolic changes taking place in a living aimed to bring together an outstanding panel from longitudinal studies organism. Metabolomics is an emerging of scientists and investigators to discuss has shifted focus from novel field of research tools concerned with how advances in analytical technologies The recent years have witnessed a rising pathology towards risk and protective factors the comprehensive characterization of small and data mining tools could be exploited for number of people with cognitive disorders for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
86 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 87 The Indo-U.S. workshop on Cognitive reserve in research collaboration between neuroscientists infections of the nervous system organized by in areas of mutual research interests. This dementia and aphasia: Interaction between lifelong in the United States and India, to further the Pankaj Seth (National Brain Research Centre, meeting involved 50-60 basic researchers, experiences and neurobiology organized by understanding of cognitive reserve and develop Manesar), Jayasri Das Sarma (Indian Institute clinical scientists and trainees working in the Suvarna Alladi (Nizam’s Institute of Medical prevention strategies from cognitive disorders of Science Education and Research, Kolkata), areas of neurology, neuropathology, neuro- Sciences, Hyderabad) and Mary Ganguli in the Indian as well as international context. Lynn Pulliam (University of California, San pathogenesis, neurobiology, neuroimmunology, (University of Pittsburgh) put together a Francisco) and Randall. J. Cohrs (University neuro-chemistry, and molecular virology of the of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora) was CNS. One of the major themes was to discuss Adaptation of rural communities to climate to bring together the pioneers of this field on a the molecular mechanisms associated with 20-21 February 2014 single platform to nurture their research ideas virus-induced neurologic diseases in humans change: Bridging the gap between academia and Bengaluru, India community workers and identifying research needs as well as explore the potential collaborates and animal models.
industrialisation, and economic development”. An Indo-U.S. workshop on Adaptation of rural communities to climate change: Bridging the gap between academia and community workers and identifying research needs was organized by Harini Nagendra (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru), Pinki Mondal (Columbia University, New York) and Ruth DeFries (Columbia University, New York) with the aim to learn from physical and social scientists working with geospatial Climate change and its impact on livelihoods technologies, meteorological station data, has been the center of research for the past ground surveys, socio-economic surveys, decade, and will continue to be so in the coming census data and other data sources/techniques years. The fourth assessment report of the and understand ongoing and future climate Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change change and its impacts on rural livelihoods. states that “Climate change is projected to The other component of this event was to impinge on the sustainable development of most learn from community workers and/or non- developing countries of Asia, as it compounds governmental organizations that have on-the- the pressures on natural resources and the ground experience with adaptive capacity of environment associated with rapid urbanisation, vulnerable communities.
25-28 February 2014 Viral infections of the nervous system New Delhi, India
Infections of the Central Nervous System (CNS) of zoonotic origin, emerge regularly. Many have devastating consequences ranging from of these viruses can lead to outbreaks, thus death of the patient to neurological sequelae increasing their public health importance. in survivors. Viruses are a common cause of Concrete data on the burden of different CNS infections in humans. There is increasing neurotropic infections are however limited. The evidence that new neurotropic viruses, mostly primary goal of the Indo-U.S. workshop on Viral
88 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 89 Indo-US Joint Networked Centers 3-D Engineered Electrodes for Electrochemical Energy Storage
he objective of the center energy storage. is to carry out cutting • Explore new configurations/ Tedge collaborative designs for these devices research between the partners to obtain vastly improved on innovative ideas to design performances. and build 3-D architectures • Obtain easily integrated Principal Investigators using various nanostructures designs to build hybrid devices Vijayamohanan K. Pillai between storage formats based (including graphene, carbon on battery and supercapacitors. Central Electrochemical Research Institute nanotubes, polymers, metal Karaikudi, India oxide nanowires/clusters etc.) Email: [email protected] Achievements in order to incorporate them as Fluorinated graphene based Pulickel M. Ajayan active electrode components in electrochemical energy storage high performance electrodes Rice University, Houston, USA devices. Specific research goals for primary lithium battery: Email: [email protected] Although rechargeable Li to be met by the center are: ion batteries have become • Development of conformal the dominant power source and space filling methods for for portable electronics Partnering Institutions fabricating 3-D engineered architectures for thin film applications, primary batteries India batteries and supercapacitors. are still used in applications Indian Institute of Science • Characterization of resulting like military and defense tools, Education & Research devices in terms of their and medical implants. The Thiruvananthapuram microstructures with particular Center has demonstrated a Indian Institute of Science reference to their electrode- single-step strategy capable of Bangalore electrolyte interfaces. improving specific capacity, • Investigation of Electro-chemical power density and faradic yield USA performance of these devices, of a Li/CFx battery system University of Houston analysis and understanding the using fluorinated graphene. Houston underlying physical phenomena The excellent electrochemical Southern Illinois University of the hybrid configuration of the Carbondale devices. performance achieved using • Model/simulate optimized fluorinated graphene with a very hybrid nanostructures for low fluorine content (x = 0.22) improved electrochemical could lead to the development
Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 93 A schematic representation of lithiation of fluorinated graphite polymer and fluorinated graphene; comparison of specific capacities of (CF0.25)n and Fluorinated graphene (FG) at different current rates [Dijo Damien et al., RSC Advances, 3 (2013) 25702] will be fabricated using template presentations. The workshop was well approach and their electrochemical balanced with discussions on both of highly efficient primary battery devices after patterning them over performance will be studied using experimental and theoretical aspects systems perhaps with low cost and substrates. This work has been cyclic voltammetry, Galvanostatic of the topic. Three best poster prizes minimum environmental impact. reported in the journal 2D Materials. charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. and one best oral presentation prize have been awarded to the students Synthesis of vertical arrays of TiO2/ • In addition to the electrochemical Way Forward during the concluding session. CoFe2O4 hybrid nanowire electrodes measurements, temperature dependent for 3-D microbatteries: Synthesized Research activities in the area of electrical transport studies will be From various feedback expressed 3D nanoarchitectures are being carried out in detail for these materials. by the participants, the workshop vertical arrays of TiO2/CoFe2O4 hybrid nanowires using a combination carried out for their application as • Theoretical modeling of different is believed to be well received and of electrochemical anodization and efficient electrodes in energy storage materials and electrode designs are very successful. All the participants, hydrothermal techniques. These devices such as electrochemical being performed with a focus on the especially the students and young hybrid nanowires are being tested for supercapacitors and rechargeable electrode/electrolyte interface. researchers have been benefitted and their electrochemical performance batteries. Some of the on-going and • Planned to organize an international were well exposed to several new future works are summarized below: workshop on ‘Advanced Electrode directions in the materials science and as efficient anodes for 3-dimensional Materials for Electrochemical Energy microbattery applications. • Development of 3-D scaffolds of Storage’ under the auspices of the electrochemistry of 3D engineered electrodes for energy storage. Electrical transport studies on graphene based nanostructures for joint R&D virtual center, in 2015. disordered reduced graphene oxide: supercapacitor applications. Under the auspices of Indo-US A collaborative research between • Various morphologies of joint R&D Network Center on Publications 2-dimensional layered nanocrystals ‘3D Engineered Electrodes for • Damien D., Sudeep P. M., Narayanan Central Electro Chemical Research (MoS , WS and their hybrids) are Institute (CECRI) and Southern 2 2 Electrochemical Energy Storage’, an T. N., Anantharaman M. R., Ajayan being synthesized using different P. M. and Shaijumon M. M. (2013) Illinois University Carbondale approaches (Chemical vapor Indo-US workshop on “Engineered Fluorinated graphene-based electrodes for (SIUC) has been conducted on the deposition, liquid phase exfoliation) Electrodes for Electrochemical high performance primary batteries. RSC development of stable conductive inks and it will be interesting to study Energy Storage” has been organized Advances 3: 25702. of reduced graphene oxide and their the lithium diffusion in these during April 3-4, 2014 at Chennai. • Muchharla B., Narayanan T. N., electrical transport properties. This nanostructured materials. The workshop was aimed at bringing Balakrishnan K., Ajayan P. M. and was a fundamental study with an aim • 3-dimensional nanoarchitectures the experts in electrochemical Talapatra S. (2014) Temperature to use these inks in electrochemical using different metal oxide/polymer energy storage devices, from both dependent electrical transport of reduced the countries, particularly those who graphene oxide. 2D Materials 1: work in the novel aspects of electrode 011008 materials, to a common platform and • Vinod S., Tiwary C. S., Autreto P. A., Tijerina J. T., Ozden S., Chipara A. C., to discuss their views in novel designs Vajtai R., Galvao D. S., Narayanan T. and materials for electrochemical N. and Ajayan P. M. (2014) Low-desnity energy storage applications. 3-dimensional foam using self-reinforced In addition to the invited talks from hybrid 2-dimensional atomic layers Nat. Commun 10: 1038/ncomms5541 experts, there were oral and poster • Jaison M.J., Vikram K., Narayanan T. presentations by young scientists N., and Vijaymohanan K. Pillai (2014) as well as Ph.D. students related to Electric Field Induced Transformation of a variety of energy related issues. Carbon nanotube to Graphene Nanoribbons There were 15 invited talks by experts Using Solid Polymer Electrolyte. Appl. from India and USA, 6 short talks by Phys. Lett. 104: 153111. Low and High resolution SEM images of TiO2/CoFe2O4 hybrid nanowires. Ph.D students and about 30 poster
