Indo-US S&T Forum
Annual Report 2010 2011
Indo-US S&T Forum Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road New Delhi 110 001, India Phone: 91-11-42691700 Fax: 91-11-23321552 http://www.indousstf.org INDO-US SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FORUM Catalyzing Indo-US Science & Technology Cooperation Contact Points
Rajiv Sharma R. Varadarajan Executive Director Controller (F&A) Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road New Delhi 110 001, India New Delhi 110 001, India E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Michael Cheetham Smriti Trikha Director Senior Science Manager India Science and Technology Partnership (INSTP) Indo-US Science and Technology Forum American Association for the Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Advancement of Science New Delhi 110 001, India 1200 New York Avenue NW E-mail: [email protected] Washington, DC 20005, USA E-mail: [email protected]
Blair Parks Hall, Jr. Nishritha Bopana Minister Counselor Science Officer Economic, Environment and Science Affairs Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Embassy of the United States of America Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 001, India New Delhi 110021, India E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Debapriya Dutta Counselor for Science and Technology Indian Embassy 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20008, USA E-mail: [email protected] Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
INDO-US SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FORUM Catalyzing Indo-US Science & Technology Cooperation Annual Report 2010 2011 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), established under an agreement between the Governments of India and the United States of America in March 2000, is an autonomous, not-for-profit society that promotes and catalyzes Indo-US bilateral collaborations in science, technology, engineering & biomedical research and innovation through substantive interaction among government, academia and industry. 2010 2011 INDO-US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FORUM A catalyst for Indo-US Science & Technology Cooperation
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Contents
From the Executive Director’s Desk 4
History of Indo-US S&T Cooperation 7
Structure of IUSSTF 8
Composition of the Governing Body 9
Objectives of IUSSTF 10
Salient Outcome of IUSSTF Activities 11
India Science and Technology Partnership 15
12th Governing Body Meeting 16
Programmatic Activities • Flagship Program 22 • Public-Private Partnership Programs 27 • Visitation Programs 30 • Bilateral Workshops 46 • Training Programs 73 • Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Engineering 76 • Joint Centers 85 • International Events 96 • Travel Grants 98
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From the Executive Director’s Desk
The Indo-US bilateral relationship has been steadily IUSSTF has been chosen for implementing growing for past several years. Individual scientists US-India Science and Technology Endowment and institutions in India and US have always been Board (STEB), a strategic partnership with the interacting and collaborating in various fields objective of promoting science and technology led of science and technology. This relationship innovation and entrepreneurship. IUSSTF has also has been further strengthened by establishing been entrusted by the Indian Ministry of Science the inter-Governmental Joint Commission on and Technology to coordinate and administer Science and Technology (JCST) which held its multi-institutional, public-private networked R&D first meeting in June 2010 in Washington DC to projects under the Joint Clean Energy Research review various ongoing collaboration programs. and Development Centre (JCERDC) in three priority The JCST recommendations included promoting areas of solar energy, second generation bio-fuels inter-agency collaboration for supporting basic and energy efficiency of buildings. This program, and applied research through virtual joint research a strategic partnership between Indian Ministry of centers; initiation of Joint Clean Energy Research Science and Technology and the US Department Centre; and accelerating formation of Science and of Energy has commitment of 5 million US$ by Technology Endowment Board. It is heartening each side for five years with matching funds by to report that recognizing its capacity to manage the consortia partners. large extramural programs and efficient delivery mechanism, IUSSTF was subsequently involved in Over the years, IUSSTF has catalyzed fruitful implementation of these activities. collaboration and partnerships spanning across
4 From the Executive Director’s Desk
disciplines and institutions between our two workshops in a broad spectrum of scientific topics. countries. Working with government agencies, During the year, more than 500 Indian and US academia, professional societies, and industry scientists, researchers and students were brought partners from both the countries, IUSSTF has together through 27 workshops/ seminars. built over the years several novel programs in tune with public policy imperatives on all It has been a continuous endeavor of IUSSTF to such aspects such as, nurturing and facilitating groom and connect the next generation and contacts between future generations of S&T scientists and researchers which will shape the leadership, mobility through faculty fellowships future of science and technology cooperation and student internships, capacity building in between India and US. IUSSTF has been able to national priority areas, enabling an ecosystem successfully develop several student internship of techno-entrepreneurship, build academia- programs that would allow reciprocal visitation for industry linkages and networking through science and engineering students to work in each several Indo-US Joint Centers. It is very satisfying other’s country for periods up to six months. Under to share several such new and ongoing bilateral the Research Internship in Science and Engineering initiatives in this annual report. Some of these are (RISE) program of IUSSTF, 12 US students were highlighted below. provided opportunities to undertake internships in leading academic /scientific institutions As part of the decadal celebrations of the Indo-US including private R&D laboratory in India. Fifteen Science and Technology Forum, a high-level Indo- Indian students attended 10 week internship US Engineering Education conclave on “Meeting at University of Wisconsin-Madison under the Common Challenges: Strengthening Engineering Khorana Program being implemented with Educational Institutions in India and the US” was partnership of UW-Madison and the Indian held in New Delhi in January 2011 in partnership Department of Biotechnology. Ten Indian B.Tech/ with the Indian Ministry of Human Resource M.Tech. students were awarded internships at Development (MHRD). The meeting was aimed to the Viterbi School of Engineering, University of initiate a dialogue between senior educators to Southern California as part of the Viterbi-India improve mutual understanding of the challenges Program. faced by engineering educational institutions in both countries and explore possible activities and With an aim to foster scientific cooperation, programs to meet these challenges. education, training and capacity building at individual and institutional levels, the IUSSTF The IUSSTF has been playing an important role in has visiting professorships and student visitation promoting networking and information exchange programs with the American Society for between the Indian and US scientific groups through Microbiology (ASM) and the American Society
It is heartening to record that through the canvas of activities supported by IUSSTF more than 10,000 scientists, technologists, medics and students have been brought together so far. During its existence of 11 years, IUSSTF has shown its capability to manage multiple modes of partnership towards promoting novel schemes of collaborations.
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for Physics. Six Indian and US scientists and seven The success of several multi-institutional bilateral Indian and US students availed these visitation Centers have been amply demonstrated by joint fellowships. The Indo-US Research Fellowships publications, patents, reciprocal student and instituted in partnership with DST enabled 27 faculty exchanges, and most significantly in young Indian faculty members and researchers the ability of some of the participating groups to work in premier US institutions for a period of to garner national funding in their respective 3 to 12 months, thus fostering new relationships. countries by showcasing the strength and value of such networked partnerships enabled through IUSSTF has been effective in leveraging its unique IUSSTF support. position to bring together federal agencies, corporate houses, industry associations along It is heartening to record that through the canvas with academia both from US and India on of activities supported by IUSSTF more than 10,000 developing a program portfolio that identifies scientists, technologists, medics and students have nurtures and promotes techno-preneurship. The been brought together so far. During its existence DBT supported Stanford-India Biodesign Program of 11 years, IUSSTF has shown its capability to (SIB) led to the development of several proto-types manage multiple modes of partnership towards of biomedical devises that have potential for promoting novel schemes of collaborations. affordable commercialization. Four outstanding All of this has been made possible through the scientists/ engineers were selected for the 2011 guidance of a very eminent and highly professional SIB fellowships. The DST-Lockheed Martin India Governing Body and the collective efforts of Innovation Growth Program (IIGP) is designed a small but highly dedicated and multi-skilled as an accelerated technology assessment and team at the IUSSTF secretariat. We at IUSSTF are commercialization initiative. This program has confidently poised to shoulder and discharge enabled signing of several global business deals a larger science and technology cooperation by awardees. During 2010-11, 15 innovators were between India and USA with active engagement selected for mentoring under this program. of our stakeholders.
IUSSTF has been chosen for implementing US-India Science and Technology Endowment Board (STEB), a strategic partnership with the objective of promoting science and technology led innovation and entrepreneurship. IUSSTF has also been entrusted by the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology to coordinate and administer multi-institutional, public-private networked R&D projects under the Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre (JCERDC) in three priority areas of solar energy, second generation bio-fuels and energy efficiency of buildings.
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History of Indo-US S&T Cooperation
1950’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s Green revolution Establishment of NASA-ISRO: Science & Indo-US Indo-US Science facilitated with IIT, Kanpur Satellite Technology Fellowships & Technology Forum the U.S. PL 480 Instructional Initiative (STI) Program (IUSSTF) Rupee Funds Establishment of Television NCERT, New Delhi Experiment (SITE) US-India Fund ICAR MoU Indo-US Science Establishment (USIF) & Technology of Land Grant Nuclear Indo-US S&T Indo-US Vaccine Agreement Colleges Cooperation Subcommission Action Program Agreement High Technology DST-NSF Program Cooperation Group Tarapur Power (HTCG) Plant NASA/NOAA- ISRO/DST MoU Indo-US Strategic Partnership DBT/ICMR-NIH/ • ICT CDC Health & • Agri Knowledge Medical Sciences Initiative (AKI) Program • Space Cooperation • Clean Energy • Safety & Security • Health Sciences • Education
Joint S&T Commission
NASA-ISRO Agreement / MOES- NOAA Agreement
Indo-US Nuclear Agreement
Indo-US S&T Endowment Fund for Innovation
Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center (JCERDC)
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Structure of IUSSTF
Management Funding
The IUSSTF functions as Annual interest earning from the endowment • Autonomous created by the US Government with matching • Bilateral contribution from Government of India through the • Nongovernmental Department of Science and Technology provides • Not-for-profit society regular funds to administer the IUSSTF programs.
To ensure that the activities undertaken by the IUSSTF IUSSTF also has the freedom to receive grants, gifts, conform to the highest standards of excellence, a donations or other contributions from industries, joint Governing Body consisting of seven Indian and foundations and private benefactors. Contributions seven American eminent scientists and technologists to IUSSTF are tax-exempted under Section 80G of the provide leadership to IUSSTF. Indian IT Act. Toward furtherance of its objectives, the IUSSTF welcomes fund contributions both in The Executive Director manages the IUSSTF affairs India and USA. As a 501(c)(3) entity, India Science from its headquarters at the Fulbright House, & Technology Partnership (INSTP) serves to raise New Delhi. funds in USA to complement support for bilateral programmatic S&T activities.
Co-Chair Governing Co-Chair India Body USA
Executive Director
Finance and US Outreach and Administration Unit Scientific Programs Unit Support Unit INSTP
Core Activities Extramural
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Composition of the Governing Body
INDIAN CO-CHAIR US CO-CHAIR
T. Ramasami Norman P. Neureiter Secretary Senior Advisor Department of Science and American Association for the Technology Advancement of Science Government of India
INDIAN MEMBERS US MEMBERS
Maharaj K. Bhan Michael Clegg Secretary Foreign Secretary Department of Biotechnology National Academy of Sciences Government of India
Samir K. Brahmachari Subra Suresh Director General Director Council of Scientific & Industrial The National Science Foundation Research and Secretary, DSIR
Sanjay G. Dhande Roderic Pettigrew Director Director Indian Institute of Technology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging Kanpur and Engineering National Institutes of Health
R. Seshasayee Phyllis G. Yoshida Executive Vice-chairman Deputy Assistant Secretary, Ashok Leyland India US Department of Energy
Murali Sastry Ray O. Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Senior Vice President and TATA Chemicals Ltd Chief Technology Officer Lockheed Martin Corporation
Sheila Sangwan Venkatesh Narayanamurti Additional Secretary & Director, Belfer Center for Science and Financial Adviser International Affairs Department of Science and Harvard University Technology Government of India
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Objectives of Iusstf
Catalyst to facilitate seed and promote US-India bilateral collaboration in science, technology, engineering & biomedical research and innovation through substantive interaction among academia, R&D laboratories, industry and government.
• Support exciting and enabling science and technology program portfolio that paves way for sustainable interactions and potential collaborations through networking.
• Promote and strengthen strategic partnerships in science and technology under various intergovernmental initiatives and declarations.
• Create awareness through exchange and dissemination of information and opportunities toward promoting bilateral scientific and technological cooperation.
• Encourage public-private partnership and technopreneurship to foster elements of innovation and enterprise through knowledge networking between academia and industry.
• Capitalize on the scientific and technological synergy on issues of common concern leading to long-term partnership based on shared values.
• Explore new frontiers by nurturing contacts between young and mid-career scientists and technologists to develop mutual trust, leadership and fraternity in research and development.
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Salient Outcome of IUSSTF Activities over the years...