94 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 95 visited SUNY Oswego in December no metallicity gradient as a function 2013. Two faculty and one post-doc of the galactocentric distance. spent 2 weeks each and one student • Paper [2] provides new empirical spent 4 weeks there at Oswego. Period-Color and Amplitude-Color • Faculty and students from SUNY relations for Cepheids and RR Lyraes Oswego, Texas A&M, University of in the Galaxy/LMC and SMC using Florida visited Delhi University and the latest extensive and high quality IUCAA, Pune in January 2014. data. This paper also provided a • 3 students from SUNY Oswego unique and innovative theoretical Analysis of Variable visited Delhi University in July 2014 framework with which to explain the funded by other sources but working PC relations as a function of period, on projects for the Joint Center. pulsation phase and metallicity. A primary result of this paper is that Star Data • There was also a joint meeting short period First Overtone Cepheids with another Indo-U.S. Joint are just like Fundamental mode RR Center (CLASS ACT) that enabled Lyrae stars in terms of Period-Color collaborations between the two relations at minimum light. Centers was organized in Kerala in January 2014. • Paper [3] develops new methods for analysing data collected from small, • S. Kanbur and a student from SUNY remotely operated telescopes and has Oswego visited A Mahabal and results in a large quantity of data that M. Graham at Caltech Astronomy is currently being analyzed for the y setting up an Indo-US and other galaxies such as Department and the CLASS ACT second year of the project. Knowledge R&D Joint M31. Joint Center. • Paper [4] has resulted in the Networked Center for the • The development of the use • S. Kanbur, L. Macri, R. Wagner- B development of the most extensive Analysis of Variable Star Data, of Cepheid Period-Luminosity Kaiser, A. Bhardwaj presented and accurate Cepheid Period relations in the infrared and posters/talks at the Space Telescope this Center is leveraging existing Luminosity relation for the LMC mid-infra-red wavelengths Science Institute Symposium networking infrastructure to at JHK wavelengths. Together with Principal Investigators using new and existing satellite on the Extra - Galactic Distance combine current expertise in recent work that provided a 2% and ground based data. Symposium. H. P. Singh variable stars in India and the distance to the LMC usign eclipsing University of Delhi,India US and consequently develop • The automated analysis of • D. Wysocki, a student from SUNY binaries, this will provide a very Email: [email protected] powerful new statistical variable star data taken from Oswego presented preliminary secure anchor for the extra-galactic DOME-A in Antarctica. The results on Principal Component methods to link the structure distance scale that will help to Shashi M. Kanbur location of this telescope will Analysis of Variable Star Data at the provide a CMB independent estimate of variable star light curves to provide unprecedented quality summer meeting of the American State University of New York stellar physics. The Center has for Hubble’s constant that is accurate Oswego, USA ground based variable star light Astronomical Society meeting in to less than 2-3%. Such estimates will facilitated the application of Email: [email protected] curves. June 2013. be vital in order to place constraints these new methods to current • Analysis of the highly accurate • S. Kanbur presented an invited talk at on the dark energy equation of state. and projected new variable star Kepler and Gaia data on the MIAPP workshop on the Extra- This paper also provides data with databases. The development variable stars. Galactic Distance scale in Munich which to compute the structure of Partnering Institutions and application of the Fourier The Center is also providing June 2014. the LMC using JHK wavelengths. decomposition methods along extensive training to a new • H. P. Singh gave a talk on the theme • Paper [5] provides the first systematic India with accurate automated data generation of globally engaged of the Joint Center at Marburg quantitative study of the variation of Inter University Centre for analysis techniques like Principal scientists by involving Indian and University, Germany in May 2014. Cepheid light curves as a function of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune Component Analysis (PCA) and American undergraduate and period, wavelength and metallicity. Artificial Neural Networks to graduate students jointly on these Scientific value addition These light curves were studied using USA the analysis of variable star light cutting edge research projects. • Paper [1] presents a careful and the method of Fourier decomposition. The paper also studied the variation University of Florida curves. Specific research goals detailed light-curve analysis Gainesville, FL include : Achievements of publicly available data on of the Hertzsprung progression with metallicity. The main results were a Texas A&M University • Developed collaborations fundamental mode RR Lyrae (RRab) College Station, TX • The extraction of fundamental stars of the Large Magellanic Cloud detailed set of quantitative light curve stellar parameters from between Texas A&M, structure measures that can place University of Florida, SUNY (LMC) obtained by the Optical their light curve data – Gravitational Lensing Experiment strong constraints on theoretical asteroseismology. Oswego, University of Delhi, stellar pulsation models. IUCAA, Pune. (OGLE). The study indicates that the • A detailed study of the formation of the LMC disk predates • Paper [6] provides a novel twist • University of Delhi and Oosterhoff dichotomy for RR the formation of the inner halo. It to determining the quantitative IUCAA faculty and students Lyrae stars in the Milky Way has also been proposed that there is structure of the light curves of
96 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 97 Singh (2014) Chemical and Structural a Crowded Field and its Application to Analysis of the Large Magellanic Cloud 2009 CSTAR Observations. Submitted using fundamental mode RR Lyrae in Astronomical J.[3] Stars. Monthly Notices of Royal • Lucas M. Macri, Chow Choong- Astronomical Society, Vol. 438, Ngeow, Shashi M. Kanbur, Salma 2440-2455.[1] Mahzooni, Michael T. Smitka (2014) • Anupam Bharadwaj, Shashi Kanbur, Large Magellanic Cloud Near-InfraRed Haridner P. Singh, Chow-Choong Synoptic Survey. I: Cepheid Variables Ngeow (2014) Empirical Period- and the Calibration of the Leavitt Law. Color and Amplitude-Color Relations Submitted in Astronomical J.[4] for Classical Cepheid and RR Lyrae • Anupam Bhardwaj, Shashi Kanbur, Variables. Accepted for publication Harinder P. Singh, Lucas Macri, in Monthly Notices of the Royal Chow-Choong Ngeow (2014) On [2] Astronomical Society the Variation of Fourier Parameters for Galactic and LMC Cepheids at Publications Planned Optical, Near-Infrared, and Mid-Infrared • Ryan J. Oelkers, Lucas M. Macri, Wavelengths. Submitted in Monthly Lifan Wang, Michale C. B. Ashley, Notices of the Royal Astronomical Xiangqun Cui, Long-Long Feng, Society [5] Xuefei Gong, Jon S. Lawrence, Liu • E. Bellinger, D. Wysocki and Qiang, Daniel Luong-Van, Carl R. S. Kanbur (2014) Light Curve Pennypacker, Huigen Yang, Xiangyan Reconstruction of Periodic Variable Periodic Variable Stars. A long • Collaborate with Italian researchers Yuan, Donald G. York, Xu Zhou and Stars using Fourier Decomposition. standing problem in the Fourier to: Zhenxi Zhu (2014) A Novel Approach Submitted in Monthly Notices of the decomposition of Variable stars is • Extend the analysis of the light for the Analysis of Defocused Images in Royal Astronomical Society. [6] the determination of the order of curve structure of Cepheid the fit. The method presented in this variables at multiple wavelengths paper describes a new technique that to the SMC. is almost always better than existing • Use the results of [4] to constrain methods (Baarts condition). As such theoretical stellar pulsation it will be a very useful technique for models. large scale wide field surveys such as OGLE IV and LSST. • Use multiphase Cepheid PL relations to develop a novel measure of the Way forward metallicity dependence of the Cepheid PL relation. • The Center is currently analysing CSTAR data in order to : • Use new methods is presented in [6] to new wide field surveys. • Calculate the metallicites of 3 RR Lyrae stars observed by CSTAR. • Study the use of conditional entropy methods to detect the periods of • Study the light curve structure variable stars. of Delta Scuti stars observed by CSTAR. • Strengthen the results of [5] using other statistical methods and connect • Study the consequences of new LMC these detected nonlinearities to JHK PL relation for various distance changes in the light curve structure of scale problems. variable stars. • Study the LMC JHK survey for other • Use Artificial Neural Networks to transient phenomena. classify variable stars based on their • Use the LMC JHK PL relation to light curve structure. calculate the distance to M31 and • Undertake a chemical and structural compare with distances calculated analysis of the Small Magellanic using a Galatic Cepheid PL JHK Cloud using the fundamental mode calibration. RR Lyrae stars. • Use the new LMC JHK PL relation to determine the structure of the Publications LMC. • Sukanta Deb and Harinder P.
98 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 99 From Fundamentals to Applications of Nanoparticle Assemblies
he Center is focusing characterization tools, such as on specific activities optical, confocal and electron T which are integrated microscopies, combined with to go from particle synthesis X-ray diffraction and small to applications. The center angle X-ray and neutron would complement Synthesis scattering, and spectroscopy Principal Investigators of Nanoparticles (NPs) where to elucidate structure and B. L. V. Prasad experiments with molecular properties of the individual Fig. 1. Instant conducting adhesive from graphene. National Chemical Laboratory theory and population nanoparticles and their Pune, India balance models will assemblies Email: [email protected] address the open questions. area of size-controlled synthesis of Deliverables here are a much Scientific value addition: Deliverables here include an nanoparticles; (ii) between CSIR- Sanat K. Kumar bigger tool kit from which Between IIT-Patna/IIT-Kharagpur experimentally validated, NCL and Columbia University in the Columbia University, USA we can select a desired and University of Houston Email: [email protected] predictive theory for digestive area of elastic macroporous scaffolds NP superstructure, and ripening, and therefore NPs from particle assemblies; (iii) between Chemical modification of graphene understanding how these with any desired size and IIT-Delhi and Columbia University in to introduce functional groups in structures can be formed either surface passivation. theory and modeling of nanoparticle a site specific manner was carried under quiescent or driven interactions; (iv) between IIT-Patna/ out (IIT-Kharagpur/IIT Patna). Partnering Institutions In another aspect of the conditions. The deliverables IIT-Kharagpur and University of These were then coupled with silane India proposal the center seeks to also include a theoretical Houston in the area of polymer monomers and novel nanocomposites learn from the small molecule rationalization linking the Indian Institute of Technology nanocomposites. were prepared (Univ. Houston). Such Bombay surfactant literature and mechanical response of polymer nanocomposite exhibited Several Joint publications between assemble the polymer grafted nanoparticle/small organic instant conducting adhesive behavior Indian Institute of Technology US and India partners have been Delhi NPs into novel structures such molecule hybrids to the assembly (Fig. 1). Furthermore, by introducing generated. Indian Institute of Technology as spheres, micelles and rods technique. bulky pendant groups at the edge Kharagpur (relevant to drug delivery, NOTE: Center’s publication on sites that exert stress on the basal self-healing materials), and Achievements: elastic macroporous assemblies plane of graphene, its band gap USA periodic in both the NPs and Established several connections was highlighted in Chemical and could be engineered (Fig. 2). The University of Houston the polymers (relevant to Texas between US and Indian Engineering News, a prestigious modified material demonstrated a batteries, solar cells), and even Partners. Specifically, (i) American Chemical Society news semi-conducting behavior over the more complicated structures. between IITB, CSIR-NCL and magazine. semi-metallic behavior of the pristine The studies will use advanced Columbia University in the material IIT-Patnta/IIT-Kharagpur & University of Houston).
100 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 101 ripening process. Other plans of this Discussions on the topic of partnership include understanding Nanoparticle Assemblies that will be the effect of polydispersity in grafting held in Mumbai (at IITB) in January density of polymer chains on 2016. nanoparticle surface that influences The team has planned a unique the shape of nanoparticle-aggregates workshop at the culmination of (IIT-Bombay) and preparation of the Joint Center to bring together macroporous monoliths (CSIR- academics and industry, to NCL), comprised primarily of understand the opportunities offered colloidal particles, that are elastic by nanoparticle assemblies (January (Fig. 3). The latter work benefited 4-6, 2016). Several prominent extensively from the discussions the researchers (including Prof. Daan CSIR-NCL partners had with Prof. Frenkel from Cambridge University, Sanat Kumar (Columbia University). Prof. Vinothan Moharan from Fig. 2. Bandgap engineering by chemical modification of graphene. The discussions with other scientists Harvard University and Prof. Oleg at Columbia, during the visit of Dr. Gang from Brookhaven National Kumaraswamy (facilitated by the An acrylamide based monomer using is focusing on (i) of size-controlled Laboratory, Prof. Laximnarayanan Joint Center) with Dr. Jacques Jestin 2-aminotriptycene was prepared (IIT- synthesis of nanoparticles and (ii) from the Raman Research Institute), and Prof. Jeffrey Kysar, resulted in Patna). A polymerization of this preparation of elastic macroporous in addition to members of the Joint further collaborations and different monomer using the wellknown ATRP scaffolds from particle assemblies. Center have agreed to conduct this experiments on the elastic particle polymerization protocol is being In the area of nanoparticle synthesis, workshop. planned (University of Houston). The the partners are trying to evolve a assemblies are currently underway in Prof. Kysar’s group of Columbia objective is to derive novel triptycene mechanistic understanding of the Publications: based polymers and study their wellknown digestive ripening process. University. • Mondal, T., Bhowmick, A.K., properties. A series of model experiments have Between IIT-Delhi and Columbia Krishnamoorti, R. (2014) Conducting been planned and being executed at Between NCL-Pune/IIT-Bombay University Instant Adhesives by Grafting of Silane CSIR-NCL/IIT-Bombay. The results and Columbia University The IIT-Delhi/Columbia University Polymer onto Expanded Graphite. are being shared with Prof. Sanat ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, The NCL-Pune/IIT-Bombay and Kumar’s group at Columbia University partnership is focused on probing DOI:10.1021/am5040472 the fluctuation driven anisotropy Columbia University partnership who are trying to model the digestive • Mondal, T., Bhowmick, A.K.; in effective pair interactions Krishnamoorti, R. (2014) Stress between gold nanocrystals that Generation and Tailoring of Electronic are densely passivated with short Properties of Expanded Graphite by ligands. The results clearly suggest Click Chemistry. ACS Appl. Mater. that for dense grafting regime, Interfaces 6:7244-7253. inclusion of anisotropic effects as • Sahu, P. and Prasad, B. L. V. (2014) well as many-body interactions is Time and temperature effect on the necessary to adequately describe digestive ripening of gold nanoparticles: the thermodynamics and assembly Is there a cross over from digestive ripening behavior of nanoparticles. to Ostwald ripening?. Langmuir 30: 10143−10150. As part of the visitations associated • Rajamanickam R., Kumari S., with the Joint Center, one scientist Kumar D., Ghosh S., Kim J. C., Tae from the US visited their Indian G., Gupta S. S., Kumaraswamy G., counterparts and three Indian Chem. Mater., 2014, 26, 5161−5168 scientists and one student visited their (Highlighted in C&EN, http://cen.acs. US partnering Institutions. org/articles/92/web/2014/09/Strong- Springy-Materials-Made-Freezer.html) Way Forward: The Indian and US partners Fig. 3. Ultralight elastic successfully bid for a Faraday porous 3-dimensional scaffolds from colloidal self-assemblies.