“Success of IUSSTF in achieving its mandated activities should be considered as an exemplar and perhaps a benchmark for similar initiatives of S&T grant making bodies.” - NISTADS Report 2007
IUSSTF convened activities have led to the interaction materials and devices (Society for Applied Micro- of over 10,500 US and Indian scientists and wave Electronics Engineering and Research, Tata technologists creating several new opportunities Institute of Fundamental Research and University paving way to sustained collaborations in diverse of New Mexico); post-harvest technology (Amity areas of science, technology and innovation. University and World Food Logistics Organization for a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Inter-Institutional Agreements Foundation); mathematical proteomics (University of Hyderabad and University of Minnesota); the IUSSTF convened events have led to collaborations Unique Identification Number Project (IIIT Delhi & through inter-institutional agreements in diverse SUNY at Buffalo); protecting senior citizens from areas like weather and climate studies (National cyber security attacks in the e-health scenario Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast, (Amrita University, IIIT Delhi & SUNY at Buffalo); National Center for Atmospheric Research, cloud computing and security (Amrita University, India Meteorological Department & National IIIT Delhi, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIIT Allahabad, SUNY at Center for Environmental Prediction); advanced Buffalo, Arizona State University & Kennesaw State computing (Center for Development of Advanced University); state-of the art research and knowledge Computing & Louisiana State University); ayurvedic center for cardiovascular diseases (Rajiv Gandhi research (Department of Indian Systems of Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram and Medicine and Homeopathy & National Center Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation); ecological for Complementary and Alternative Medicine); health of rivers (Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata information sciences (Mysore University & University and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign); of Pittsburgh); ecoinformatics (Ashoka Trust for self-assembled fibrillar gels (University of Nevada- Research in Environment and Ecology & University Las Vegas and JNCASR, Bangalore; IACS, Kolkata of Massachusetts); technology management and University of Maryland; Vidyasagar University, internship (Technology Information Forecasting Medinipur and Georgetown University; IIT Kharagpur Assessment Council & National Institute of Health); and Georgetown University; and James Madison Sastra Ramanujan Awards (SASTRA University University and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore). & American Mathematical Society); biomedical engineering (Shree Chitra Institute of Medical Indo-US Networking and Joint R&D Science and Technology & Penn State University); Projects water management (Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University and University of Colorado, Boulder); air IUSSTF has supported 181 bilateral workshops that traffic management (IIT-Bombay, National Aerospace have had a substantive impact in generating new Laboratories and NASA); conservation research (JNV joint R&D projects in areas of mutual interest like University and University of Arizona); optoelectronic agricultural biotechnology (functional genomics);
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traditional medicines; nanoparticle aerosol S&T; the R&D outcome. This CRESE has received high performance computing; tissue engineering; additional funding from DST and CSIR. Also, advanced manufacturing; brain research; infectious two patents have been filed and several joint diseases; epidemiology and environmental publications have been generated. Other Centers health; seismic studies; geological carbon dioxide for Research Excellence in Science and Engineering sequestration; hydrogen storage materials; futuristic established include: Advanced Materials Research manufacturing; fuel cells; target detection from (Partners: Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced remotely sensed images; structures in nano- Scientific Research, Northwestern University, biosystems; coastal water resource management; Indian Institute of Science and Argonne National ceramic-based biomaterials; molecular insights in Laboratory); Nanobiotechnology (Partners: National digestive diseases (Christian Medical College and Center for Biological Sciences, Harvard Medical Tufts University School of Medicine received five NIH School, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced grants for the period 2007-2013); and public health in Scientific Research and Centre for Cellular and India (Christian Medical College and Yale University Molecular Biology); and Nanomaterials for Energy received two NIH and one Bill and Melinda Gates (Partners: Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Foundation funded grant for the period 2009-2015). Scientific Research, Purdue University and GE India Technology Centre Bangalore). To enable Indian and American scientists from academia and laboratories to carry out joint Educational Programs research activities by leveraging already existing infrastructure, 20 Indo-US Networked Joint By supporting over 35 Training Programs/Advanced Centers have been initiated. The Joint Center (JC) Schools, IUSSTF has seeded the development of on Nanomaterials for energy has received additional educational programs in information management funding from Air Force Office of Scientific Research, sciences (Mysore University & University of Pittsburgh); Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development green chemistry (Delhi University & Green Chemistry and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; JC Institute); advanced manufacturing (IIT, Kanpur & on Climate Change and its impact on the ecosystem Northwestern University); nanotechnology (SASTRA of the Arabian Sea has received additional funding & University of Arkansas); microsurgery (All India from NASA, NSF, and Space Application Centre; JC on Institute of Medical Sciences & US Association of Biomaterials for Healthcare has since been awarded 5 Microsurgery); distance education in engineering research projects by DRDO, DST and DBT in addition (Amrita University/ISRO & 21 US partner university to the signing of an inter-institutional MoU between and institutions); number theory (Sastra University IIT-Kanpur and the University of Texas at San Antonio. & University of Florida) and museum science communication (National Council for Science Considering the outcome and achievements of the Museums, BITS, Pilani & Smithsonian Institution); Joint Centre on Advanced Manufacturing (under ASEE led Indo-US collaboration for engineering which one patent has been filed and the further education; and discrete mathematical chemistry research funding was received from agencies such (Osmania University and University of Minnesota). The as NSF and DST), IUSSTF awarded the partnering IUSSTF supported University of California Berkeley- institutions the Indo-US Centre for Research IIT Kharagpur collaboration on energy research has Excellence in Science and Engineering (CRESE) catalyzed the establishment of the PK Sinha Center on Fabrionics in order to consolidate and continue for Bioenergy at IIT-Kharagpur with a gift of $2 million the collaboration by intensifying academic from an IIT-Kharagpur alum. The Center is now well cooperation with the active involvement of positioned to strengthen and accelerate bioenergy industry and entrepreneurs required to translate research between IIT Kharagpur and US Berkeley.
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Major Initiatives Second Generation Biofuels and Energy Efficiency of Buildings. Some of the major initiatives catalyzed by IUSSTF includes the Indo-US civilian space cooperation; Road maps of cooperation University of California-India R&D Initiative; Indo- US distance education program in engineering; Road maps and contours of Indo-US cooperation Aircraft borne tropical cyclone prediction system; were chartered through IUSSTF convened events Biogeochemical flux monitoring network - IndoFlux; on civilian space cooperation (ISRO & NASA); Translational Health Science and Technology microlight air vehicle development (National Institute, India – THSTI; India’s joining the US led Aeronautical Laboratory & University of Maryland); International Partnership in Hydrogen Economy primate national action plan (Primate Research (IPHE) and the US DOE Blue Sky Carbon Sequestration Council & US Wildlife and Fisheries Agency); Indo- Program facilitated the inclusion of knowledge- flux program (DOES); linear collider for high energy based R&D (nano, info and biotechnology) as a part physics (DST & DOE labs); technopreneurship in of the Indo-US High Technology Cooperation Group academia (National Entrepreneurship Board); GLP (HTCG) dialogue. on medical devices. In 2008, IUSSTF had supported an Indo-US workshop on low-cost diagnostic and IUSSTF maintains a close working relationship with therapeutic medical technologies. As a result of this the federal agencies, laboratories, government workshop, the National Institute of Biomedical institutions, and the academia in U.S. and India, Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and Department cutting across all disciplines. In 2011, IUSSTF has of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India, are initiating been entrusted to administer the bi-national US- jointly funded initiatives that capitalize on the India Science & Technology Endowment Fund expertise and resources of the two nations. On June and the Indo-US Joint Clean Energy Research 24th 2010, at the U.S.-India Science and Technology and Development Center (JCERDC). The aim of the Joint Commission Meeting in Washington, D.C., NIBIB endowment fund is to strengthen and expand S&T and DBT announced the availability of supplemental cooperation for public good through science and funding for eligible NIBIB-supported research grants technology R&D entrepreneurial activities intended to facilitate collaborative work among researchers to lead to the commercialization of technology that in the US and India. The grants will be used to will develop sustained partnerships between US and develop low-cost diagnostic and therapeutic medical Indian scientists and entrepreneurs for the mutual technologies that can be used in underserved benefit of both countries. The two priority areas communities worldwide. identified are ‘Healthy Individual’ and ‘Empowering Citizens’. The JCERDC is a joint initiative of the Indo-US Frontiers of Science (FOS) & Government of India and the US Department of Frontiers of Engineering (FOE) Energy with the overall aim being to facilitate joint research and development on clean energy by teams IUSSTF has also initiated the Indo-US Frontiers of of scientists, technologists and engineers from India Science (FOS) and Frontiers of Engineering (FOE) and the United States, and related joint activities, symposium in partnership with the US National needed to deploy clean energy technologies rapidly Academy of Sciences and National Academy of with the greatest impact. To achieve this objective, Engineering. This has provided a unique platform the Indo-US JCERDC will support multi-institutional to the best and brightest young minds from network projects using public-private partnership India and US to interact and discuss cutting edge model of funding. The priority areas are Solar Energy, scientific pursuits. The series has helped to establish
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trans-disciplinary research activities and build lithium-ion based Nano batteries (joint Indo-US contacts between the next generation scientists business venture); telecom switching; design of through IUSSTF seed awards. As a spin-off, the annual aerospace alloys, as examples of academia-industry national frontiers meeting in India has been initiated partnerships. by the Indian Academies. S&T capacity building Industry supported activities Addressing the need for human S&T capacity IUSSTF promoted techno-entrepreneurship through building, IUSSTF has instituted the Indo-US Research the DST-Lockheed Martin Innovation Growth Program Fellowship in partnership with DST. Reciprocal in partnership with UT-Austin and FICCI has led to the student exchange programs aimed to groom and signing of 69 business deals worth Rs 200 crores/$ connect the next generation of scientists have been 43m; Stanford-India Biodesign program in partnership launched, which includes the Research Internships with IUSSTF has generated eight prototypes of in Science and Engineering for PhD students; biomedical devices for commercialization; and Khorana Scholars Program (with DBT and the Univ. the DST-Intel India Innovation Pioneers Challenge in of Wisconsin-Madison); UC Berkeley–IIT Kharagpur partnership with IUSSTF have showcased several exchange program; MIT-IUSSTF internship program; student led innovation which have won international Experimental Learning in International Agriculture awards and have commercialization potential. IUSSTF exchange program (Cornell Univ. and 4 Indian State also partners with IBM to conduct the IBM-IUSSTF Agriculture Universities); Visitation programs with the Visiting Fellowships in Nanotechnology. IUSSTF also American Physical Society and the American Society supported the Young Engineers Visitation Program for Microbiology. To address the need for human in partnership with Lockheed Martin Corporation. resource development and capacity building in the Several industry funded projects in academia were field of computer sciences and electrical engineering, initiated following IUSSTF seeded activities in areas IUSSTF and the Viterbi School of Engineering at the like cyber security; microwave technology; RFID and University of Southern California partnered to launch wireless sensors; design engineering; nano-coatings; the Viterbi-India Program between Indian institutions rapid prototyping; nanofabrication for solar cells; and the Viterbi School of Engineering.
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India Science and Technology Partnership
The India Science and Technology Partnership (INSTP) based out of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington D.C. is the US partner of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum.
INSTP complements the activities of IUSSTF by:
• Conducting outreach among US government technical and scientific agencies; • Increasing and expanding contacts with the US academia, business community, professional and trade associations toward fostering new bilateral S&T programs; • Developing a closer relationship with legislative and executive branch offices interested in and supportive of closer bilateral relations with India; and • Representing IUSSTF at conferences, seminars, and other events in the United States.
INSTP also manages the US peer review process for the IUSSTF’s grants program and maintains communications with US members of the IUSSTF Governing Body.
INSTP has been confirmed by the US Internal Revenue Service as a public charity, exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Charitable contributions to INSTP are tax deductible under Section 170 of the code. In addition to corporate and individual contributions, INSTP has enjoyed financial support of the Richard F. Lounsbery Foundation, the US Department of State, the Office of Naval Research, the US Department of Agriculture, and the Director, Defense Research and Engineering. INSTP also enjoys significant in-kind contributions from the Smithsonian Institution, The National Academies, and AAAS.
Michael J. Cheetham serves as the Director of INSTP
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12th Governing Body Meeting
The 12th annual meeting of the joint Governing Board TAJ broadband system and the National Knowledge of IUSSTF was held at Fulbright House, New Delhi on Network. Renu Swarup, Advisor, Department of December 6, 2010 under the co-chairmanship of T. Biotechnology, Govt. of India gave an introduction Ramasami Secretary, Department of Science and to the Indo-US Joint Clean Energy Research and Technology, Govt. of India and Norman Neureiter Development Center (JCERDC) being established Advisor, American Association for the Advancement under the Indo-US Clean Energy MoU. The Indian of Science. Nobel Laureate Peter Agre, President, secretariat for implementing the JCERDC activities American Association of Advancement of Science will be at the IUSSTF. Swati Basu, Advisor, Ministry and Director, Malaria Research Institute, Johns of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, spoke about the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, MOES-NOAA collaboration on Dynamical Monsoon attended the Board meeting as a special invitee. Forecasting which will lead to the creation of an Indian Monsoon Desk by MOES at NOAA. The As a prelude to the Board meeting, a series of invited highlights of the Indo-US Networked Center on presentations on the ongoing and future bilateral Bio-materials for Healthcare under IUSSTF program S&T activities were made. S.V. Raghavan, Scientific support was presented by Bikramjit Basu from Secretary, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor, IIT-Kanpur. Ritu Kamal, Stanford India Biodesign Govt. of India, gave an overview of the GLORIAD- Fellow, presented the achievements of the Stanford
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India Biodesign Program which has resulted into enterprises by adopting the prevalent best practices development of proto-types of several biomedical both in US and India. devices for commercialization. Nirankar Saxena from the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce In the GB business meeting, the Executive Director, and Industries, New Delhi, and Jim Vance from IC2 IUSSTF highlighted the ongoing and several new Institute, University of Texas, shared the successes programs implemented and launched during of the DST-Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth the year, most of which were in partnership with Program which aims at enhancing the accelerated government agencies, professional societies, growth and development of techno-entrepreneurial industry and academia. The Governing Body
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expressed its unanimous appreciation of the role that currently the President of the American Association has been played by IUSSTF to forge and catalyze a for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He shared wide variety of bilateral S&T collaborations since its with the audience anecdotes from his childhood inception in 2000. As the binational body stepped and early education in Minnesota. He spoke about into its ten years of existence, the Board deliberated his journey in science and the many remarkable upon the next decadal vision of IUSSTF aimed to associations he developed along the way. He discharge a larger and prolific role in promoting impressed upon the audience the importance of scientific and technological cooperation between team-work and camaraderie in science which is quite India and USA, befitting the need and aspirations of often the foundation of great discoveries. He then all its stakeholders. went on to elaborate his Nobel Prize winning work on the discovery of Aquaporins, a family of water As part of the Decadal Celebrations of IUSSTF, Nobel channel proteins found throughout nature that is Laureate Prof. Peter Agre delivered a captivating responsible for numerous physiological processes in public lecture on “A life in Science” in New Delhi on humans and implicated in multiple clinical disorders. December 8th, 2010. Prof. Agre is the director of For this pioneering work, Prof. Agre shared the Nobel the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and is Prize in Chemistry in 2003.
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Program Portfolio
IUSSTF promotes Indo-US Science and Technology partnerships by responding to the needs of its stakeholders in adopting a dynamic program portfolio largely conceived and driven by the scientific communities of both nations.
• Symposia, Workshops, Conferences on topical and thematic areas of interest
• Special initiatives on bilateral strategic partnerships
• Visitation program through fellowships and internships • Industry – Academia connect programs
• Innovation programs to promote technoentrepreneurship
• Training programs and Advanced Schools towards human resource development
• Public-Private Networked Centers to foster pre-commercial R&D
• R&D Knowledge Networked Centers for promoting thematic research • Centers of Research Excellence • Travel Grants
• Flagship Initiatives for young scientists and technologists in partnership with US National Academies • Indo-US Frontiers of Science Symposium • Indo-American Frontiers of Engineering Symposium
20 2010 annual report 2011 INDO-US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FORUM AnnualA catalyst Report for Indo-US Science & Technology Cooperation Indo-US Science & Technology Forum 2010 Programmatic Activities 2011 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Flagship Program Fourth Indo-American Frontiers of Science Symposium
18-20 April 2011, Irvine, California, USA
Organizing Co-Chairs: Sumantra Chattarji Raissa D’Souza National Centre for Biological Sciences, India University of California, Davis, USA E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
The fourth Indo-American Frontiers of Science Symposium was convened by IUSSTF as its annual flagship event in partnership with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and was held at Irvine, California from 17-20 April 2011. The symposium brought together about 70 brilliant young scientists and technologists from Indian and US academia, laboratories and industry. At the symposium, attendees presented their talks as part of eight interdisciplinary sessions on contemporary research information and insights through a format, which topics to colleagues outside their field with a view allows informed one-to-one discussions amongst to both conveying and deriving cross-disciplinary the participants.
22 programmatic activities - flagship program
The eight interdisciplinary sessions consisted of the • Extinction causes and consequences: Population following talks: extinction: causes and consequences. • Algorithms and big data sets: Networks • Creative brain: Creativity, psychosis & human challenge: where game theory meets network evolution: a panglossian perspective, and where optimization; Sequencing the genome and what ideas come from: the cognitive and brain bases it tells us; and Algorithms for processing massive of eureka! moments. data streams. • Biological / biomimetic materials: Biological • Genetic basis of variation in behavior, evolution and biomimetic materials: nature’s inspirations, and disease: Cracking the cancer code, and and Synthetic mimics of biological materials. Ayurgenomics: old is the new new!. • Future of freshwater supply – Himalayan • Topological order and quantum computation: glacier and river systems: Glacier changes and Dirac physics in junctions of topological regional climate – past and present. insulators.
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• The role of organic synthesis in drug discovery: interdisciplinary proposals were selected for the Small molecule transcriptional modulators, and 2011 FOS awards: Hybrid natural products: Nature’s inspiration and opportunities for synthetic chemists. • Exploring natural products and hybrid natural products as probes of oncogenic transcription FOS Awards have been instituted by IUSSTF with factors submitted by Krishna P. Kaliappan (IIT an objective to build long-term relationships Bombay) and Angela N. Koehler (Broad Institute between the young Indian and American scientific of Harvard and MIT) community and sustain linkages established during • Development of a novel photo-activable cross- the symposium. The award consists of USD 25000 linking technique in the enteric pathogen, to be shared between the partnering Indian and Entamoeba histolytica, to study protein-protein American awardees, spread over a period of two interaction submitted by Sunando Datta (Indian years. This award enables the Indian and American Institute of Science Education and Research, collaborators and their research groups to visit Bhopal) and Anna Mapp (University of Michigan, and work in each others institutions. The following Ann Arbor)
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Indo-US Engineering Education Conclave 10-11 January 2011, New Delhi, India
Organizing Co-Chairs: Ambuj D. Sagar Venkatesh Narayanamurti Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs E-mail: [email protected] Harvard Kennedy School E-mail: [email protected]
As part of the decadal celebrations of the Indo-US The background for this meeting was based on Science and Technology Forum, a high-level Indo- four major interconnected challenges – changing US Engineering Education Conclave on “Meeting students perception regarding engineering as a Common Challenges: Strengthening Engineering career; interdisciplinarity; societal and developmental Educational Institutions in India and the US” was needs; and globalization – issues that manifest held in New Delhi on 10-11 January 2011. This event themselves in both the US and India, although was held in partnership with the Indian Ministry of somewhat differently in each. On the US side, Human Resource Development (HRD). The meeting there is an increasing concern about recruiting was aimed to initiate a dialogue between senior and retaining science and engineering talent for educators to improve mutual understanding of the future, as highlighted in reports such as the US the challenges faced by engineering educational National Academies’ “Rising above the Gathering institutions in both countries and explore possible Storm”. Consequently, there has been a renewed activities and programs to meet these challenges. focus on ensuring that there is a pipeline of talent
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for engineering programs. Students must also between higher education’s different constituencies be prepared for a future where the practice of affect the social functions of higher education; how engineering and development of new technologies changes in the organization of higher education increasingly draws on different disciplines (especially institutions relate to changes in intellectual programs the natural sciences and social sciences), which and agendas; the role of national, regional and local requires managing the tension between disciplinary contexts in determining the characteristics of modern moorings and promoting interdisciplinary research higher education systems; and the role of public and problem-solving. Also, a number of engineering authorities and international connections, to name schools have been directing research and education a few. Sam Pitroda (Chairman, National Innovation activities to develop a better understanding of, and Council) and Charles Vest (President, National engagement with, societal needs where engineering Academy of Engineering) delivered opening remarks educational institutions could, and should, play an on the “Role of engineering education institutions in important role, especially through entrepreneurship the 21st century”. and innovation. The various sessions consisted of focused discussions In his inaugural address Mr. Kapil Sibal, Union Minister on Educational and Research challenges in US and of HRD and Communications & Information Technology, Indian engineering education institutions; leading Govt. of India, shared with the audience his vision for and managing engineering education institutions; the Universities of the 21st century. He spoke about and possible collaborative programs and activities. the necessity for the University system to “open up This conclave was both important and timely as a and embrace collaborative learning and collaborative first step in a series of activities to initiate targeted knowledge production”. The Minister also asked the inter-related collaborative programs that will help delegates to deliberate over certain key issues that strengthen engineering education and research formed the basis for the ensuing discussions. Some programs and institutions in both countries as well of the questions and issues raised by him included as allow them to work together to generate a positive the manner in which changes in the balance of power societal impact.
26 programmatic activities - Public-Private Partnership Programs
Public-Private Partnership Programs DST-Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Program
Contact Persons: Sid Burback Nirankar Saxena IC2 Institute, University of Texas, Austin Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce E-mail: [email protected] and Industries, New Delhi E-mail: [email protected]
The DST-Lockheed Martin India Innovation Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) and Growth Program (IIGP) was launched in 2008 IUSSTF. to enhance the growth and development of entrepreneurial economy in India by adopting The aim of this public-private initiative is to identify, the prevalent best practices both in the United award, mentor and hence accelerate innovative States and India. IIGP is designed as an accelerated Indian technologies into new markets in India, technology assessment and commercialization United States and around the world. The unique initiative through a business plan competition feature of the IIGP is its focus on mentoring through involving commercial assessment of technology; professional business development engagement business development; and finally technology and applying world-class commercialization commercialization through structured mentoring. strategies to bright ideas that have potential towards The program is jointly funded by the Department of market realization by a quick look commercialization Science and Technology, Government of India and analysis at IC2 Institute and FICCI. the Lockheed Martin Corporation, a premier systems integrator and global security enterprise principally The program is open to technologies in areas engaged in the research, design, development, such as aeronautics, agriculture, biotechnology, manufacture, integration and sustainability of chemistry, communications, computing, defence, advanced technology systems, products and electronics, environment, IT, manufacturing, services. The IIGP is implemented by IC2 Institute, marine, materials, medical/life sciences, University of Texas - Austin, the Federation of Indian nanotechnology, etc.
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The awardees of the DST-Lockheed Martin India Technology Name: Clever texting Innovation Growth Program 2010 were: Innovator: Abhijit Bhattacharjee (Luna Ergonomics) Technology Description: Clever Texting is a limited Technology Name: Biological neutralization of keypad usability technology that allows the user to alkaline waste water type in all languages of the world on the existing Innovator: Rita Kumar (Institute of Genomics and phone or existing keypad in a faster, simpler and Integrative Biology) ergonomic way. Technology Description: The technology is a biological process for the treatment of alkaline water from Technology Name: Natural formulation for chronic textile industrial waste water. wound healing Innovator: Manu Chaudhary (Venus Medicine Technology Name: Energy cakes Research Center) Innovator: Anil Kumar Singh (Energy Research Technology Description: The technology is a synergistic Applications) poly herbal, topical formulation for healing chronic Technology Description: It is a renewable energy wounds and process of preparation. technology that transforms industrial waste or biomass into cleaner fuel termed “Energy cake”. Technology Name: Man portable autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles Technology Name: Video communications for Innovator: Ashish Bhat (IdeaForge Technology Pvt. masses Ltd.) Innovator: Hardik Sanghvi (Vmukti Solutions Pvt. Technology Description: Man portable autonomous Ltd.) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is a technology Technology Description: This technology is a video used for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. communications cloud software platform that enables the convergence of voice, video and content over IP through a distributed peer-to-peer (P2P) platform.
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Technology Name: Process for manufacture of personal computer interface and an infant interface sweetening catalyst Thoxcat ES module. Innovator: M.O. Garg (Indian Institute of Petroleum) Technology Description: The technology is useful Technology Name: A new method for detecting in extractive sweetening of LPG and liquid-liquid diabetic neuropathy and predicting foot ulcer sweetening of lighter petroleum fractions, namely, development light straight run naphtha (LSRN) and light thermally/ Innovator: C. Jairaj Kumar (K.S. Hegde Medical catalytically cracked gasoline. Academy) Technology Description: This medical device can be Technology Name: Shock wave treatment for used for measuring the progression of neuropathy bamboo and predicting foot ulcer development. Innovator: Jagadeesh (Indian Institute of Science) Technology Description: This technology has been Technology Name: Active current conditioner developed to impregnate preservatives into green/ Innovator: Shwetank Jain (P2 Power Solutions) dry bamboo. Technology Description: This technology involves an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)-based Technology Name: Oral sustained release nano- inverter as a building block for active current drug for treatment of tuberculosis conditioner as a part of power quality enhancement Innovator: Jitendra N. Verma (Lifecare Innovations and energy efficiency in facilities. Pvt. Ltd.) Technology Description: Oral-sustained release Technology Name: Titanium based wonder gels for nano-drug is a long duration slow drug release separation and degradation of organic dyes from technology for the treatment of tuberculosis aqueous solution including multiple drug resistant and extremely drug Innovator: Mohan K. Dongare and Shubhangi resistant tuberculosis. Umbarkar (National Chemical Laboratory) Technology Description: The technology is a novel Technology Name: “MozziQuit” multi-purpose titanium based gel adsorbent and photocatalyst mosquito trap for the separation of organic dyes from aqueous Innovator: Ignatius Orwin Noronha (Leowin solution and its further photocatalytic degradation Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) using solar light. Technology Description: The technology is a device that traps and instantly kills mosquitoes. Technology Name: Next generation holographic weapon sight Technology Name: Handheld digital retinal Innovator: P.T. Ajith Kumar (Light Logics Holography imaging system and Optics) Innovator: Anand Sivaraman (Remidio Innovative Technology Description: This technology is used in the Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) production of next generation holographic weapon Technology Description: This is a medical device sight elements that helps in improved aim sights for for retinal imaging that consists of an illumination weapons. module, a camera module, a software module, a
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Visitation Programs Indo-US Research Fellowships
Contact Person: Smriti Trikha Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi E-mail: [email protected]
In an effort to augment scientific excellence in Aabgeena Naeem, Aligarh emerging areas of science and technology, IUSSTF Muslim University, Aligarh announced the fourth batch of Indo-US Research US Host: Douglas C. Goodwin, Fellowships awarded to 27 outstanding young Auburn University researchers from India below the age of 40, to Subject area: Biophysics carry out research in frontier areas of science and technology at a leading institution in the United States. This fellowship is aimed to introduce Indian Ajay Kumar Ghosh, Jadavpur scientists and engineers from leading academic University, Kolkata institutions and laboratories, in the early stages of US Host: Russell W. Giannetta, their careers, to research opportunities in the US thereby helping to forge long-term collaborative University of Illinois at Urbana relationships and linkages between the scientific Champaign communities of the two nations. Subject area: Low temperature physics This prestigious fellowship scheme was formally launched in August 2007 by T. Ramasami, Secretary- Ashutosh Chamoli, National DST and Co-Chair, IUSSTF, and is implemented with Geophysical Research Institute, funding support from the Science and Engineering Hyderabad Research Council (SERC) of the Department of US Host: Anthony R. Lowry, Utah Science and Technology (DST), Government of State University, Logan India. The fellowship will allow the awardees to Subject area: Understanding spend between 3 to 12 months in any premier host earthquake physics and the institution in USA and will cover monthly stipend, deformation cycle return air-fare, preparatory allowances, conference allowances, etc. Bhahwal Ali Shah, Indian The areas covered under the fellowship include Institute of Integrative Medicine, atmospheric and earth sciences; chemical sciences; Jammu engineering sciences; life sciences; medical sciences; US Host: Geert-Jan Boons, mathematical and computational sciences; and University of Georgia physical sciences. Researchers from academia and Subject area: Glyco/carbohydrate laboratories chosen for the 2011 awards are: chemistry
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Debdas Roy, National Institute of Madhavi Tripathi, Institute of Foundry and Forge, Ranchi Nuclear Medicine and Allied US Host: Carl C. Koch, North Sciences, Delhi Carolina State University US Host: David Eidelberg, The Subject area: Nano-composite Feinstein Institute for Medical material Research, New York Subject area: Positron emission Gaurav Singhal, LASTEC, tomography and network image Defence Research and analysis in Parkinson’s disease Development Organization, Delhi and atypical parkinsonism US Host: Noel T. Clemens, University of Texas, Austin Md. Imtaiyaz Hassan, Jamia Subject area: High speed gas Millia Islamia, New Delhi dynamic flows US Host: William S. Sly, Saint Louis University School of Medicine Sanjay Pandey, G.B. Pant Subject area: Structural genomics Hospital, New Delhi US Host: Abraham Lieberman, N. Sudhakar, Sengunthar Arts Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and Science College, Tamil Nadu of the Barrow Neurological US Host: Sheng Yang He, Michigan Institute, Phoenix, Arizona State University Subject area: Fall and Freezing of Subject area: Molecular plant Gait (FOG) in Advanced Parkinson pathology/microbiology Disease Rajesh Singh, Indian Institute of Kirti Gupta, Post Graduate Advanced Research, Gandhinagar Institute of Medical Education US Host: Javed Khan, Advanced and Research, Chandigarh Technology Center, Maryland US Host: Richard Gilbertson, St. Subject area: Neuroblastoma, Jude Children’s Research Hospital metastasis, apoptosis and miRNA Memphis, Tennessee Subject area: Pediatric brain Raman Meenakshi Sundaram, tumors Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad Kishore Kothapalli, International US Host: Adam J. Bogdanove, Institution of Information Iowa State University Technology, Hyderabad Subject area: Study of the US Host: Sriram Pemmaraju, molecular interaction between University of Iowa rice and the bacterial blight Subject area: Distributed pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae algorithms p.v. oryzae (Xoo)
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Ronojoy Adhikari, The Institute Susan Thomas, National Institute of Mathematical Sciences, for Research in Reproductive Chennai Health, Mumbai US Host: David Pine, Department US Host: Stephan Schurer, of Physics, New York University University of Miami Subject area: Reversibility and Subject area: Computational drug irreversibility in non-equilibrium discovery colloidal suspensions Sushant Suresh Naik, National Santosh Kumar Sahu, Indian Institute of Oceanography, Goa Institute of Technology, Indore US Host: Jimin Yu, Columbia US Host: Sripad T. Revankar, University, New York Purdue University Subject area: Paleo-oceanography Subject area: Thermal hydraulics analysis Surajit Borkotokey, Dibrugarh University, Assam Saroj Panigrahi, University of US Host: Sudipta Sarangi, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Department of Economics, US Host: John R. Graef, University Louisiana State University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Subject area: Mathematical Subject area: Differential modeling of networks equations Tamal Banerjee, Indian Institute Sharmistha Dutta Choudhury, of Technology Guwahati Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, US Host: Stanley I. Sandler, Mumbai University of Delaware, Newark US Host: Joseph R. Lakowicz, Subject area: Molecular University of Maryland, School of thermodynamics Medicine Subject area: Photochemistry and Tapasya Srivastava, University of fluorescence spectroscopy Delhi, New Delhi US Host: Anindya Bagchi, Masonic Sudeb Dasgupta, Indian Institute Cancer Center, University of of Technology, Roorkee Minnesota US Host: Kewal K. Saluja, Subject area: Cancer Biology University of Wisconsin-Madison Subject area: Microelectronics
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Vijay Vasant Bokade, National Utpal Garain, Indian Statistical Chemical Laboratory, Pune Institute, Kolkata US Host: Bruce E. Dale, Michigan US Host: David Doermann, State University University of Maryland, College Subject area: Alternative fuels, Park energy and biomass conversion Subject area: Information retrieval from optical character Vinod Kumar, Defence R & D recognition of indic script Establishment, Gwalior documents US Host: Eric V. Anslyn, University of Texas at Austin Subject area: Supramolecular chemical sensor and detection systems
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Stanford India Biodesign Fellowships
Contact Persons: Balram Bhargava Paul Gordon Yock All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center, New Delhi Stanford E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
The Stanford-India Biodesign (SIB) Fellowship invent, prototype, develop and patent one or more is a leadership training program in biomedical new technologies. Fellows will also be mentored by technology innovation initiated by the Indian “real-world” experts from the biomedical technology, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of legal and venture capital industries both in the India, and Stanford University in partnership with United States and India. The program would also IUSSTF. The goal of this program is to train the next include exchange of faculty between the academic generation of biomedical technology innovators institutions. in India through a fellowship to be held jointly at Stanford University, the Indian Institute of The 2008 SIB Fellows, Nish Chasmawala and Technology (IIT)-Delhi, and All India Institute of Amit Sharma, have started a company ConSure Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. This program Medical, which was recently recognized as one of is directed to candidates with advanced degrees in the Top 75 startups in India to bet on by DARE engineering, medicine or business who could be magazine. potential innovators in early-stage development of new biomedical technologies for emerging Four outstanding individuals were selected for the healthcare needs. 2011 SIB Fellowship:
Over the course of the one-year program, Avijit Bansal, with a background in Pulmonology approximately half of the Fellows’ time will be spent in India and the other half at Stanford University. The Ayesha Chaudhary, with a background in Biomedical core objective of the program is a multidisciplinary Engineering team-based fellowship where SIB fellows will work with other young innovators with a combination of Chinmay V. Deodhar, with a background in engineering, medical and industry backgrounds. Automotive Engineering The team will examine clinical needs within the Indian setting, identify opportunities for biomedical Mridusmita Choudhury, with a background in technology innovation with the goal to potentially Biomedical Engineering
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American Society for Microbiology (ASM) - IUSSTF Microbiology Visiting Professorships
Contact Persons: Todd Peterson Smriti Trikha American Society for Microbiology, Indo-US S&T Forum, Washington DC New Delhi E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Under an arrangement between IUSSTF and the The following visitations were awarded in American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the Indo- 2010-11: US Professorship Awards in Microbiology were instituted in 2003 with the aim to foster scientific Atul Kumar Johri, Assistant cooperation, education, training and capacity Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru building at individual and institutional levels through University, New Delhi visited exchange visitation. The ASM-IUSSTF Visiting Robert Stroud at the University of Professorships award is administered parallel with California, San Francisco for three the ASM International Professorship Program. months to undertake a research project on “Structural studies of The program enables: a phsophate transporter gene (PiPT) from endophytic fungus • Microbiologists in India and the United States to Piriformospora indica”. visit institutions in the two countries to teach an interactive short course on a topic in any of the Bijender Bajaj, Assistant Professor microbiological disciplines (Teaching Professor) at the University of Jammu undertook a five-month research • Microbiologists in India to participate in an project on “Development of cost- interactive short course on a topic in any of effective technology for production the microbiological disciplines, or conduct of cellulase and xylanase enzymes a research project in partnership with colleague with industrial process suitability” in a research facility in the US (Research with Thaddeus Ezeji at the Ohio Professor) State University in Wooster, Ohio.