102 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 103 Nanomedicine for Head & Neck Cancer (HNC)
he joint center proposes The overall scientific goal for the to test an innovative project is to study the efficacy of Tsustained local drug LCT and LCRT using docetaxel release nanoplatform for Head loaded PLGA nanoparticles. and Neck Cancer (HNC) capable It was projected to achieve this studies of the DTX-PLGA-NP and feasibility for enhancing of locally radiosensitizing goal through three specific aims Principal Investigators System. radiation therapy have been tested the specific HNC malignant where aim 1 constituted the at NEU. Preliminary results are Surinder P Singh site and minimizing systemic significant part for first year Achievements: encouraging. National Physical Laboratory toxicity and reducing the study along with initial studies • As spinoff to these interactions, • Successfully synthesized PLGA- New Delhi, India radiation dosage. The proposed for aim 2 and aim 3. the center has planned to host Email: singhsp@ nplindia.org DTX nanoparticles at Northeastern an international conference on design involves using poly University (NEU), Boston and two Aim 1: Fabrication and translational nanomedicine at, (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) students at NPL have been trained Srinivas Sridhar characterization of DTX- Institute of Life Sciences, Ahemdabad nanoparticles loaded with a for the same by our collaborators Electronic Materials Research Institute loaded PLGA nanoparticles University during 15-17, December Northeastern University, Boston, USA model radiosensitizing drug from NEU during their visit. (DTX-PLGA-NP) and in-vitro 2014, where the collaborator Prof. Email: [email protected] Docetaxel (DTX) which will be kinetic studies to optimize • Carried out the preliminary in vivo Rishi Shanker is working on in-vivo administered intratumorally to release kinetics. imaging studies in tumored animals experiments. provide localized in-situ delivery to evaluate the imaging potential. As part of the visitations associated of the sensitizer to the tumor Aim 2: In-vivo time dependent Partnering Institutions • The release kinetics profile and with the Joint Center, two scientists site. This is expected to avoid intra-tumoral distribution in-vitro results are promising and from the US visited their Indian India the toxicity associated with profile using optical near formed the basis for further animal counterparts and two Indian CSIR-Indian Institute of current systemic delivery of infrared fluorescence imaging studies which are planned to be scientists visited their US partnering Toxicology Research radiosensitizers. It is anticipated and therapeutic efficacy of accomplished at IITR Lucknow. Lucknow Institutions. that the proposed nanoplatform LCT with the DTX-PLGA-NP • Synthesized fluorescent gold All India Institute of Medical Sciences nanoclusters at NPL whose toxicity New Delhi will improve the therapeutic administered intra-tumorally. ratio of radiation therapy Institute of Life Sciences Aim 3: Studies of the efficacy of Ahmedabad University without introducing additional LCRT combining chemo- and patient interventions. This radiation using DTX-PLGA- USA innovative approach is expected NP with brachytherapy I125 Harvard Medical School to result in new modalities in seeds. Boston localized chemotherapy (LCT) and localized chemo-radiation Aim 4: Data analysis for therapy (LCRT). planning the phase I clinical
104 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 105 Novel magnetic structures and excitations in multilayers, interfaces, nanoparticles & bulk
he objectives for the joint magnetic microstructures of Tcenter are devoted for the various domain, domain walls investigations on the following and point and line defects topics. obstructing the movements of domain walls. magnetic structure of systems showing °C for 10 to 40 min) the formation • Rare earth free hard magnets: • Helimagnets of FeGe: the spiral magnetic order which leads to of τ-phase is expected. However in Principal Investigators to explore the stability of these compositional variants of formation of Skyrmion, (ii) atomic addition to τ-phase, the signals of β materials after an optimized helimagnets like FeGe -xSix scale magnetic Skyrmion lattice and γ-phases are also noted, which are R. C. Budhani 1 growth parameters with the will be studied to evaluate in two dimension, (iii) Skyrmion stable phases at room temperature. National Physical Laboratory desired phase formations. High the magnetic twin structure, lattice in the doped semiconductors, Under such conditions, the in depth New Delhi, India performance magnets such as E-mail: [email protected] crystallization temperature, (iv) phase interpretations of atomic electron microscopy experiments are Mn-Al(-C) of hard magnetic magnetic chirality across twin properties are important scale image employing transport of important to evaluate the material to Yimei Zhu boundaries, magnetic fields, intensity equation, (v) topological recognize the formation of τ-phase, its without either ferromagnetic etc. Brookhaven National Laboratory elements such as Fe, Co and spin structure in the helimagnet FeGe, uniformity in the alloy and chemistry Upton, USA The objectives would be achieved (vi) formation of Skyrmion crystal in of the material. E-mail: [email protected] Ni or rare earth ions. In this work the understanding and by carrying out detailed electron thin films of the helimagnet FeGe, Following seminars / invited talks stabilizing the τ-phase (fct) microscopy observations etc. Further to elaborate, the synthesis were organized during this period of among the various phases to investigate the various of rare-earth free hard magnets is the execution of the project: Partnering Institutions of this system; Є (h.c.p) and microstructural and excitations a crucial problem. For example the Є’ (orthorhombic) phase is a pertaining to magnetic materials τ-a magnetic phase in Mn-Al system • S.D. Bader, Spintronics: Implications India challenging job. The τ-phase of various kinds in the form is a metastable phase and needs for Energy, Information & Medical Indian Institute of Technology possesses hard magnetic of multilayers, thin films, Technologies, Distinguished Delhi properties. The development significant experimentation towards interfaces and bulk. Important Scientists Lecture Series, National of rare earth free permanent its single phase formation in the alloy. case studies will be persuaded Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, USA magnets is exceptionally cost Normally the powder metallurgy India, December 10, 2013. on FeGe and Perovskites based (ex. ball milling) and melting (arc Argonne National Laboratory effective. • R.C. Budhani, Novel electronic Lemont magnetic materials. In this • Multilayers and thin film melting, induction melting, etc.) are phases and phase transitions at work high resolution electron nanostructures: thin films the methods of processing the basic oxide interfaces, Director’s Special of various kinds of magnetic microscopy encompassing to the material. In some cases a combination Colloquium, Argonne National materials need to be explored various techniques of Lorentz of these routes, melting followed with Laboratory, USA June 3, 2014. for the evaluation of magnetic microscopy and Electron powder metallurgy are also tried. In • Y. Zhu, Tracking Lithium field in conjunction with holography will be employed to these processes, the ε-phase (a stable Electrochemical Reactions nano-grained microstructures, evaluate the important aspects phase) is formed first and by annealing and Probing Electron-Phonon grain boundaries and the such as; (i) exploration of of the ε-phase (between 400 to 600 Interactions using Ultrafast
106 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 107 Theoretical Studies of the Correlated Electronic Structure of Graphene and its Fragments
he principal research Path Integral Renormalization objective is to arrive Group into the effort. In all Tat accurate correlated- cases the motivation is to electron description of graphene work in a highly collaborative and wide quasi-2D graphene environment in order to achieve nanoribbons. In the context of the objectives. In addition, the Principal Investigators graphene nanoribbons center’s researchers have established S. Ramasesha motivation is to determine collaboration with the synthetic Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India how true two-dimensionality chemistry group of Professor NiFe nano-rings fabricated by Electron Beam Lithography Email: [email protected] is reached as the width of Klaus Muellen of Max Planck the nanoribbons is increased Institute for Polymer Research Sumitendra Mazumdar in a controlled manner. The (MPI), Mainz, who will provide Electrons, Distinguished Scientists of Microstructure – Property University of Arizona Tucson, USA educational mission is to samples of large PAH molecules Lecture Series, National Physical Correlations, International E-mail: [email protected] expose graduate students and and the attosecond spectroscopy Laboratory, New Delhi, India, July Conference on Nanoscale postdoctoral fellows to modern group of Professor Arvinder 8, 2014 Spectroscopy and Nanotechnology techniques of computational Sandhu, who will perform one- • Y. Zhu, L. Wu, H. Inada, J. Ciston, (NSS-8), Gleacher Center, Chicago, USA, July 28, 2014. and theoretical materials and two-photon absorption R.F. Egertonand L.D. Mark, chemistry and physics. measurements on the molecules Atomically Resolved Surface Partnering Institutions Publications: supplied by the Muellen group. Imaging Using Secondary Electrons India The US and Indian researchers with Aberration Corrected Scanning • Rout P.K., Pandey H., Wu L., Anupam, bring complementary techniques The Center has performed Transmission Electron Microscopes, Joshi P.C., Hossain Z., Zhu Yimei and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay such as quantum chemistry theoretical research on the International Conference on Electron Budhani R.C. (2014) Two–dimensional with high order configuration PAH molecules coronene, electron gas-like charge transport at the Microscopy, New Delhi, India, July interaction, the Density Matrix hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene 10, 2014 interface between a magnetic Heusler alloy USA and SrTiO . Phys. Rev. B 89: 020401(R) Mississippi State University Renormalization Group and the (HBC), circumcoronene and • A.K.Srivastava, Electron 3 • Das S., Rastogi A., Wu L., Zheng J.C., Mississippi Microscopy Evidence of Relevance Hossain Z., Zhu Yimei and Budhani of Microstructure – Property R.C. (2014) Kondo scattering in δ-doped Correlations, Materials Science LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces: Renormalization Division, Argonne National by spin-orbit interactions. Phys. Rev. B 90: Laboratory, USA, July 22, 2014. 081107(R). • A.K.Srivastava, Electron Figure 1: (a) Coronene (C24H12), (b) HBC (C42H18), (c) circumcoronene (C54H18), and (d) ovalene. The PPP-MRSDCI calculations were done for the full MO-space of Microscopy Evidence of Relevance coronene, and ovalene; for HBC and circumcoronene the outermost 5 and 8 pairs of MOs, respectively, were ignored in our calculation.