Open to ASM members and non-members alike, Vinayak Joshi, Associate Professor the program seeks to broaden collaboration at Maratha Mandal’s NGH Institute between India and the US on issues of global of Dental Sciences and Research, concern. Up to eight Professorships are offered Belgaum, collaborated with per program year. Purnima Kumar at the Ohio State University, Columbus to work on a research project entitled “Relative contributions of diabetes and smoking to the subgingival microbiome”.
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IUSSTF-American Physical Society (APS) Fellowships
Contact Person: Amy K. Flatten Smriti Trikha The American Physical Society Indo-US S&T Forum, College Park, Maryland New Delhi E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
IUSSTF and the American Physical Society (APS) have The recipients of the 2010 Indo-US Professorship partnered to support a bilateral exchange program Awards in Physics are: that includes the Indo-US Professorship Awards in Physics which will be awarded to faculties and Humphrey J. Maris, Brown scientists from India and USA every year to teach University, Rhode Island short courses or provide physics lecture series and Host: Ambarish Ghosh, Indian the Indo-US Physics Student Visitation Program Institute of Science, Bangalore for student exchange every year. The program was Subject area: Lecture course on launched in 2008. “Supersolid helium, electrons in liquid helium, physics of ‘Professorships and Lectureships’ consist of 1-2 week nucleation and ultra-high courses or a lecture series delivered at an Indian or frequency ultrasonics”. US institution. Recipients are selected by a joint APS- IUSSTF review committee, with a call for proposals Irudayaraj Johnson, St. Joseph’s twice each year. Awards are typically used for travel, College, Trichy materials and expenses associated with course Host: Timothy Doyle, Utah State delivery. The objective of the Visiting Professorship University, Logan is to enable physicists to build strong collaborative Subject area: Lecture series on linkages in physics education and research between “The effects and applications of the scientific communities of US and India. ultrasound in nanomaterials, nano- thin films, and nondestructive The Physics Student Visitation Program aims to evaluation”. mostly support graduate student travel to India by US citizens, while still enabling some students Richard Packard, University of of Indian citizenship to travel to the United States. California, Berkeley These studentship programs will help to build early Host: Shobo Bhattacharya, Tata career relationship between the next generation of Institute for Fundamental Research physicists from US and India. The students can apply (TIFR), Mumbai for this visitation program to attend a short-course, Subject area: Lecture series on or summer training; to visit with a professor in his/ “Superfluid weak links”. her field of study; to work temporarily in a lab; or for any other opportunity that the student/professor feels is worthy of support.
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The recipients of the 2010 Indo-US Physics Students Visitation program are:
Aatish Bhatia, Rutgers University, James Matta, University of Notre New Jersey Dame, Indiana Host: Ullas Kolthur and Host: Dinesh K. Srivastava, Variable Himanshu Sinha, Tata Institute of Energy Cyclotron Center, Kolkata Fundamental Research, Mumbai Subject area: Physics and Subject area: Theoretical physics astrophysics of the quark-gluon- and biological sciences plasma
Amitai Bin-Nun, University of Joseph M. Grange, Fermi National Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Accelerator Laboratory, Illinois Host: N. Dadhich, Inter-University Host: Mohammed Sajjad Athar, Centre for Astronomy and Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Astrophysics, Pune Subject area: Experimental aspects Subject area: Gravitational lensing of neutrino physics and braneworlds Lovedeep Kaur Saini, Panjab Benjamin Burch, Washington University, Chandigarh University, St. Louis, Missouri Host: Sridhara Dasu, University of Host: Pijushpani Bhattacharjee, Wisconsin, Madison Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Subject area: Selection of events Kolkata from Z+Jets processes in data Subject area: Dark matter detection from the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector and compaison Chris Coleman-Smith, Duke to various Monte Carlo event University, North Carolina generators. Host: Dinesh K. Srivastava, Variable Energy Cyclotron Center, Kolkata Subject area: Physics and astrophysics of the quark-gluon- plasma
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Research Internships in Science and Engineering
Contact Person: Smriti Trikha Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi E-mail: [email protected]
The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum The RISE program was formally launched during the supported Research Internships in Science and IUSSTF Governing Board meeting in December 2008 Engineering (RISE) program provides unique and was implemented from 2009. opportunities for science, technology, engineering and medical students from the United States to The following 12 students interned in India under undertake internships in national laboratories, the RISE Program in 2010-11: federal research centers, academic research institutes, and private R & D laboratories in India. Aneesh Goly, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Objectives of the internships are to provide students Florida exposure to Indian S&T milieu, gain practical skills Mentor: P.P. Mujumdar, Indian Institute of Science, and develop collaborative networks. Internships Bangalore are envisaged as a source of mutual cultural and Subject area: Civil and ocean engineering professional enrichment for both the interns and their host institutions. The result will be the Ian Newborn, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, development of joint efforts that builds long-term Pennsylvania collaboration and mutually beneficial professional Mentor: Eswaran Subrahmanian, Centre for Study of relationships. Science, Technology and Policy, Bangalore Subject area: Urban design and planning Indian and American citizens currently enrolled at a recognized institution of higher education Kraig Lee Popelka, Oklahoma State University, pursuing Doctoral programs in science, engineering, Stillwater, Oklahoma technology and medical disciplines are eligible to Mentor: T. Ramprasad, National Institute of apply for the internship. The internships will provide Oceanography, Goa for monthly stipend, accommodation and airfare. Subject area: Geology/seismology
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Mathew S. Cherian, Massachusetts Institute of Simone Bianca Soso, Iowa State University, Ames, Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts Iowa Mentor: Kapali Viswanathan, HP Labs, Bangalore Mentor: Mousumi Poddar-Sarkar, University of Subject area: Computer Science Calcutta, Kolkata Subject area: Environmental sciences Ronald Dale Tyler Jr, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia Sivaram Ambikasaran, Stanford University, Mentor: B. Murali Manohar, Tamil Nadu Veterinary California and Animal Science University, Chennai Mentor: Praveen Chandrashekar, Tata Institute of Subject area: Veterinary pathology and comparative Fundamental Research, Bangalore pathology Subject area: Computational and applied mathematics
Ryan Francis Rundle, Florida Atlantic University, Sujit Kumar Mohanty, The University of Iowa, Iowa Boca Raton, Florida City, Iowa Mentor: Bishwajit Chakraborty, National Institute of Mentor: Ramaswamy Subramanian, National Centre Oceanography, Goa for Biological Sciences, Bangalore Subject area: Ocean acoustics Subject area: Chemical and biochemical engineering
Sanjiv Kumar, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Vijay Sean Sajay Limaye, University of Wisconsin- Indiana Madison, Madison, Wisconsin Mentor: A.K Gosain, Indian Institute of Technology, Mentor: Sreeja Nair, The Energy and Resources Delhi Institute, New Delhi Subject area: Atmospheric sciences Subject area: Environmental sciences
Sayak Bhattacharya, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia Mentor: Rashna Bhandari, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad Subject area: Physiology and biophysics
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Khorana Program for Scholars
Contact Persons: Aseem Z. Ansari Nishritha Bopana Department of Biochemistry Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi University of Wisconsin-Madison E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
The Khorana Program for Scholars is a tripartite In 2010, the following 15 students attended a 10- arrangement between the University of Wisconsin- week internship at UW-Madison: Madison, the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and the Indo-US Science and Technology Aayushi Uberoi, SRM University, Forum in order to enrich the scientific community Chennai of both nations. The program is named in honor of Advisor: Michael Hoffmann Dr. Har Gobind Khorana who won the Nobel Prize for Subject area: Analyzing the effects his work at the interface of chemistry and biology in of mutations on the binding 1968 while a member of the UW faculty. properties of SMAD3 in TGF-beta signaling pathway The Khorana Program is a summer internship program for Indian students (currently enrolled Anantha Padmanabhan in B.Tech., M.Tech. and M.Sc. programs in Raghuraman, BITS, Pilani Biotechnology) to undertake a research internship Advisors: Meyer Jackson and at UW for a period of 10-12 weeks. The program is Michele Basso in its third year of implementation. Out of a pool Subject area: Voltage imaging of more than 500 applicants each year, 12 students studies on the superior colliculus interned under the Khorana program in 2009 and in rats 15 students were selected in 2010. This exchange program is aimed to foster and expand interaction Aparajitha Srinivasan, Cochin between the Indian and U.S. scientific communities University of Science and and prove to be transformative for both American Technology, Cochin and Indian students. Advisor: Nihal Ahmad Subject area: Role and functional significance of Sirt1 in melanoma
Apeksha Tare, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune Advisor: Randal Tibbetts Subject area: Emerging role of TDP- 43 in regulation of notch signaling
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Divyateja Adapala, Indian Salman Hasan, Indian Institute of Institute of Technology, Madras Science Education and Research, Advisor: Alessandro Senes Kolkata Subject area: Development Advisor: Samuel Butcher of a method to measure Subject area: Isothermal titration transmembrane helix interaction calorimetry of the RNA tetraloop- in a cell-free expression system receptor motif
Indroneil Ghosh, Indian Institute Samarjeet, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur of Technology, Roorkee Advisor: Igor Slukvin Advisor: Timothy Donohue Subject area: Analysis of the Subject area: Lipid production from differentially expressed Rhodobacter sphaeroides genes during haematopoietic commitment Kritika Kumar, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Shravan Sukumar, BITS, Pilani Advisor: Brian Pfleger Advisors: Sunduz Keles & Aseem Subject area: Functional genomics- Ansari driven engineering of fatty acid Subject area: Sequence specificity overproduction in E. coli and fold structures of DNA binding molecules Mohit Goel, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati Tapojyoti Das, Indian Institute of Advisor: David Beebe Technology, Kharagpur Subject area: Design, fabrication, and Advisor: Alan Attie optimization of microfluidic devices Subject area: Determining the and in vitro microenvironments mechanism by which tomosyn-2 inhibits insulin secretion from Preethi Chegu, Indian Institute of pancreatic beta cells Technology, Madras Advisor: George Phillips Thiruvenkadam Shanmugam, Subject area: Sequence analysis University of Delhi, South Campus, and modeling of cellulose synthase Delhi like (Csl) proteins Advisor: Cameron Currie Subject area: 16S survey of Sai Harisha Rajanala, National microbial communities associated with fungus-growing insects Institute of Technology, Warangal Advisors: Paul Ahlquist & Johan den Boon The students visited UW-Madison from 30 May 2010 Subject area: Validation of gene to 31 July 2010. The Khorana Scholars also got to expression data on HPV associated present their work at the Student Symposium held cervical cancer progression at UW on 30 July 2010.