108 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 109 calculations performed on 2D PAH the two-photon state. This is not molecules to date. entirely unexpected, as with three nearest neighbors per carbon atom Within one-electron and Hartree- (except the peripheral ones) the one- Fock theories, the lowest two-photon electron bandwidth in the 2D PAH state in all cases is predicted to be molecules is much larger than that significantly above the lowest one- in the polyenes. What is surprising is photon optically allowed state. In that the lowest two-photon state is at contrast the calculated two-photon twice the energy of the lowest triplet states are below the lowest one- Table I: PPP-MRSDCI excited state energies for decapentaene and the PAH molecules of Figures 1(a)-(d)(in eV). The 1A− in D2hovalene (Figure 1(d)), which photon state or nearly degenerate. gstates in the last two columns have energies that are nearly twice those of the lowest triplets T1 and T2. has the same bandwidth as the D6h This is strictly a correlation effect. molecules. (Table I) ovalene shown in Figure 1. In all was as good as quadruple-CI (QCI). Experiments on coronene and HBC cases sophisticated multiple reference Besides, a DMRG approach was confirmed the theoretical prediction. As part of the visitations associated singles and double configuration employed to calculate electronic (Figure 2). with the Joint Center, two scientists from the US visited their Indian interaction (MRSDCI) calculations structure of nanoribbons and of The team has discovered a peculiar counterparts and three Indian have been performed, whose precision nanodiscs. These are the largest CI role of geometry. The first three scientists visited their US partnering molecules in Figure 1 all have D6h Institutions. symmetry. Although correlation effects are significant, it is found that these effects were weaker than that Publication in linear polyenes. In the polyenes, • Aryanpour K., Roberts A., Sandhu the lowest two-photon state is at or A., Rathore R., Shukla A. and nearly at the same energy as twice the Mazumdar S. (2014) Subgap two- energy of the lowest spin-triplet state, photon states in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Evidence for strong indicating that both the lowest triplet electron correlations. J. Phys. Chem. C and the lowest two-photon state are 118: 3331-3339. covalent in the valence bond language. • Aryanpour K., Shukla A. and In the D6h PAH molecules, the lowest Mazumdar S. (2014) Electron two-photon states are significantly correlations and two-photon states below twice the lowest triplet energy, in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon indicating the significant ionic molecules: A peculiar role of geometry. J. contributions to both the triplet and Chem. Phys.140: 104301.
Figure 2: (a) Experimental (red) and calculated (black) optical absorption spectra of coronene; calculations are within the PPP model. The weak absorption at ~ 3.5 eV, missed in the calculation, is to a state that is optically dark within the purely electronic PPP Hamiltonian with nearest-neighbor electron hopping. (b) Same as in (a) for HBC. The lowest energy weak absorption is again to a dark state. (c) Experimental linear (red) and two-photon absorption (TPA) (blue) spectra of coronene. The gray curve gives the TPA due to the solvent. Notice the significant TPA of coronene below the linear absorption edge. (d) Same as (c) for HBC. (e) Calculated linear absorption (red) and average TPA (blue) for coronene. Two-photon resonances are to both 1Ag and 1B1g states (arrows) which are nondegenerate within the PPP model. (f) Same as in (e), for HBC.
110 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 111 Advanced Modeling of Tropical Land-Atmosphere- Ocean System for Simulation workshop on Advanced modeling and showed significant improvements of Extreme Weather Events data assimilation for tropical cyclone in the evolution of intensity (Figure predictions with special reference 1). Figure 2a provides wind swath to the hurricane weather research of Phailin demonstrating that the and forecasting (HWRF) system on system made landfall with very severe July 09-14, 2014 was organized by cyclonic storm intensity in advance U.C. Mohanty (IIT, Bhubaneswar) of 3 days. The rainfall amount and he Center addresses the and Forecast (HWRF) modeling and Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan structure is improved significantly, problem of improved system, developed as a joint (NOAA). in case of Phailin showing peak Tforecasts of severe project by the Environmental rainfalls activity over Northern parts weather events over tropical Modeling Center (EMC) Achievements of Odisha as observed (Figure 2b). In regions within the Framework and the Hurricane Research case of Lehar, model indicated the for India-U.S. Cooperation Division (HRD) of NOAA’s Based on the 2013 version of Principal Investigators operational HWRF system, the dry air incursion into TC environment on Weather and Climate Atlantic Oceanographic and when the TC started interacting with U.C. Mohanty Forecasting and Agriculture. Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane Research Division (HRD) of the Atlantic Oceanographic and the land which causes weakening Indian Institute of Technology The aim of the center is to (AOML) and implemented of Leharover the Bay of Bengal Bhuwaneshwar, India advance the Hurricane Weather at the National Centers for Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) Email: [email protected] itself before making landfall. The Research and Forecasting Environmental Prediction with its partners at Environmental Modeling Center (EMC), National rarest track and intensity evolution Frank Marks System to a Regional Tropical (NCEP), has shown comparable (maximum intensification to VSCS Prediction System over India and at times superior TC Centers for Environmental National Oceanic and Atmospheric Predictions (NCEP) have developed and dissimilation over the Bay of Administration, Miami, USA for improved forecasts of high intensity forecast skills Bengal without landfall) of Madi was Email: [email protected] a basin scale HWRF system that can impact weather events. compared to the best performing also predicted more accurately. statistical models. The HWRF operate with multiple moving nests During the past two-three model is now paving the way spanning at resolution down to 3 km years, significant progress for removing the roadblocks to over the Atlantic Ocean. The Joint Scientific value addition Partnering Institutions has been accomplished in the improvements in the operational Center configured the same system for The basin scale HWRF system has tropical cyclone (TC) track, India TC intensity forecasts, which North Indian Ocean (outer domain scientific capabilities intensity and structure forecasts Indian National Centre for have had virtually stagnant covers Westpac, north Indian Ocean) under the auspices of and • To study multi-scale interactions Ocean Information Services skill for the last two decades. with the help of US counterpartners. such as largescale – storm scale and Hyderabad support from the United States This modeling system was storm scale – storm scale (US) National Oceanic and Initial testing and experimental implemented in operations USA Atmospheric Administration runs have been conducted with the • As quality of initial conditions (storm at the India Meteorological intensity, position and structure) Purdue University (NOAA)’s Hurricane Forecast recent very severe cyclonic storms West Lafayette Department under the are important, this system has state- Improvement Project (HFIP, (VSCS), Phailin (Oct’ 2013), Lehar implementation agreement (IA) of-the-art vortex initialization and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- Gall et al. 2013). In particular, (Nov’ 2013) and Madi (Dec’ 2013) ministration between MOES and NOAA. relocation technique to correct initial for the first time, a very high- over Bay of Bengal. This model Maryland In order to share NOAA’s intensity, position and structure resolution (3 km) deterministic clearly showed overall superiority based on observations. advanced understanding and numerical weather prediction at longer range forecast (4-5 days) forecasting techniques acquired • Assimilation of environmental and (NWP) model, known as the in terms of track, intensity, size and in the last few years, an Indo-US storm scale observations can be done Hurricane Weather Research structure. In all the cases, HWRF within this system using advanced
112 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 113 Hybrid EnKF data assimilation hrly) during model integration on system which provides background model performance. error flow. • Hybrid data assimilation • Provides guidance much in advance • Development of customized land whether the West Pacific/China surface data assimilation system Sea typhoons are emerging into Bay for Indian region to represent land of Bengal and its movement and characteristics (soil moisture and intensity. temperature profiles with depth) • Provides sufficient large scale when a cyclone start interacting with environment at high resolution. the land for better structure of wind Elastohydrodynamic and rainfall during landfall. Way forward • Coupling of ocean model with • Initial testing is underway to study atmospheric HWRF model for North Lubrication Studies the sensitivity of updating SST (6 Indian region.