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Viterbi – India Program
Contact Persons: Cauligi Raghavendra Nishritha Bopana USC Viterbi School of Engineering Indo-US S&T Forum, New Delhi University of Southern California E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
An important aspect of engineering education The following ten outstanding students have been in the 21st century is to provide the experience selected for the program year 2011: of international research to young scholars and a practical way to achieve this would be to foster their Amulya Yadav, Indian Institute of participation in international research programs. Technology, Patna Such initiatives would offer them an array of Advisor: Bhaskar Krishnamachari experiences both academic and social that would Subject area: AI, robotics and help them gain a global perspective and prove mobile applications invaluable in their professional careers through a cross-cultural exposure. To address this need for Anurag Chaurasia, human resource development and capacity building Indian Institute of Technology, in the field of computer sciences and electrical Rajasthan engineering, IUSSTF and the Viterbi School of Advisor: Craig Knoblock Engineering at the University of Southern California Subject area: AI and networks partnered to launch the Viterbi-India Program between Indian institutions and the Viterbi School Apoorva Mahindra Athavale, of Engineering. Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad The Viterbi-India Program is envisaged to provide Advisor: Michelle Povinelli an opportunity to the best and brightest Indian Subject area: Quantum photonics students to gain exposure and access to world and computing class research facilities in the Viterbi School; promote research and capacity building in frontline Aravindh Mahendran, areas of engineering and technology; encourage International Institute of Information outstanding students to take up research as a Technology, Hyderabad career; and pave the way for the next generation Advisor: Gaurav Sukhatme engineers from India to interact with American Subject area: Robotics, vision and peers, thus help building long-term R&D linkages cognitive science and collaborations. The summer internship program is for Indian students currently enrolled in B.Tech. Dibya Deepta Mishra, Indian and M.Tech. programs in computer sciences and Institute of Technology, Rajasthan electrical engineering. Advisor: Ellis Meng Subject area: MEMS and Lab-on- chip
42 programmatic activities - Visitation Programs
Kanika Narang, Indian Institute Shiva Rudrani, Indian Institute of of Information Technology, Delhi Technology, Madras Advisor: Kristina Lerman Advisor: Gerard Medioni Subject area: Network security and Subject area: MS research, face biometrics recognition and vision
Karthik Narasimhan Rajagopal, Vishnu Vardhan Ratnam, Indian Indian Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Madras Advisor: Urbashi Mitra Advisor: Milind Tambe Subject area: Next generation Subject area: AI and algorithms mobile communication
Prerit Terway, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar Advisor: Shrikanth Narayanan Subject area: Speech processing
43 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Experiential Learning in International Agriculture
Contact Persons: William Ronnie Coffman Vijayaraghavan Kannan College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cornell Sathguru Foundation for Development Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Hyderabad E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
To provide students with an exposure to the The following 12 students (6 from India and 6 from multi-dimensional issues affecting agriculture and the US) participated in the IARD program in 2011: agribusiness, Cornell University has collaborated with leading Indian State agricultural universities Amy Joy Nichols (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Thematic Group: Rural Infrastructure Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Project title: Rice is not enough: soil content, Hyderabad; University of Agricultural Sciences, nutritional deficiencies and a developing community Dharwad; and Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agricultural Technology, Pantnagar) and IUSSTF to Andrew Mark Mellinger Jr. jointly conduct a course on Experiential Learning in Thematic Group: Agricultural Systems International Agriculture. Through the exchange Project title: Issues and strategies related to program modules, students experience agriculture agricultural water use in India and rural development issues in upstate New York followed by field experience in India and finally Brinda Rajendran present a group project paper. The course covers Thematic Group: Value Addition activities in the class room and library, field visits Project title: Transgenic crops in India – an overview and hands-on laboratory work. Dhivya Rajasundaram The program consisted of a Communication Module Thematic Group: Rural Infrastructure at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore Project title: Impact of gene revolution and public in the form of a workshop on communication perception issues: an Indian perspective skills designed to prepare the students for better communication during the course. The Dhyaneswaran Palanichamy Indian students then visited Cornell University Thematic Group: Rural Infrastructure in the month of June 2010 to participate in the Project title: Hybrid vegetable seed production by experiential field visits to farms and laboratories. self-help groups (SHGs) through seed villages in The students then traveled to India in January India 2011 and visited the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Based on the interests of the James Edward Keach scholars, they were divided into three thematic Thematic Group: Value Addition groups – Agricultural Systems, Rural Infrastructure Project title: Food on the edge: what is the place of and Value Addition. underutilized crops?
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Jennifer Elizabeth Spindel Shashank Gaur Thematic Group: Agricultural Systems Thematic Group: Value Addition Project title: Aflatoxin in developing countries: Project title: Combating micronutrient deficiency causes, effects, and strategies for intervention through value addition of orphan crops in India
Krishnadasan Ponnuswamy Shruti Anand Thematic Group: Value Addition Thematic Group: Agricultural Systems Project title: Milk by-products (whey proteins) and Project title: Problems and prospects of dryland their utilization for nutrition and rural development agriculture in India
Marley Moore Lubin Veronica Rose Palladino Thematic Group: Rural Infrastructure Thematic Group: Agricultural Systems Project title: Mobile technology in rural India: Project title: Biofortification in the context of telecommunications sector and agricultural India: Vitamin A deficiency and the potential of productivity Golden Rice
45 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Bilateral Workshops Early Detection and Early Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders
8-10 April 2010, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: Shayama Chona Ritu Juneja Sally J. Rogers Tamana, New Delhi Tamana, New Delhi The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of E-mail: E-mail: California Davis Medical Centre [email protected] [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Autism is a complex and pervasive disorder with often devastating effects on social, cognitive and language development. While formerly considered a low incidence disorder, autism spectrum disorder is now known to affect at least one in 150 persons, and this figure is consistent across all recent epidemiological studies regardless of nationality. Both behavioural and psycho-pharmacological interventions are being sought that will ameliorate some of the disability associated with autism, and there is evidence that intensive treatment early in life directions in early detection-biological, behavioral can improve the development of useful speech and and electrophysiological (Geraldine Dawson, Autism decrease the severity of mental retardation. Speaks, New York); Early start Denver model (Sally Rogers, UC Davis and Geraldine Dawson); The In order to bring together American and Indian Com Deall Program (Pratibha Karanth, Com DEALL scientists to share information, identify common Trust, Bangalore); Standards and guidelines for the research interests, and provide the foundation assessment and diagnosis of young children with ASD for extended research collaborations, an Indo-US (Vikram Dua); Alexa’s playful learning academy for workshop on Early detection and early treatment young children (PLAYC) program (Aubyn Stahmer, of autism spectrum disorders was organized at Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego); Early screening New Delhi in April 2010. Seven American and eight for autistic traits (Jessica Greenson, UW Autism Indian scientists participated in the event. Some of Center, Seattle); and Motor skills assessment scales the talks presented at the workshop included New (Jo Shear, University of California Davis).
46 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Translating Molecular Cardiology into Clinical Practice 6-9 August 2010, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Principal Investigators: C. Chandrasekharan Kartha Rodger P. McEver Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram Oklahoma City E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the number such as genotyping, proteomic analysis and molecular one cause of death and are projected to remain imaging; regression of atherosclerosis; therapeutic use so. According to the World Health Organization, of stem cells; and novel therapeutic molecules. Several about 80% of these deaths occur in low and new developments were presented at the event such middle-income countries. If current trends continue, as the potential use of compstatin in the treatment by 2015 an estimated 20 million people will die of sepsis-related multi-organ failure; evidence in from cardiovascular diseases and it is estimated mice that H2S ameliorates oxidative and proteolytic that 60% of the world’s cardiac patients will be stresses and protects endothelial-myocyte function of Indian origin. Molecular cardiology is an area in hyperhomocysteinemia; role of podoplanin and of cardiovascular medicine that aims to apply endothelial O-glycans in the separation of blood and molecular biology techniques for the mechanistic lymphatic vessels during embryonic and postnatal investigation, diagnosis, prevention and treatment development; mechanisms of phosphatidylinositol 4,5 of cardiovascular disease. The remarkable advances bisphosphate (PIP2) signaling in vascular homeostasis that have taken place in this field during the past and targeting PIP2 signaling for attenuation of Akt decade have raised hopes for innovative and signaling and nitric oxide production; and novel stem dramatic improvements in the prevention, diagnosis cell-derived models for analysis of cardiovascular and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In order development. to bring together an outstanding panel of experts in molecular and clinical cardiology to discuss The participants formulated new strategic approaches how advances in molecular cardiology could be to translate the recent advances in molecular exploited for addressing the challenges in prevention cardiology for clinical use and for the benefit of and treating cardiovascular problems in India, patients with cardiovascular diseases. An MoU was an Indo-US workshop on Translating molecular signed between RGCB and Oklahoma Medical cardiology into clinical practice was organized at Research Foundation (OMRF) to set up a state- the Rajiv Gandhi Centre For Biotechnology (RGCB), of-the-art research and knowledge center for Thiruvananthapuram. cardiovascular diseases at RGCB. OMRF would render help to develop manpower for carrying Presentations during the workshop represented several out the research programs at RGCB through joint important themes in advancing frontiers of molecular Ph.D. programs and faculty and fellow exchange cardiology that included: vascular inflammation; programs. Also as an outcome of the event, ten new vascular development; pathogenic mechanisms of joint projects were identified among the various cardiovascular diseases; newer diagnostic modalities participants.
47 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Oral Immunization of Children in Low Income Countries and the Role of the Intestinal Microbiota in Regulating Immune Responsiveness
16-18 August 2010, Goa, India
Principal Investigators: Gagandeep Kang Harry B. Greenberg Christian Medical College, Vellore Stanford University School of Medicine, E-mail: [email protected] Palo Alto E-mail: [email protected]
Over the past five decades since oral vaccines inter-disciplinary collaborative research between US were first introduced, it has been observed that in and Indian scientists. New data with mono-, bi- and developing countries immune responses are lower trivalent oral polio virus vaccines in use in northern and less consistent than in more industrialized India were presented by Hamid Jafari (National countries. Several reasons have been proposed for Polio Surveillance Project-WHO) and discussed by this difference, however, efforts to address these T. Jacob John (Christian Medical College, Vellore). issues in real-world settings have been limited. In The data from oral rotavirus vaccine trials in Africa recent years, tremendous advances have been made and Asia were presented by Duncan Steele (PATH, in genetics, immunology, pathophysiology and Seattle). Earlier data on oral killed and live cholera disease, creating new tools and exciting opportunities vaccines, typhoid vaccines and Enterotoxigenic for research. From the laboratory this research Escherichia coli (ETEC) vaccines were also discussed evolves into new applications for understanding in light of what is now known about the immune the basis of disease and the host response to response. New findings on the intestinal microbiome infection or vaccination and in this manner the and on mixed infections were presented by David research transitions from the laboratory into the Relman (Stanford University, Palo Alto) and Colin community. In order to draw together basic and Stine (University of Maryland Center for Vaccine clinical scientists to create a platform for advancing Development, Baltimore). translational research into oral vaccination, an Indo- US workshop on Oral immunization of children in The workshop helped to set a research agenda low income countries and the role of the intestinal for India and encouraged scientists to enter into microbiota in regulating immune responsiveness productive, innovative research collaborations was organized in Goa in August 2010. that will seek to improve the health of the needy populations worldwide. Also as an outcome of The interactions between investigators in a diverse the event, a list of potential studies was identified range of research areas linked by an interest in that would be submitted to the Department of human immunology, intestinal microbiome and Biotechnology, Govt. of India, for inclusion in the enteric infectious diseases acted as a catalyst for Vaccine Grand Challenges Program.
48 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Women in Science
26 August 2010, New Delhi, India
Contact Person: Heather Broman Embassy of the United States of America New Delhi E-mail: [email protected]
Inaccessibility of early science education in rural areas, Jones (Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Oceans restrictions on education of the girl child, inflexibility and International Environmental and Scientific of the system to allow women to re-enter the Affairs) and T. Ramasami (Secretary, Department of workforce after a break, and gender-based inequities Science & Technology, Government of India). at work places are challenges that must continue to be addressed. Infrastructure development is in part The various sessions dealt with themes such as Nurturing the solution for rural inaccessibility issues, but there a science career, Women in science professions and is much to be done in transforming societal mindsets Empowering women in science. The workshop so that every human being, irrespective of gender, recommendations emphasized on the need to have has an equal opportunity to study science and to more government-run programs, to support technical build a successful scientific career. Gender based training through e-education in rural areas, training for inequities are common at workplaces and women women attempting re-entry into the science workforce are often underrepresented at senior levels in both after family-related gaps in employment, and flexible the government and private sectors. job timings. The participants also suggested affirmative fiscal policies to encourage women in science – The Indo-US workshop on Women in Science was providing both incentives and recognition. Importance an attempt to assess the challenges for women of mentors in education and career and using stories in science in India, and recommend measures for of gender equality in text books were points well addressing them. The workshop was inaugurated received during the workshop. The participants by Ambassador Timothy Roemer. Speakers at the emphasized on the need to have series of lectures or inaugural session included Kiran Mazumdar Shaw guest speakers at science colleges and institutions, (Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon), Kerri-Ann as well as women’s institutions, across the country. 49 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Innovation Ecosystem Workshop
28-29 October 2010, Bengaluru, India
Contact Persons: Jyotsna Iyer Smriti Trikha Lockheed Martin India Private Limited, Indo-US S&T Forum, Bangalore New Delhi E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum The objective of the workshop was to create, nurture organized a two-day Innovation Ecosystem and support techno-entrepreneurial ecosystems. The Workshop on 28-29 October 2010 in Bangalore, in workshop helped participants from DRDO to gain association with the Federation of Indian Chambers insights into the process of commercialization as of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Defence technology moves from the lab to the marketplace. Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The workshop addressed elements of and models for The participants of this workshop included successful innovation ecosystems through sessions scientists and technologists from various DRDO on culture of innovation, diversity in perspective, labs and institutions. The resource persons were encouragement of creativity and tolerance threshold drawn from US industry (Lockheed Martin Corp.), for risk-taking. The practical implementation of academia, business associations, and government these broad principles in industrial R&D scenarios for agencies. problem-solving was highlighted through case studies.
50 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Issues in Computing Over Emerging Mobile Networks
31 October 2010, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: Mukesh Mohania Sanjay K. Madria and Sriram Chellappan IBM India Missouri University of Science and Technology, E-mail: [email protected] Rolla E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]
Mobility is rapidly turning out to be a critical safety, fairness in content sharing, mobility centric component of many next generation networking threats and countermeasures, and performance of systems. Prominent among these include mobile mobile cloud computing that are yet to be explored vehicular networks, mobile social networks, mobile in detail. To address these issues, an Indo-US sensor networks, next generation cellular networks, workshop on Issues in computing over emerging mobile clouds etc. While computing in the presence of mobile networks was organized in New Delhi. mobility has been a well studied topic, the emphasis The event was held in conjunction with the 29th has centered on only Mobile AdHoc Networks International symposium on Reliable distributed (MANETs). Unfortunately, many assumptions made systems. in traditional MANETs like mobility models, purpose/ scope of mobility, social aspects, network scale etc. Researchers made presentations on topics ranging do not hold true in many emerging mobile networks. from security in mobile networks to sensor Consequently, existing theories, architectures and applications for wildlife tracking. Also covered were protocols in traditional MANETs for issues like data networking layer protocols such as enhancement delivery, data management, reliability, security, of TCP protocols, transmission capacity in wireless privacy etc. are not enough and need a ground-up networks and end-to-end connection protocol redesign. Furthermore, a vast number of problems in WSN. These presentations included not only related to computing over wireless communications practical and deployment issues, but also theoretical are emerging in mobile networks such as vehicular foundations.
51 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Sedimentation, Erosion, Flooding, and Ecological Health of Rivers
1-3 November 2010, Kolkata, India
Principal Investigators: Bijoy S. Mazumder Nani G. Bhowmik Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Rivers are the integrators of all the natural and human India, and those working in the Upper Mississippi activities that take place in its watershed. Over the and Illinois River Basins in the United States. last 100-150 years, the land use on almost all the river basins of the world have been altered significantly The technical sessions covered river floods; erosion increasing watershed erosion, river sedimentation sedimentation, and geomorphology; ecology and and flooding, both in magnitude and occurrence. All ecological health; river management and restoration; these factors have had an impact on the ecological river flows; soil erosion; water quality and aquatic health of rivers. This is quite true for river basins such zone hydrodynamics. In addition there was also a as the Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri, and other rivers very well-received poster session. in the United States and the Ganges, Bhagirathi, Hooghly, Brahmaputra and other rivers in India. The The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Indo-US workshop on Sedimentation, erosion, and the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata also flooding, and ecological health of rivers brought signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enable together scientists, engineers, and managers from collaborations between the two institutions.
52 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Applications of Molecular Imaging in Health, Disease and Drug Discovery
8-10 November 2010, Hyderabad, India
Principal Investigators: Gopal Pande Rao Papineni Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Carestream Health Inc, New Haven, Hyderabad Connecticut E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Molecular imaging is rapidly becoming the keystone systems and included optical, magnetic, nuclear for advanced biomedical research particularly in the and X-ray imaging systems. The latest advances preclinical field, where molecular imaging is being in the development of new reagents that would utilized for combined “theragnostics”, a portmanteau enhance the contrast and resolution of molecular derived from therapeutics and diagnostics. Molecular imaging at the cellular level and at the tissue level imaging modalities combined with nano- and meso- were described. scale imaging probes, and targeting agents, are rapidly being developed for non-invasive imaging Recommendations that emerged as a result of of various diseases, its progression and response the workshop included the following - usage of to therapy. functional molecular probes for more sensitive approaches in optical imaging of normal and The Indo-US workshop on Applications of molecular disease tissues; utilization of molecular imaging imaging in health, disease and drug discovery methodologies for early detection of cancer as well aimed to provide a platform where experts from the as delivery of drugs to targeted tissues; inclusion molecular imaging field and biomedicine interact, of multimodal or hybrid imaging approaches in impart, and exchange ideas. Sixteen speakers both clinical and pre-clinical theragnostics; and the from India and USA, who utilize optical, magnetic development of a specific collaborative project resonance, X-ray, or PET imaging presented their based upon the imaging of fibrotic tissues in the work as podium talks and plenary lectures. The liver as a joint program between CCMB, Carestream technical presentations covered four imaging R&D and Kit Lam’s laboratory at the University of procedures for human and pre-clinical imaging California, Davis.
53 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
New Directions In Machine Learning, Game Theory, and Optimization
12-13 November 2010, Bengaluru, India
Principal Investigators: Shivani Agarwal Chiranjib Bhattacharyya David C. Parkes Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Bangalore Bangalore Massachusetts E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
With the virtual explosion in the magnitude The event included talks by eminent researchers of data being generated across the world – in from academia and industry, and a research poster fields as diverse as astronomy, biology, geology, session that included poster presentations by and even defence – there is an urgent need for students and young researchers. methods that can analyze such data and transform it into meaningful scientific conclusions. Machine There were two primary recommendations coming learning, one of the fastest growing fields in out of the event. The first was to evolve a Center for computer science, holds the promise of providing Machine Learning at the Indian Institute of Science, such methods. These techniques are being used which would build on the growing strengths in in computer vision to develop face recognition machine learning and related areas at the Indian systems, in computational biology to discover new Institute of Science, and more broadly, would help genes, and in drug discovery to prioritize chemical to create visibility for machine learning research in structures for screening. India as well as serve as a focal point for machine learning related activities in the future. The The Indo-US workshop on New directions second recommendation was to enable sustained in machine learning, game theory, and interactions and collaborations between Indian optimization aimed to bring together leading and US partners in order to develop talent in both researchers from India and the United States to countries at the emerging interface between share their perspectives on recent advances in machine learning, game theory and optimization, the fields of machine learning, game theory, and for example via an Indo-US Joint Center along optimization; and the challenges that lie ahead. this theme.
54 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Biology of Fetal Growth Restriction
22-25 November 2010, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: Vinod K. Paul Ram K. Menon All India Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, New Delhi Ann Arbor E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is a were to review the key issues in areas such as the highly significant problem affecting 25-30% of epidemiology of fetal growth retardation, the all pregnancies in India. Infants born Small for biology of fetal growth in the context of IUGR, Gestational Age (SGA) have an increased risk of the clinical management of IUGR babies and the mortality and various morbidities in the neonatal dynamics of catch-up growth in infants born small period such as sepsis, birth asphyxia, hypoglycemia for gestational age. and hypothermia. While chromosomal anomalies, maternal under-nutrition or placental insufficiency Through the deliberations it was observed that can explain the growth restriction in some cases, India presents a unique opportunity to study the a vast majority remain unexplained. The role of problems of fetal and infant growth because it has placental angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors, a dual burden of under-nutrition as well as diabetes hormones and growth factors and micronutrients at the same time, and therefore the entire spectrum such as folate, vitamin A, vitamin D and zinc in the of fuel-mediated-teratogenesis can be studied in pathophysiology of fetal growth restriction are areas the Indian population. Similarly, India presents of active research. a unique setting where the trade-off or cost-to- benefit analysis of short term morbidity (infections, An Indo-US brainstorming meeting on Biology of under-nutrition) and long term metabolic risks fetal growth restriction and catch-up growth in (higher fat mass, insulin and leptin resistance) small for gestational age infants was organized between slow and rapid weight gain in infancy can to discuss pertinent issues related to important be studied. It was also felt that there is a critical need fields of intrauterine growth restriction and catch- to develop infrastructure of centers of excellence, up growth in SGA infants and their long term core data resources and training and fostering of health consequences. The aims of the meeting future scientists.
55 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Science Communication Awareness Creation
13-15 December 2010, Bengaluru, India
Principal Investigators: N. S. Anuradha Bruce V. Lewenstein Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Cornell University, Ithaca, E-mail: [email protected] New York E-mail: [email protected]
Leading scientists and scientific organizations have identified public communication as a key element for the continuing development of science and technology. In India and the United States, where issues of ethnic, religious, or regional culture (including different languages) further complicate the process, and where different communities may have different understandings of what constitutes “reliable knowledge about the natural world”, there needs to be an interdisciplinary dialogue between experts to evolve a common understanding of what constitutes the public and therefore, why science is collaborations between academic institutions understood the way it is. in India and the United States on issues of science communication – both training and research; In this context, an Indo-US workshop on Science developing science communication training workshops communication awareness creation was sensitive to cultural context for use in both countries; organized to discuss the parameters that influence designing potential student exchange programs among communication of science and the skills that are institutions represented at the workshop; and creating needed to be an effective communicator of science. substantial multi-disciplinary academic and practical The workshop aimed at strengthening ongoing contributions to the idea of “Science for all”.
56 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Emerging Issues in Energy and Environment Security: Challenges and Research Opportunities
13-15 December 2010, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: S. Basu and S. Roy V. K. Mathur Daniela Mainardi Indian Institute of Technology, University of New Hampshire, Louisiana Tech. University, Delhi Durham Ruston E-mail: [email protected]; E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
An Indo-US workshop on Emerging issues in term collaboration between the faculty members energy and environment security: Challenges of these two countries for sustained interaction and research opportunities was organized with and mutually beneficial engagement. The effort of the objective to continue efforts in mobilizing the exploring fundamental new concepts that might academics of the two nations towards collaborative lead to long-term solutions to the global energy and R&D for sustainable improvements in design and environmental challenges was to continue even after operation of processing systems especially energy the workshop was over. and pollution abatement industries. The event was jointly funded by the National Science Foundation, Essentially three sub-groups were formed - Energy USA. The workshop helped to identify the synergies conversion and storage, which covered work in the in the research initiatives by the academics of the two area of hydrogen energy and fuel cell, batteries, countries, and served as a launching pad for further energy from biomass, photovoltaics; Cleaner coal collaborative research with mutually beneficial technologies, which included novel and more objectives. efficient methods of exploiting the coal reserves in the two countries; and Environmental challenges and
The main objective of this workshop was to have an sustainability, which included clean air and water, CO2 exchange of scientific information and a dialogue capture, multiple pollutant treatment with the use between the American and Indian university faculty of photocatalysis, sonochemical methods, biological members on recent advances, mainly in the areas of methods. The group also discussed life cycle analysis conventional and alternative source of energy and and sustainability in the context of energy processing their processes, which have a minimal pollution and environmental stipulation. Faculty members footprint on the globe and are sustainable in were identified from both countries to work jointly nature. Another goal was to inculcate a close long- on the above topics.
57 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Nanotechnology in the Science of Concrete
14-15 December 2010, Roorkee, India
Principal Investigators: L.P. Singh Paramita Mondal CSIR-Central Building Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Roorkee E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Construction is one of the most strategic industries strategies in this field, an Indo-US workshop on providing building and infrastructure to all sectors Nanotechnology in the science of concrete of the economy. It is a settled, cost-driven and was organized at the Central Building Research traditional sector. Concrete is the most widely Institute in Roorkee. The workshop highlighted the used man-made material in construction and importance of recent advancements in the field of cement is its main ingredient. Production of nanotechnology in cement science. cement is a highly energy-intensive process and it accounts for approximately 7-8% of total CO2 Several key issues were discussed during the emissions. Recently nano-science has provided two-day workshop and new developments in self tremendous scope for technology development consolidating concrete, nano-indentation, nano in the construction sector. Several applications synthesis, modeling, durability of concrete etc. have been developed to improve durability and were presented. In addition, key problem areas and enhance performance of construction components; challenges were also deliberated and discussed. The to ensure energy efficiency and safety of buildings; deliberations helped identify the following areas to facilitate ease of maintenance and to provide for collaborative research efforts: characterization increased living comfort. The use of nano-particles and modification of nanoparticles; understanding in developing new and innovative materials has the basic molecular structure of Calcium-Silicate- gained widespread attention as it can lead to Hydrate (C-S-H) gel; nanomaterials for infrastructure improvements in the nano-structure of building development; linking construction material from materials such as cement and concrete. nanoscale to macroscale; detailed understanding of hydration process of cement/concrete based In order to provide a forum for interaction among materials; and energy efficient and sustainable researchers from both countries to explore broader materials for buildings and infrastructure.
58 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Physics and Applications of Quantum Phases in Condensed Matter
20-23 December 2010, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: R.C. Budhani Richard L. Greene National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi University of Maryland, College Park E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Condensed matter systems display a rich variety The technical agenda of the workshop consisted of of quantum effects when subjected to low reviewing the recent developments in theoretical temperatures. The study of quantum phase and experimental aspects of quantum processes such transitions tuned by high magnetic fields, pressure as: electron-electron correlations and correlations and/or injected charge carriers is a field of driven phase transitions; superconductivity and contemporary interest. The discovery of new magnetism in correlated electronic systems; integral compounds; the ability to synthesize clean and fractional quantum Hall effect in new class of interfaces, heterostructures, tunnel junctions and materials such as graphene, oxide interfaces and field effect devices, which allow manipulation of other novel 2D systems; and topological insulators carrier density in the material; clever ways of nano- in two and three dimensional systems. New structuring; and advanced imaging techniques have developments presented at the event included permitted visualization of quantum phenomena composite fermion theory of fractional quantum and simultaneously have opened up avenues for Hall effect in Graphene; time reversal symmetry their technological usage. An Indo-US workshop breaking in unconventional superconductors; on Physics and applications of quantum phases new G-L like phenomenological theory of high in condensed matter was organized to conduct Tc superconductors; Raman scattering and ultra- a structured review of recent developments in fast pump-probe study and Andreev reflection quantum processes in low dimensional systems. spectroscopy of pnictide superconductors; new The workshop was geared towards experimental collective modes in fractional quantum Hall effect in low temperature physics research which is an area grapheme; and new generation modeling of highly that needs to be strengthened. resolved spectroscopies of solids.
59 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Self-assembled Fibrillar Gels
5-8 January 2011, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Principal Investigators: Uday Maitra Richard G. Weiss Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Georgetown University, Washington, DC E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
The field of gel research, especially molecular gels, advancements in the field. Most of the lectures has experienced an enormous growth in interest included unpublished work of the investigators that during the last two decades among scientists in included work being carried out on novel gelators, very diverse fields, including organic chemists, functional gels, application of gels, novel composite theoreticians, molecular biologists, physicists and materials, application of new theoretical models for chemical engineers. Keeping in mind the enormous understanding the gelation process, etc. Thirteen of interest in fibrillar gels; the growing recognition that the student participants presented their work in the there are important, but not fully appreciated links form of posters. They were on view and defended between self-assembled and polymeric systems; during three very well attended sessions, held on coupled with limited interaction among gel scientists three separate days. in India and the US; an Indo-US workshop on Self- assembled fibrillar gels was organized in January In fact, several new collaborations between Indo 2011 at Trivandrum. and US participants were established during the conference (Dong-Chan Lee, University of Nevada- A wide range of themes under the general area of Las Vegas and Subi George, JNCASR, Bangalore; ‘fibrillar gels’ was discussed – these included new Parthasarathi Dastidar, IACS, Kolkata and Srini organo- and hydro-gelators, enzyme-mediated Raghavan, University of Maryland; Braja Gopal gelation, nanocomposites based on gelators, Bag, Vidyasagar University, Medinipur and Richard functional gelators, rheological properties of Weiss, Georgetown University; Joykrishna Dey, gelators, structural studies of gels by neutron IIT Kharagpur and Richard Weiss, Georgetown diffraction, theoretical understanding of the University; and Kevin Caran, James Madison gelation process, etc. A few of the presentations, University and Santanu Bhttacharya, Indian Institute by design, addressed issues that are tangential to of Science, Bangalore) and several others were being the current thrust of research in the area of fibrillar planned after email exchanges to define better goals gels but which were potentially important to future and protocols.
60 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Base Excision DNA Repair, Brain Function and Aging
6-10 January 2011, Hyderabad, India
Principal Investigators: Kalluri Subba Rao Bilhelm A. Bohr Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, National Institute on Aging, Hyderabad Baltimore, Maryland E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
particularly in post-mitotic tissues such as brain, in a focused manner. The workshop shed light on interesting findings emerging from the labs in India and the US which would be central to organizing a collaborative effort in the field among the two countries. The workshop provided a platform for more focused collaborations, even at the clinical level that would help set an agenda to establish the precise role of BER in aging and other neurological disorders. It is now clear that even the information-carrying master molecule, DNA, is not spared from attack Several new developments were presented at the by chemicals and free radicals in cells. This feature event and included new leads that point out the necessitated, over evolution, the development importance of BER DNA repair pathway in both health of defenses against such attacks. Hence various and diseases like cancer and Huntington, and general mechanisms to repair structural damage to DNA aging of post mitotic cells like neurons; studies have evolved. As the complexity of organisms has revealing that mutator phenotypes of BER genes grown, so have the many ways in which the DNA can could responsible for cancer; that BER enzyme DNA be damaged. In responding to this, higher organisms Polymerase β may be involved in the causation of have evolved both complex and specific DNA repair Down syndrome; and finally indications of improved pathways to deal with such damages. Base Excision genomic stability (in terms of cellular DNA single Repair (BER) is the pathway best equipped to handle and double strand breaks) when experimental rats oxidative and other common, small lesions in DNA, were fed with an Ayurvedic preparation - Amalika and therefore this pathway has a close link to free Rasayana for varying periods of time. A major and far radical metabolism. reaching question that emerged out of this workshop was whether it would be possible to decelerate age- An Indo-US workshop on Base excision DNA repair, dependent general deterioration and appearance of brain function and aging was organized to discuss neurodegenerative diseases if ways and means are the fundamental role of BER in health and disease, found to maintain good level of BER repair pathway.