lastohydrodynamic lubri- Achievements cation (EHL) is a common • A generalized mathematical Ephenomena occurring model for one-dimensional within the non-conformal EHL line contacts has been contacts of bearings, gears, developed using the Finite cam-follower, valves etc. These Difference and Discontinuous Principal Investigators tribological components are very Galerkin techniques. The Satish Chandra Sharma critical and are of significant generalized EHL line contact Indian Institute of Technology importance in the functioning model represents the contact Roorkee, India of the elite mechanical systems. geometry in roller bearings, Email:[email protected] gears, cam-followers etc. However, even after appropriate • The initial smooth surface Q. Jane Wang maintenance practices, these components fail unwarrantedly EHL line contact model was Northwestern University, Evanston, USA upgraded to the rough surface Email: [email protected] leading to severe loses. Hence, EHL line contact lubricated the IUSSTF funded Joint with non-Newtonian Centre on Elastohydrodynamic lubricants. The surface Lubrication envisages roughness in the model has Partnering Institutions understanding the untouched been incorporated using domains of EHL and stochastic and deterministic India developing perspective approaches (Figure 1). The CSIR - Indian Institute of Petroleum methodology to understand non-Newtonian rheology of Dehradun the failure phenomenon in the the lubricants is represented by elastohydrodynamic lubricated Power-law lubricants. USA contacts. • The model provides the University of Akron film thickness distribution Akron During the one year span and the contact pressures significant achievements has within the contact under been attained by the centre in different operating conditions. terms of gaining new knowledge The generalized operating pertaining to EHL and also parameters viz. Load, Speed strengthening and augmenting and Material property forms the input to the model. Figure the strengths of the partnering 2 shows the film thickness and institutions. pressure distribution within the
114 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 115 Fig. 1 : Rough surface EHL line contact geometry under study.
contact for a shear thinning fluid. of action of the center for successful • The study undertaken has revealed attainment of the deliverables. that the speed, material parameter and the power law index have significant Scientific value addition influence on the performance of the The outcome of the Joint center in the EHL contact as these parameters first year has resulted into development significantly influences the fluid film of theoretical model of EHL which thickness. The sample results of this has been upgraded to investigate more study are given in Figure 3. realistic contact conditions. The CFX • A CFX based model has been approach followed is for the first time developed for a bump shaped asperity in an EHL contact. The contact in the EHL studies. These studies will pressure and the deformations be of immense help in design and have been investigated. The non- development of tribo-components Newtonian rheology of lubricant has and also to understand the failure been employed using the Power Law phenomena associated with these concept. components. • During the first year of the Joint Fig. 3 : Influence of dimensionless load on the central and minimum film thickness at different (a) Speed parameter and (b) Material parameter. center the research team from India Way forward visited the Northwestern University and University of Akron. During The Joint center is determined to bring into more realistic approaches help of theoretical models and Publications: the visit the researchers discussed the experimental validation. As a way plan of work and the future course of mechanical systems with the • Thakre G. D, Sharma Satish C, forward the activities pertaining to Harsha S.P, Tyagi M.R. (2014) the development of failure models “A parametric investigation on the and the incorporation of real surface microelastohydrodynamic lubrication roughness into the investigation are of power law fluid lubricated line- planned for the second year. Further a contact. Proc. of IMech E Part J. joint collaborative workshop in order (Communicated, Under Review). to disseminate the findings of the center is planned in the second year.
Fig. 2 : The film thickness and pressure distribution for (W=50x10-6, U=50x10-12, G=3000, SRR=0.8)
116 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 117 Design of Red Alert Extreme Heat Alert Day Sustainable Climate Change orange alert Heat Alert Day yellow alert Hot Day
Products, Services and Health white No Alert and Manufacturing Adaptation Systems
n the current networked • Suitable guidelines, methods n response to excess science by inviting health and complex manufacturing and tools with which to mortality due to heat wave in researchers, modelling experts, Ienvironment, an integrated generate such systems. IMay 2010, the Public Health academics and policymakers systems approach for • Suitable standards, guidelines, Foundation of India (PHFI) in this field to discuss the state sustainability requires the methods and tools for through the Indian Institute of existing scientific research development of robust and evaluating/selecting such of Public Health Gandhinagar and identify next steps in our Principal Investigators Principal Investigators cost-effective life cycle analysis systems. (IIPHG) and the Natural efforts of development of a heat Amaresh Chakrabarti and synthesis methodologies, • Suitable training materials for Dileep Mavalankar Resources Defence Council health early warning system in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India standards, and tools so that training people in designing Indian Institute of Public Health (NRDC) have been working to India. This will also serve as a E-mail: [email protected] designers and engineers can sustainable systems Gandhinagar, India develop a network of scientists, venue to articulate principles for E-mail: [email protected] track and aggregate the overall The main objective of this Joint researchers and policymakers health adaptation in India and Gaurav Ameta sustainability of a product Center is to leverage the Indo- to plan, develop and implement generate a list of climate health Washington State University US research efforts in creating Perry Sheffield Washington, USA throughout its life and across Mount Sinai Hospital an actionable heat health early issues for consideration and Email: [email protected] the networked and distributed synergy between the needs of New York, USA warning system for the municipal prioritization. The activities of production system. Such data the emerging and advanced corporation of Ahmedabad. the center include vulnerability generation and aggregation economies. The center will For this purpose the center assessment surveys, focus group is beyond the capability and coordinate and carry out has conducted international discussions, factsheets, posters missions of many of the cutting edge research to workshops, researcher visits and training and sensitization Partnering Institutions benchmark and develop suitable Partnering Institutions manufacturing companies today, and is undertaking primary workshops. India as it involves their entire global measures for sustainability, India research including vulnerability develop a repository of suitable Centre for Study of Science, supply chain and significant Indian Institute of Public Health assessment surveys. Achievements Technology and Policy gains can be achieved through methods for use to improve New Delhi Bangalore The objective of the center is India-US research and industry sustainability, and develop Public Health Foundation of India In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, strong to reconvene scientific experts Indian Institute of Management collaborations. To support a curriculum and training New Delhi local government leadership, Ahmedabad working on health adaptation development of sustainable material using the above results which partnered with Indian National Innovation Foundation USA research in India and the U.S. manufacturing systems, the for educating students to be Institute of Public Health- New Delhi This scientific advisory group following are needed: ‘sustainable designers’. Natural Resources Defense Council Gandhingar lead consortium New York will continue to guide the USA of Indian and US institutions, • Measures with which to assess assessment and strategizing enabled the development and Syracuse University sustainability of these systems. process. Because scientific Syracuse effective implementation of a research on climate adaption pilot Heat Action Plan – the University of California Berkeley is still nascent, this bilateral first of its kind in South Asia. exchange will advance climate Launched in March 2013 and
118 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 119 continued into 2014, the Plan is from initial grant for an international based on robust scientific research workshop by the Indo-US Science and understanding of similar plans and Technology Forum in 2011. in the west. It builds prediction of This initial support catalysed a small • Media engagement including the Ahmedabad heat health project heat waves, creates public awareness grant from NRDC and it allowed workshops and meetings to raise delivered new cutting-edge scientific awareness on extreme heat through of the risks of extreme heat, trains the project team to leverage support research on climate adaptation, with television, radio and print outlets: medical and community workers from the Climate Development and particular focus on public health for 6,000 pamphlets distributed to the most vulnerable populations in to prevent & respond to heat- Knowledge Network for international school children and other vulnerable related illnesses, and coordinates an scientific collaboration which led to populations; large hoardings India. This includes interagency emergency response to development of Heat Action Plan (billboards) displayed at a dozen • Increasing knowledge of the events heat waves. Sharing international activities led by the Ahmedabad locations around Ahmedabad; of 2010 Ahmedabad heatwave experiences and best practices helped Municipal Corporation. banners attached to rickshaws; • Analysis of the effects of extreme change the perception among project digital visual displays (containing the heat on vulnerable groups in Gujarat Key activities of the Ahmedabad temperature, information of heat; stakeholders in Ahmedabad that heat • Translating knowledge to policy on Heat Action Plan are: illness symptoms and precautions) was not a significant health threat. heat waves and its effects • Research activities on effects of heat Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation However, further awareness-raising is • Developing a heat wave early on slum communities and outdoor and project team. still necessary to convince the general warning system for Ahmedabad public as well as administrators and workers • Dissemination of regular heat alerts and information to local agencies The good scientific research created medical practitioners. • Development of 7 days temperature forecasting for summer in and stakeholders through emails and a strong platform for international The Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Ahmedabad with help of CFAN text messages support and local action leading to Study Group is a team of academicians centre at Georgia tech. • Continuous monitoring of daily credibility. This research focused on and researchers from India and USA • Develop early warning system for incidence of heat related illness cases identifying vulnerable populations and consists of (in alphabetical order): extreme heat based on Meteorological and deaths by Ahmedabad Municipal and formulating strategies to protect Dileep Andhare (IIPH-G), Gulrez Department and international Corporation during peak summer. vulnerable communities. Such Shah Azhar (IIPH-G), Meredith forecasting models working with • Continuous monitoring of research is not happening anywhere Connolly (NRDC), Bhaskar Deol Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. emergency calls for heat illnesses by else in South Asia (and probably (NRDC), Priya Shekhar Dutta • Sensitisation and training of hospital GVK-EMRI. anywhere else in the developing (IIPH-G), Partha Sarthi Ganguly superintendents, physicians and ‘108 • Analysis of completed activities world) to best of team’s knowledge, (IIPH-G), Jeremy Hess (Emory Emergency Response Services’ to and data collected during inaugural and is of great interest to the University), Anjali Jaiswal (NRDC), heat-health risks phases project team international scientific community. Nehmat Kaur (NRDC), Kim • Health facility preparedness for • Reorientation of all medical and Access to data and the quality of Knowlton (NRDC and Mailman dealing with heat stroke to reduce paramedical staff Ahmedabad existing data has been a challenge. The SPH, Columbia University), Dileep mortality: supplying ice packs at Municipal Corporation and project team has observed strong association Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation team Mavalankar (IIPH-G), Ajit Rajiva of heat wave and all-cause mortality, hospitals and health centres and but have not yet been able to show (IIPH-G), Perry Sheffield (Icahn SOM building capacity for heat-illness Scientific value addition at Mount Sinai) and Abhiyant Tiwari surveillance. association with heat wave related (IIPH-G). This partnership emerged As a research-focused initiative,
120 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 121 causes of mortality. This points to all-cause mortality associated with the the need for further research on heat 2010 Ahmedabad heat wave. PLOS health impacts. ONE 9(3): 1-8. • Khyati Kakkad, Michelle L. As part of the project, the team plans Barzaga, Sylvan Wallenstein, Gulrez to expand scientific collaboration. It Shah Azhar, and Perry E. Sheffield is also planning research exchange (2014) Neonates in Ahmedabad, India, Advancing Research visits with key municipal officers, during the 2010 Heat Wave: A Climate scientist and physicians from India Change Adaptation Study. Journal of and USA. There are plans to broaden Environmental and Public Health, and Education Center’s engagement with scientists Article ID 946875, 1:8. in additional Indian states and cities. • Tran, Kathy V., Gulrez S. Azhar, Rajesh Nair, Kim Knowlton, Anjali in Structural Fire Way forward Jaiswal, Perry Sheffield, Dileep Mavalankar, and Jeremy Hess (2013) The Ahmedabad heat health project A cross-sectional, randomized cluster Engineering has been recognized nationally and sample survey of household vulnerability internationally for its scientific and to extreme heat among slum dwellers policy success in bringing heat health in Ahmedabad, India. International issues to the fore. There is now new journal of environmental research interest in scientific research, climate- and public health 10, no. 6: 2515- induced extreme heat preparedness 2543. ichigan State The main aim of the “Indo- and demand to scale up this project Issue Briefs University in US Virtual Fire Center” is to in India. Based on learning from collaboration with establish collaboration among • Report Series: Rising Temperatures, M the project’s first phase, and interest University of Texas at Austin, the partnering institutes in US Deadly Threat (March 2013): Slum from other state and municipal CSIR-Central Building and India for exchange and Community; Outdoor Worker; governments in India, the next phase Research Institute, Roorkee and dissemination of information Medical Professionals; Local Principal Investigators will build on this momentum and Government http://www.nrdc.org/ Indian Institute of Technology in fire safety field with respect deepen and expand scientific research international/india/extreme-heat- S. K. Battacharyya – Delhi, established an “US- to fire research, education, and action on extreme heat. preparedness/ Central Building Research Institute India Virtual Fire Center” for training and technology transfer Roorkee, India enhancing fire safety in built activities in India to improve • Report: Climate Change and Health Email: [email protected] Publications: Preparedness in India http://www. infrastructure. The research overall fire safety in built • Kim Knowlton, Anjali Jaiswal, nrdc.org/international/india/india- Venkatesh Kodur terms at these institutions are environment. The center will health-report.asp Gulrez Shah Azhar, Dileep Michigan State University developing methodologies, facilitate exchange of students, Mavalankar, Amruta Nori-Sarma, • Fact Sheet: Fighting Climate Effects: East Lansing, USA design tools and guidelines for scientists as faculty amongst Ajit Rajiva, Priya Dutta et al. (2014) Protecting People from Extreme E-mail: [email protected] performance based structural partner Institutions. Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Development Heat in One of India’s Fastest fire safety design. Under the The partnering institutes and Implementation of South Asia’s Growing Cities http://www.nrdc. virtual fire research center, the are sharing their expertise, First Heat-Health Action Plan. Int. J. org/international/12012701.asp team will focus on exchanging Partnering Institutions resources, and wealth of Environ. Res. Public Health 11:3473- • CDKN Inside Story: Addressing and sharing research expertise, 3492. knowledge. Bilateral exchanges heat-related health risks in urban India experimental facilities and test • Gulrez Shah Azhar, Dileep of researchers have been carried India: Ahmedabad’s Heat Action Indian Institute of Technology data for improving fire safety in Mavalankar, Amruta Nori-Sarma, out. In order to exchange and Plan http://cdkn.org/wp-content/ Delhi two countries. Specifically, the Ajit Rajiva, Priya Dutta et al. (2014) uploads/2014/05/Ahmedebad_ disseminate the information team will develop engineering Heat-related mortality in India: Excess Inside_Story_final_web-res1.pdf in the field of fire safety a USA guidelines and solutions for short term workshop has been University of Texas overcoming fire problems in Austin planned during March 2015 reinforced concrete beams. In at CBRI Roorkee. India. The addition the proposed center will topic of the workshop will be help in knowledge dissemination “Emerging Trends in Fire Safety among the academia, design Engineering”. The participants professionals and construction will be the representatives of industry through seminars and the industry working in the workshops. area of passive fire protection,
122 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 123 observations were made for the first temperature at all locations in high cracking load, ultimate load and load strength concrete beam was higher as at permissible deflection. compared to normal strength concrete beam during the entire period of fire Further to determine the fire resistance exposure. rating, the experiments were carried out by exposing the reinforced Similarly for the same loading of concrete beam specimens to standard 15kN during fire exposure, the fire ISO 834 fire. The beams were resistance rating of normal strength preloaded with two point loads to a concrete beam was higher as fixed percentage of ultimate strength compared to high strength concrete at room temperature. After applying beam. the loads on the beams, the beams To develop high temperature were exposed to standard heating properties of concrete the material conditions. During the entire period property tests are planned. The of fire exposure the predefined load material properties that may was maintained. The temperature of have significant influence on fire the furnace as well as that in concrete resistance and spalling are high and rebars and deflection of beams temperature thermal and mechanical were recorded during fire exposure. properties. The specimen of cubes On comparison of the results of and cylinders are under preparation normal and high strength concrete at CBRI and will be shipped to IIT-D Figure 1: Experimental Set-up beams it was found that the for undertaking property tests.