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Science, Diplomacy and Policy
11-13 January 2011, Bengaluru, India
Principal Investigators: Dilip Ahuja Tom Wang National Institute of Advanced Studies, American Association for the Bangalore Advancement of Science E-mail: [email protected] Washington, DC E-mail: [email protected]
An Indo-US workshop on Science, diplomacy, and • While it is neither generally desirable nor possible policy was organized to strengthen the harnessing to convert diplomats into scientists, nor scientists of the power of science diplomacy and to explore into diplomats; it is useful for them to understand strategies for enhancing the capacity of both countries each other’s language and compulsions. It was to conduct science diplomacy and cooperate on recommended that initially, the “Foreign Policy science components of global issues. The workshop Institutes” in both countries build capacity in was characterized by high-level participation by over science diplomacy. 45 academics, current and former Ambassadors, Admirals, Government Secretaries and other officials • India and the United States should explore the from both nations. The workshop was inaugurated possibility of undertaking joint projects in third by Ambassador Ronen Sen. The keynote address was countries (such as in Afghanistan), focusing on delivered by Alan Leshner (CEO of AAAS and Executive projects that can synergize the relative strengths Publisher of the journal Science), who emphasized the role of S&T for building relationships between and knowledge base in both countries. countries and exhorted the participants to come up with concrete suggestions for follow-up action. • The IUSSTF has successfully catalyzed collaborative The various sessions covered a recounting of science S&T research projects in both countries and and diplomacy in action; global issues in science and provided a mechanism for developing priorities diplomacy; mechanisms in science and diplomacy; for large-scale programs. capacity building for science diplomacy; and the context for science diplomacy in both countries. • Given the immense amount of goodwill and interaction that exists at the level of Five high-level conclusions emerged from the individual scientists, the scientific relationship deliberations at the workshop; each underpinned by would benefit again from commitments an increased level of scientific cooperation. to major large-scale projects. For this to happen, barriers to mobility of scientists in • With countries that have differences at the political both directions should be minimized, and level, science diplomacy through research increased levels of dedicated support should cooperation and exchanges provides a good be explored. The success of 50:50 joint venture avenue for keeping channels of communication partnerships in the private sector provides one open and building trust. such model.
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Nanosonics and Ultrasonics
12-14 January 2011, Trichy, India
Principal Investigators: I. Johnson Silvana Martini St. Joseph’s College, Trichy Utah State University, Logan E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Dispersion and de-agglomeration by ultrasonication and ultrasonics was organized with the aims being are a result of ultrasonic cavitation. Ultrasonication to identify, focus, discuss and hence to solve the improves the mixing of the pre-cursors and research problems associated with the application increases the mass-transfer at the particle surface. of high power ultrasound in food processing in This leads to smaller particle size and higher order to make ultrasonic food processing a safe, uniformity. The use of high-intensity ultrasound for viable and innovative processing technology food processing applications has been constantly in the food industry; and identify and discuss explored. Extraction of gingerol from ginger, the applications of ultrasonics to nanomaterials homogenisation of milk and generation of high (Nanosonics) which have manifold effects. quality emulsions from food ingredients are some examples where ultrasonication has been found The new developments presented at the event to be efficient, at least in laboratory-scale trials. included the possibility of breast cancer detection These ultrasonic processes primarily rely upon by ultrasound at an earlier stage; detection of tiny the physical effects of ultrasound. However, the defects in welds by nano-technology and ultrasound; potential restrictions and/or uses of the chemical a novel online, non-destructive and non-invasive effects generated by ultrasound-induced cavitation method for crystallization of food substances; phenomena have often been overlooked. With this and advanced blood characterization by nano- background, an Indo-US workshop on Nanosonics technology.
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Transportation and Greenhouse Gas Emission
10-11 February 2011, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: Anuradha Shukla Josias Zietsman Central Roads Research Institute, New Delhi Texas Transportation Institute, E-mail: [email protected] College Station, Texas E-mail: [email protected]
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their effects The event brought together a range of participants on global climate change are a major concern representing the private and public sector, throughout the world. Transport is a key and universities and research agencies from both India crucial element in the infrastructure needed for the and the United States. The workshop included a developmental process. Though transport makes series of five technical sessions spanning two days, a significant contribution to our national economy in which topics ranging from broad policy overviews, and to our quality of life, the negative impacts inventory methods, sources and mitigation strategies, of transport on the environment include GHG technological solutions, modeling approaches, emissions gases, air pollutants, noise, and damage policies and programs, and other transportation to both natural and built environments. It is also a sector interventions were covered. The final plenary leading sector for energy consumption together session of the workshop was a guided brainstorming with associated GHG emissions, and one of the session in which workshop participants discussed most difficult sources to control. Addressing GHG areas for future research and potential collaboration. emissions is a global issue requiring international It was noted that while policies, needs, and the local action and cooperation. With this in mind, an Indo- context may vary between India and the United US workshop on Transportation and greenhouse States, the topic of greenhouse gas emissions from gas emission was organized. Significant issues with the transportation sector was one that provided regard to transportation-related GHG emissions many avenues for future research and collaboration were explored through a series of technical sessions – for example in mitigation strategies, inventory facilitated open discussions, and networking and modeling approaches and innovative data opportunities. Facilitated discussions explicitly collection and use. The workshop also highlighted explored lessons learned from each country and the opportunities for the research community and areas where India and the US can work beneficially industry in India and the United States to learn from together in follow-up activities. each other in tackling this global issue.
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Effective Teaching in Engineering and Computer Science/Information Technology Programs
10-12 February 2011, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: Pankaj Jalote Jason Adsit Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology University at Buffalo, (IIIT), Delhi The State University of New York E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
While initiatives to improve learning and teaching Participants in this workshop included experts at the college/university level are in vogue in the in teaching-learning from the United States, and United States with many universities establishing respected academicians from India. Discussions “Teaching and Learning Centers” to conduct were initiated on the important area of pedagogy research in this area as well as to disseminate at the University/College level. The workshop best practices among teachers, this area is yet generated interest in various quarters about the to pick up in India as the focus of education importance of this area and the need to conduct improvement is mostly on the subject areas research. The participants also initiated a discussion themselves. Recognizing the need to begin a on establishing a center on teaching and learning in discussion on this important but overlooked India in collaboration with such centers that already topic in India, an Indo-US workshop on Effective exist in various Universities in the US. teaching in engineering and Computer Science/Information Technology programs Highlights of scientific and technical presentations was organized to address wide spread concerns / deliberations along with the new developments about the quality of education, and the desire and and major recommendations of the event can be need in the country to rapidly expand the higher accessed at: education sector. http://www.iiitd.ac.in/indo-us/index.html
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Skeletal Dysplasia
12-13 February 2011, Lucknow, India
Principal Investigators: Shubha R. Phadke David L. Rimoin Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of Sciences, Lucknow California Los Angeles E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
A common medical condition as a group, skeletal The workshop enabled a confluence of the technical dysplasia, is a major cause of morbidity all over expertise from the United States and the huge, the world. Significant advances in understanding diverse population (and patients) in India by of clinical manifestations, pathophysiology and enhancing knowledge and understanding in genetic defects have had a tremendous impact on the areas of diagnosis, treatment and care for patient care, teaching and research in this field. In patients with skeletal dysplasia. The eminent US order to facilitate a meeting of scientists from India and Indian faculty deliberated on all the aspects of and United States to share clinical experiences, skeletal dysplasia which included anatomy, clinical create awareness on recent advances, and explore evaluation, radiological analysis, genetic testing, the possibility of collaborative efforts in training pathophysiology, animal models, specific therapy, manpower and research in this field, an Indo-US supportive/rehabilitative care, genetic counseling, workshop on Skeletal dysplasia was organized at prevention and prenatal diagnosis. As a result of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical the event, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute Sciences, Lucknow. of Medical Sciences will now participate in the Skeletal Dysplasia Registry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.
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Translational Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Prevention
13-17 February 2011, Bengaluru, India
Principal investigators: Moni Abraham Kuriakose Kishore Chaudhry Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre Indian Council of Medical Research Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundations, Bangalore New Delhi E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Dean Brenner Sudhir Srivastava University of Michigan Medical School, Cancer Biomarkers Research Group Ann Arbor National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of E-mail: [email protected] Health, Bethesda, Maryland E-mail: [email protected]
Global reduction in cancer mortality can be achieved As part of the developments presented at the event, by dissemination and implementation of cost effective discussions concentrated on cancer screening and early detection and preventive interventions for epidemiology (mainly focused on the challenges populations at risk. There is a significant disparity in faced by large scale screening programs and the these efforts between developing and developed significance of targeted chemoprevention in nations. As cancer becomes the leading cause of cancers of breast, cervix, and head and neck). The mortality in developing countries such as India, it use of PPARγ activators such as Pioglitazone and is important that population-specific preventive EGFR inhibitors (Erlotinib) in chemoprevention strategies are developed to reduce cancer related were discussed. Early detection methods for the mortality. The Indo-US workshop on Translational cancers of the oral cavity and cervix were debated cancer biomarker discovery and prevention brought upon; the established methods such as visual together leading scientists, clinicians and policy makers examination were compared with the others like from the United States and India to discuss and develop optical property changes, spectroscopy, in vivo cancer preventive strategies which could be adopted to microscopy and salivary electrofluidics. One of the decrease the cancer burden around the globe. major developments in biomarker discovery that were discussed at the workshop included the utility The major aims of the workshop were to identify of miRNA as diagnostic and prognostic markers mutually beneficial translational cancer prevention in lung cancers and oral cancers. The use of next research questions that address early detection generation sequencing methods such as exome and of cancer and prevention priorities; compare transcriptome sequencing as a strategy for biomarker population-based gene-environment interactions discovery were also discussed; identification of gene in India with those of other countries; and review fusions, their functional relevance and utility as preventive strategies in organ site specific high therapeutic targets being the main focus. At least incidence and mortality cancers common to India nine different joint projects were identified as an and the United States. outcome of this workshop.
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Modern Trends in Macromolecular Crystallography
21-23 February 2011, Mumbai, India
Principal Investigators: Ruchi Anand M.V. Hosur S.E. Ealick Indian Institute of Bhabha Atomic Research Cornell University, Technology, Bombay Centre, Mumbai Ithaca, New York E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Macromolecular crystallography has undergone In an effort to bring together scientists from rapid transformation in the past few decades. both India and the United States to discuss the X-ray Structure of biological macromolecules basic concepts and the current developments can illuminate vast amount of information about in the field of macromolecular crystallography, the functioning of the cell. Since the advent of an Indo-US workshop on Modern trends in macromolecular structure determination with macromolecular crystallography was organized the first protein structures of myoglobin and at New Delhi. The topics covered in the various hemoglobin being determined, the field has seen sessions included synchrotron data collection a complete metamorphosis. From a structure and processing strategies, macromolecular determination effort, what used to take years earlier protein complexes, structure based drug design, can now be completed, sometimes, in a few hours, structure determination and phasing techniques, because of the availability of synchrotron radiation crystallization techniques, emerging trends in and extensive effort on software development. macromolecular crystallography, data collection There has been a dramatic rise in the total and processing, phasing techniques, crystallization number of protein structures deposited in the and cryo-freezing techniques, and model building protein databank. In addition, several structure and visualization software. determination consortia have also been formed in an effort to mine data for future use.
68 programmatic activities - Bilateral Workshops
Precision Agricultural Techniques and Technologies
28 February - 3 March 2011, Ludhiana, India
Principal Investigators: Manjit S. Kang Raj Khosla Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana Colorado State University, Fort Collins E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
In order to provide a platform to US and Indian experts The event held at Ludhiana was attended by to share their current knowledge, discuss, prioritize about 50 participants including twelve resource and identify areas where there is mutual interest persons from the United States and fifteen for collaboration, a bilateral workshop on Precision from India. Besides the overview session, the agricultural techniques and technologies was workshop themes covered - constraints and organized at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. opportunities for agricultural production in India; Precision agriculture is an art and science of utilizing precision agricultural practices and opportunities advanced, innovative, cutting edge, site-specific to incorporate new techniques; precision water techniques and technologies for management of spatial management techniques and new technologies and temporal variability in farm fields for enhancing for enhancing food production; precision nutrient productivity, efficiency and profitability of agricultural management techniques and new technologies production systems. With a major population increase for enhancing food production. The final session in the world over the next 20 to 50 years, precision discussed and enumerated opportunities to agricultural techniques have to be employed to collaborate. There were also several farmland visits overcome the lag in potential agricultural yield. organized as a part of the workshop.
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Aging and Age-related Diseases
3-4 March 2011, New Delhi, India
Principal Investigators: Arnab Mukhopadhyay Andrew Dillin National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi Glenn Center for Aging Research, E-mail: [email protected] Salk Institute, La Jolla, California E-mail: [email protected]
Advancements in medical sciences and improved The symposium had four main sessions on metabolism living conditions have led to a dramatic increase and aging; signalling, development, stress and aging; in the average human life span over the last genomic instability and aging; and age-related diseases. century. This in turn has seen an increase in elderly Many interesting new developments were presented population as well as age-related diseases in many at the meeting including: therapeutic interventions countries, including the US and India. Thus, a lot that delay or reverse osteoporosis in a mouse model; of research focus is being diverted into the field work on biphenyl ethers that can bring about fibril of aging research as well as on diseases that occur disruption which has great implications in treatment primarily as we age. A large group of scientists in US of amyloid diseases; data on identifying PGC-1 as a are actively working in the field of aging/longevity. novel coactivator of p53, linking metabolism and In order to introduce the field of molecular aging cancer; reactive oxygen species-sensitive cellular research to Indian scientists as well as host a close mechanism of iron deposition in hepatic and neuronal interaction between scientists of the two countries cells that may contribute to age-related hepatic iron to discuss progress in research oriented towards overload or neurodegenerative diseases; and studies understanding age-related diseases, an Indo-US indicating that structural and epigenetic integrity of workshop on Aging and age-related diseases telomeres may influence senescence by modifying was organized. core histones and their chaperones.
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The Critical Global Challenge: Managing Water Resources for Food Security and Sustainability
5-6 March 2011, Chennai, India
Principal Investigators: Ajay Parida Prem S. Paul M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chennai E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
As leading global food producers, India and the with their common role as key food producers and United States also are leading irrigators and their diverse expertise and resources, together can consumers of water, making it critically important create the innovative solutions needed to increase that we work towards greater water productivity agricultural productivity in a time of increasing in agriculture in order to maintain – and increase demand for water and climate uncertainty. – the food production that is critical to world food security. Our countries have differences in our The Indo-US workshop on The critical global histories, resources, needs, and approaches to water challenge: Managing water resources for food management in agriculture, but we share many of security and sustainability brought together the same challenges, particularly in the areas of leading scientists and decision-makers from US and water quantity and quality, efficient use of water Indian institutions and the private sector to address in irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, the effects the issues and challenges surrounding water and of climate change, and the human dimensions food productivity, an area of critical interest to both of water use, involving policy, law, and human countries. The participants discussed potential paths behaviour. Water-related challenges in the United to solutions and established priorities for innovative States, India, and globally arise from multiple research, technologies, and policies related to causes, and potential solutions will demand the optimal use and management of water for diverse approaches. India and the United States, agriculture.