academia, design professionals, For the fire performance assessment construction industry, researchers, of structural elements modeling students and users from government, studies will be carried out. For the public and private sector. validation of models required test data is to be generated. Experimental Work is in progress for the studies have been carried out and development of a dedicated fire the test data has been generated on resource website. The basic purpose of the fire performance of beams under the website is to provide information loading conditions. to the users working for the promotion of fire safety in built environment. To study the fire performance of Accordingly a site-map of the website reinforced concrete (RC) beams under has been finalised and it will include: loading conditions, experiments • Details of codes/ standards/ were carried out through a well perspectives (adhering to copyright designed experimental set-up. The laws and regulations). experimental set-up consists of a floor • Technical awareness on: analysis/ furnace to produce temperature and a design procedures and software reaction frame for applying loads, to simulations. which a structural member might be • Test data sharing for possible exposed during a fire in practice as benchmarking; shown in the Picture. • Publications (details, direct links of The tests include a series of eight textbooks, journals, SIF proceedings experiments on normal and high etc.). strength concrete beams. To study the • Up-coming events in the area of flexural behaviour of RC beams, two structural fire engineering; and reference specimens of two different • Suggestions and comments by the grades namely M30 and M60 were visitors. tested under two point loadings. The
124 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 125 Protein Interactor Discovery and Biological Structure Timing
he knowledge of protein- interacting candidates at 95% iological clocks have model organisms, Indian complex (quaternary) expected coverage. These evolved to interact researchers have pioneered the Tstructure using X-ray candidates will thereafter be Bwith daily changes in understanding of physiology and crystallographic methods screened and ranked using our environment and time behavior in complex organisms offer an atomistic glimpse into our interaction forcefield and appropriate physiology, that are under daily and seasonal the basis of this interaction. expectation maximization metabolism, and behavior to regulation. Principal Investigators Principal Investigators right time of the day or to the Therefore, structural genomics of method. The sequences will be The Indo-US center for biological right season. Optimum timing Debnath Pal protein complexes has been one modeled to assess and interpret Vinod Kumar timing will be the hub for events underlie increased Indian Institute of Science of the frontier areas in structural the basis of the interaction as University of Delhi, India research, training and education biomass production by plant Bangalore, India biology. However, structure rigid bodies, and subsequently Email: [email protected] by involving two important Email: [email protected] species, optimum growth, cell solution of protein complexes subjected to molecular dynamics Universities of India (University division, reproductive success, Satchidananda Panda of Delhi and the University of David S. Eisenberg must precede identification simulations to confirm the healthy lifespan and improved Salk Institute for Biological Studies Lucknow) and two important University of California Los Angeles, USA of natural/cognate binding viability of the protein- La Jolla, USA prognosis in animals and in centers of research and education Email: [email protected] partners in cell to allow attempt interaction. The candidates Email: [email protected] humans. In contrast, disruption of the USA (University of to protein co-crystallization and will be experimentally tested of the biological timing system California and Salk Institute for structure determination. As part for protein-protein interaction as in genetic mutations affecting Biological Studies). The basic of this Joint Center, the groups screening and if successful, the internal clock or changes science collaborations will center will enhance methodology followed up with crystallization in environmental factors Partnering Institutions Partnering Institutions on ongoing funded research with of identification of natural/ and structure determination. impairs fitness and predisposes direct relevance to public health India India to chronic diseases and early cognate binding partners of The work is expected to give a and ecosystem restoration. Indian Institute of Technology University of Lucknow aging. Biological timing is a proteins in a genomics scale. An significant boost to the structural Research collaborations will Kharagpur Lucknow rapidly emerging field and it has already established ProLinks genomics of protein complexes. form the platform for cross- profound implications in multiple database of genomic-context The center is expected to USA training of researchers and USA fronts common to the national derived functional linkage bring forth new ideas and lay students during short-term visits. Los Alamos National Laboratory University of California interests of both the USA and information will be used to groundwork for long term future San Diego These visits and online tools will Los Alamos India. These areas include get an initial set of physically collaborations. be leveraged to generate and food security, energy security, disseminate education materials public health, and ecosystem on biological timing. Success restoration. While biological of the research program will timing researchers in the USA solidify collaboration between have been at the forefront of two countries while training and understanding the molecular education efforts will expand basis of biological clocks in bilateral collaboration. Activities
126 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 127 planned under this center are organized list of meetings and symposiums into three aims. in the subject area, link to other • Light modulation of activity, sleep, chronobiology centers, laboratories reproduction, regeneration, and and relevant databases. For public migration. outreach, the web site will also include education materials for educating • Circadian rhythm, eating pattern, and the general public on chronobiology. regulation of metabolic homeostasis. Center members will use skype and • Scientific meetings, symposiums, other online communication tools for and training schools. periodic web-based discussion and Crystallization at The strength of the collaboration consultation. Center members’ travel between partners of the joint center to US or India will be coordinated to lies in the non-overlapping species and maximize utility. The collaboration Interfaces techniques followed in each center between the partnering institutions institute. through this center will expand in The third aim of this center is an future and the outcome in terms of important one to be achieved through research and knowledge from the this center. A website hosted will serve project is envisaged to contribute to as the hub for center activities. It will the information on public health and highlight the executive summary conservation of biodiversity in both of the center, research activities of countries. participating principal investigators, he Center aims to grow with a different symmetry carry out fundamental in the bulk crystals Tresearch to understand • Growth of lattices, of three self-organized mechanism in or lower dimensions, of formation of Crystals at solid nanoparticles of different and liquid Interfaces. Under shapes and sizes but with high Principal Investigators this broad theme our specific size and shape monodispersity. Some of the areas under focus Milan K. Sanyal interests will be to understand of the proposed Indo-US Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics the a) growth of crystals Joint Centre will be in-situ Kolkata, India of atoms/molecules with Email: [email protected] studies of MBE growth of symmetries that are generally oxide materials,ex-situ studies Michael J. Bedzyk absent in bulk, and b) growth of MBE growth of Si-Ge quantum structures Northwestern University of crystals of mono-dispersed Evanston, USA nano-particles. It shall primarily • In-situ studies of crystallization Email: [email protected] use synchrotron scattering, of nanomaterials at the liquid- high resolution microscopy liquid and air-liquid interfaces, and spectroscopy techniques • Ex-situ studies of organized Partnering Institutions in this collaborative project. nanostructures on silicon/ A general interest in the above quartz substrates, using x-ray India studies lays in development of scattering, microscopy and Indian Association for the materials for highly efficient spectroscopy. While ex-situ Cultivation of Science energy conversion/storage and studies will be carried out in Jadavpur the respective laboratories in for ultra-low-power dissipation Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics India and US, in-situ studies Kolkata nano-devices. will be performed at Advanced Under the aegis of the Joint Photon Source, Argonne USA Center, special attention will be National Laboratory, USA and Argeonne National Lab given to: at the India-Japan Beamline Lemont (developed by Saha Institute Northwestern University • Interfacial growth of crystals of Nuclear Physics) in Photon Evanston of atoms and molecules which Factory, KEK, Tsukuba, Japan. cannot either be grown at all or
128 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 129 Nanostructure Genomics
Key Contacts he goal of this center and biological sensors, energy Rajiv Sharma R. Varadarajan is to provide a vibrant devices such as super capacitors, Executive Director Controller (F&A) TINDO-US center on two growth and application of robust Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Indo-US Science and Technology Forum important topics of mutual and novel substrates (using Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road research interest: Nanostructure coherent inclusion of plasmonic New Delhi 110 001, India New Delhi 110 001, India Materials and Biological materials in silicon substrates) Principal Investigators E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Molecules. The proposed for surfaces enhanced Raman Saroj K. Nayak work plans to capitalize on Spectroscopy (SERS) that Michael Cheetham Smriti Trikha Indian Institute of Technology expertise from both sides of enable to detect single molecule Head U.S. Outreach Office Senior Science Manager Bhubaneswar Atlantic with particular focus detection, metal clusters Email: [email protected] American Association for the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum on close collaboration between controlled intein proteins Advancement of Science Fulbright House, George Makhatadze high performance predictive that could be used as an anti- 1200 New York Avenue NW 12 Hailey Road Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute computational (HPPC) tuberculosis drug, designing Washington, DC 20005, USA New Delhi 110 001, India Troy, USA methods with the state of the art of new protein-nanostructure E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Email : [email protected] experimental investigations. interfaces that could control or provide superior biosensors. The center will provide a unique George N. Sibley Nishritha Bopana The team would focus on two platform for basic scientists, Minister-Counselor for EEST (Economy, Principal Science Officer broad thrust areas: Partnering Institutions engineers and physicians to Environment, Science & Technology) Indo-US Science and Technology Forum India interact actively addressing • Design of 2-dimensional Embassy of the United States of America Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Functional Nanostructures Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 001, India Kalinga Institute of fundamental questions keeping Industrial Technology University in mind possible applications • Design of Optimal Nano-Bio New Delhi 110021, India E-mail: [email protected] Bhubaneswar through design of new Interfaces. E-mail: [email protected] Institute of Physics, atomic scale materials and Bhubaneswar biomolecules. Specifically, the Publications: Tarun Mohindra IBM Research India group will collaborate on the N. A. Lanzillo, J.B. Thomas, Counselor for Science and Technology fundamental study of new E.B. Watson, M. Washington Indian Embassy USA and emerging nanostructured and S. K. Nayak (2014), Pressure- 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20008, USA Pacific Northwest National Laboratory materials with potential enabled photon engineering in Richland applications in low power high metals. Proc. Nat. Aca. Sci. E-mail: [email protected] New York State Department of speed transistors, chemical 111:8712 Health and University, Albany State University New York
130 Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Annual Report | 2013 - 2014 131 Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road, New Delhi-110 001 www.iusstf.org
Designed and Produced by: AFE Consultants Private Limited, Aravali House, 431/D-22, Chhatarpur Hills, New Delhi-110074, India