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Climate Change Health Adaptation
28-30 March 2011, Mumbai, India
Principal Investigators: K. Srinath Reddy Puja Thakker Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Kim Knowlton Anjali Jaiswal Global Warming and Health Project Natural Natural Resources Defense Council, Resources Defense Council San Francisco, California New York E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Current domestic and global climate science is largely focused on efforts to mitigate climate change. However, given experts’ predictions of increased temperatures, rising sea levels, and changing disease patterns, there is a pressing need for enhanced scientific research on climate adaptation with a particular focus on the public health implications of global warming for the world’s most vulnerable populations. Preparing for, and responding to, health emergencies caused by a changing climate will be critical to saving lives around the globe and protecting developing America. Subsequently, Indian scientists shared economies. However, in both the United States and information from occupational health studies and India, efforts to model, understand, and research heat-related productivity studies. Participants from shifting climate patterns and exposed communities the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation shared the are still in early stages. The Indo-US workshop city’s climate profile, the municipality’s experience on Climate change health adaptation brought with heat stress, and measures currently being together leaders in this field to discuss strategies undertaken to address heat vulnerability. There for the development and implementation of were discussions about the availability of datasets vulnerability assessments and related preparedness and the lack of surveillance of heat related mortality plans. Through the workshop, the aim was to and morbidity in hospitals. Workshop participants increase the resilience and responsiveness of Indian also engaged in detailed discussions in two urban centers to climate health emergencies. The working groups: environmental and community conference also promoted enhanced scientific determinants of vulnerability, and influences on research on climate health adaptation both adaptive capacity. Each working group identified domestically and globally. the availability of data to address key questions, data gaps and methods to overcome them, institutional Over the course of three days, the workshop covered opportunities and institutional challenges. The a vast range of topics. An introduction on heat groups further discussed policies and programs stress was provided to familiarize all participants currently in place to address risks, gaps in current with the health effects of extreme temperatures policies and programs, possible future approaches and how heat stress affects other climate-health to identify vulnerability and create resilience against impacts including chronic diseases, infections and heat stress, and methods to remove existing barriers air pollution related conditions. Scientists from the for effective, low cost adaptation measures against US shared case studies, research methodology, study heat stress, including infrastructural, behavioral and protocols and findings from heat stress studies in institutional/legal.
72 programmatic activities - TRAINING PROGRAMS
TRAINING PROGRAMS Comprehensive Stroke Center Training Program
9-11 December 2010, Chandigarh, India
Principal Investigator: Dheeraj Khurana Andrei Alexandrov Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education UAB Comprehensive Stroke Research Center, and Research Birmingham, Alabama Chandigarh E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Stroke is the second most leading cause of death their respective regions of the country. The meeting worldwide. In the United States, approximately covered all aspects involved in stroke management- 700,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke basic science, acute management, stroke nursing annually. In the developing world, stroke causes and rehabilitation. The highlights of the event around 3 million deaths. In India, stroke incidence is were presentations on development of criteria and around 146 per 100,000 people and it is predicted importance of primary and comprehensive stroke that in the next 30 years, the burden of stroke is going centers in stroke care, various case scenarios on to increase in the developing world. An efficient different aspects of stroke like acute treatment stroke care system is central to the management decision making, stroke complications, and critical- of stroke. care issues in stroke. An expert panel session was also held on myriad stroke where debates were The Indo-US Comprehensive stroke center held on a myriad of stroke neuroimaging signs training program was aimed to deliver training which aimed at improving the skills of the audience. in the development of stroke systems and care There were also lectures on the use of various to physicians in India by experts from the United interventional devices / ultrasound in the treatment States. The Indian physicians, chosen from various of acute ischemic stroke, as well as their indications regions of the country for this training, would in turn and rationale for treatment beyond guidelines in be able to serve as leaders in stroke education in certain situations.
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Genes, Circuits and Behavior
7-18 February 2011, Bengaluru, India
Principal Investigators: Gaiti Hasan Ralph J. Greenspan National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata University of California, San Diego Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Genetic studies of diseases that affect human discuss how genetic findings from Drosophila have behavior such as schizophrenia and manic helped understand more complex vertebrate neural depression suggest that while the underlying circuits and behavior. The training brought together cause maybe genetic, environmental factors graduate students, post-docs and junior faculty are hugely influential in disease manifestation and energized them to think about questions in and progression. To understand genetic versus human behavioral neuroscience and how these environmental contributions to behavior, it is can be addressed using simpler genetic models like necessary to study it in a context where both can Drosophila. be manipulated. The Indo-US advanced school on Genes, Circuits and Behavior organized at the The training program consisted of eighteen National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore lectures; nine sessions for literature discussion began by establishing how genes and environment and data analysis by students with the resource affect behavior in a relatively simple genetic model persons; and one session for a hands-on workshop - Drosophila melanogaster. It then proceeded to on “Flycircuit”.
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SERC School in Neuroscience
21 February - 6 March 2011, Manesar, India
Principal Investigators: Soumya Iyengar Neeraj Jain National Brain Research Centre, Manesar National Brain Research Centre, Manesar E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Systems neuroscience encompasses the functioning US and Indian experts in systems and cognitive of neural circuits and information flow within the neurosciences were invited to give lectures and central nervous system. Research in this area focuses demonstrations for the selected participants from on how sensory information is processed and different parts of India after a rigorous selection perceived, after which the brain makes decisions to process. The first week of the school was mainly respond appropriately, leading to different kinds of devoted to systems neuroscience, including behavior, expressed through the motor system. The introductory lectures and demonstrations to provide term ‘Cognition’ encompasses the different neural the basics of neuroscience. Lectures on speech and processes by which the brain represents and makes language; the olfactory, motor, somatosensory and sense of the myriad forms of information it receives, auditory systems; and an introduction to magnetic resulting in a unified sense of the world. The Fourth resonance imaging (MRI) were included. The SERC School in Neurosciences was specifically participants visited the MRI Centre in AIIMS, New aimed at attracting young researchers to work in Delhi over the weekend for a detailed demonstration these areas by imparting intense training in both of MRI-related techniques. The second week focused basic and advanced aspects of research in systems on cognitive neurosciences with experts in the field and cognitive neuroscience. speaking about attention, language processing, EEG, memory, executive functions, cognitive disorders and cognitive retraining.
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Centers For Research Excellence In Science & Engineering Indo-US Centre for Research Excellence in Science and Engineering (CRESE) on Fabrionics
Lead Partners: Amitabha Ghosh Marc Madou Bengal Engineering and Science University, University of California, Irvine Shibpur E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Other Partners: Shiv G. Kapoor Northwestern University, Illinois University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois, Chicago E-mail: [email protected] University of Missouri, Columbia Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Ashutosh Sharma Central Mechanical Engineering Research Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Institute, Durgapur E-mail: [email protected]
With the emerging capabilities and rapid progress in University of California, Irvine; and Northwestern the fields of molecular engineering, micro and nano- University, Evanston, Illinois. Considering the system technology, material science and computer outcome and achievements of the Joint Centre on engineering, the ability to manufacture micro- and Advanced Manufacturing, IUSSTF in partnership nano- sized devices and autonomous machines will with Department of Science and Technology bring unprecedented changes in human society. awarded the Indo-US CRESE on Fabrionics in order The challenges are primarily a result of the current to consolidate and continue the collaboration for trend for miniaturization, development of new by intensifying the academic cooperation through exotic nonmetallic materials and the lessons our enlarging the participating group by inducting new scientists and engineers are learning from nature. institutions to bring in a multi-disciplinary expertise Having identified and recognized this emerging along with the active involvement of industry new branch of technology through deliberations and entrepreneurs required to translate the R&D at the Indo-US Workshop on Futuristic Shaping outcome. Each year, two workshops are organized Technology at Meso, Micro and Nano Scales held at – one in the US and one in India. Besides this, two IIT Kanpur in 2007, the participants coined the term lecture series for students have also been arranged “Fabrionics” to connote this multi-disciplinary facet that will result in books published by Springer. New of engineering sciences. smart materials for micro actuator, processes for micro forming and machining, different types of Based on the collaborative research and biosensors and some advanced nano- structured development work achieved under the umbrella materials have already been developed. of the earlier IUSSTF supported Indo-US Joint Centre for Advanced and Futuristic Manufacturing, The primary areas chosen for R&D project based a consortium was formed through the signing work by the CRESE in Fabrionics include: of an MoU by the five collaborating universities • New strategies/approaches for Fabrionics and - IIT Kanpur; and IIT Kharagpur from India along shape generation through material manipulation with the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign; at meso, micro and nanoscales;
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• Fabrication at small scale using exotic materials- (iv) Laser-induced plasma micro-machining (PI: K.F. soft materials, bio materials, polymers, gels, Ehmann in collaboration with CMERI and IIT, composites etc; Kanpur) funded by NSF for 3 years (2010 - 2013; • Fabrication and use of carbon $411,808.00) Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS)/ Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); Patents filed • Generative manufacturing processes-direct metal deposit techniques for micro sized parts; (i) Ghubade A., Mandal S., Chaudhury R., Singh R.K., • Shape generation by self assembly technique and Singh D., Gurunath R. and Bhattacharya S. Title self patterning; of the invention: Integrated di-electrophoresis • Micro fluidic-based micro devices; based concentration of pathogenic bacteria and • AFM based technology for mRNA isolation and quantization using ImageJ. protein sequencing; (ii) Singh R.K., Basu B. and Bhattacharya S. Title • Smart material actuated micromechanism and of the invention: A novel 2/3-Dimensional micro devices; Soft-lithography technique to formulate micro- • Protein motors for actuating autonomous nano channels and evaluation of various associated robots and manipulators; mechanical and biological phenomena. • Micro machine tools and micro factories; • Hybrid multi-scale process development; and As an outcome of the Centre activities the following • Developing the curriculum for joint teaching research publications have been already generated: programs on “Fabrionics”. (i) Sharma C.S., Sharma A. and Madou M. (2010) Research projects awarded Multiscale carbon structures fabricated by direct micro-patterning of electrospun mats of SU-8 Consequent to the institution of the IUSSTF photoresist nanofibers. Langmuir 26: 2218–2222 supported joint center has led to the following (ii) Ghubade A., Mandal S., Chaudhury R., Singh research projects getting funded to the respective R.K. and Bhattacharya S. (2010) Dielectrophoresis partnering groups: assisted concentration of micro-particles and their rapid quantitation based on optical means. (i) Characterization of µ-EDM (PI: J. Ramkumar, IIT, Biomedical Microdevices DOI: 10.1007/s10544- Kanpur) funded by Department of Science and 009-9316-6 Technology, Govt. of India (iii) Bhattacharya S., Singh R.K., Mandal S., Ghosh (ii) Development of multi-purpose micromachine A., Korampally V., Bok S., Gangopadhyay K. and tools for milling and EDM (PI: Naga Hanumaiah, Gangopadhyay S. (2010) Plasma modification CMERI) funded by the Council of Scientific and of polymer surfaces and their utility in building Industrial Research, Govt. of India Biomedical Microdevices. Journal of Adhesion (iii) Magnetic field -assisted material removal in micro Science and Technology 1-32 electric discharge machining process (PI: S.G. (iv) Ray M., Basu T. S., Jana A., Bandyopadhyay N. Kapoor in collaboration with IIT, Kanpur and R., Hossain S. M., Pramanick A. K. and Klie R. F. CMERI) funded by NSF for 3 years (2010-2013; (2010) Luminescent core-shell nanostructures of $375,000.00) silicon and silicon oxide: nanodots and nanorods. Journal of Applied Physics, 107: 064311
77 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Indo-US Centre for Research Excellence in Science and Engineering (CRESE) on Advanced Materials Research
Lead Partners: Other Partners: Swapan K. Pati Vinayak P. Dravid Indian Institute of Science, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Northwestern University, Bangalore Advanced Scientific Research, Evanston, Illinois Argonne National Laboratory, Bangalore Email: v-dravid@ Illinois Email: [email protected] northwestern.edu
With a continued push for miniaturization and nanomaterials, soft matter, molecular electronics, the impending roadblock of fundamental physics structure- property relationships and computational constraints on the current silicon technology modeling. The areas being studied are timely and paradigm, there is an urgent need to diversify and have considerable potential for both advances enhance the back-bone technologies for the 21st in fundamental research as well as technological century. This would require not only innovation in applications. electronics but also in information storage, transfer and display to create science-enabled sustainable The objectives of the CRESE on Advanced Materials growth of a globally viable “eco-system” for developed Research include the establishment of grass-root and developing economies. Innovations in quantum collaborations and cross institutional bridge – materials/phenomena are critical to replace and/or building initiatives as well as out-of-the box cyber complement existing architecture. enabled global education, training and outreach Programs. The centre also promotes the exchange of The Center for Advanced Materials Research (CAMR) graduate students, post doctoral fellows and faculty set up in partnership with Department of Science members between partnering institutions. and Technology has been anchored by the respective institutions leadership in materials research, Some of the collaborative work which has been leveraged by established grass-root collaborations initiated under this CRESE includes: and cross-institutional bridge-building. The areas of collaboration being carried out cover broad • Evaluating polymer materials used in n-type emerging materials critical for advancing next field effect transistors (FETs) and comparing the generation information technology and include field effect mobility to bulk mobility;
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• Defining a research problem to identify (ii) Gopalakrishnan K., Joshi H.M., Kumar P., features in the optical properties transparent Panchakarla L.S. and Rao C.N.R. (2011) FETs and determine time scales for switching Selectivity in the photocatalytic properties responses; of the composites of TiO2 nanoparticles with • Exploratory work on properties leading to B- and N-doped graphenes. Chemical Physics efficient solar cells. A paper which describes a Letters, doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2011.06.033. bilayer FET is under preparation; • Molecular dynamics force fields to simulate As part of the visitations under the CRESE, four DNA in water and also SIESTA calculations; and scientists from India visited their collaborators • Experiments on one-pot synthesis of gold in the US and four US scientists visited their nano-particles in poly (dimethylsiloxane) and Indian counterpart institutions. In addition, as how to pattern the metal layer that forms on a part of the CRESE activities, an US-India-Israel the surface of the Au-PDMS gel with prolonged workshop on Nanoscale phenomena in soft and exposure to KAuCl4. hybrid matter was organized in March 2011. The event focused on exploring scientific and Research publications generated in 2010-11 technical areas of mutual interest in the field of soft and hybrid matter, encompassing nanoscale (i) Rao M., Ortiz R.P., Facchetti A., Marks T.J. and phenomena. The workshop deliberated on Narayan K.S. (2010) Studies of photogenerated one- and two-dimensional materials, metal and charge carriers from donor-acceptor interfaces semiconductor nanoparticles, energy solutions, in organic field effect transistors: Implications biological systems, modeling complex systems, for organic solar cell. The Journal of Physical optical phenomena, and transport via molecular Chemistry C, 114: 20609 junctions.
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Indo-US Centre for Research Excellence in Science and Engineering (CRESE) on Nanobiotechnology
Lead Partners: Other Partners: K. Vijay Raghavan Shiladitya Sengupta & Harvard-MIT Division of National Center for Biological Jeff Karp Health Science Technology, Sciences, Bangalore Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts E-mail: [email protected] Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cambridge, Stem Cell Institute, Bangalore Massachusetts E-mail: [email protected] & Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for [email protected] Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore
Two emerging areas that will dramatically impact medical sciences in the future are stem cell biology and nanotechnology. Although, these two areas are already intersecting, the interface between these areas offers an untapped niche for scientific exploration and inventions that will revolutionize translational medicine. This Centre for Research Excellence in Science and Engineering set up by IUSSTF in partnership with Department of Science and Technology on nanobiotechnology brings that can perturb this process. This will enable the together the strengths of groups at the National understanding of the process of vasculogenesis, Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Jawaharlal which holds the key for regenerative medicine Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research critical for the management of conditions such as (JNCASR) and InStem and the core expertise of ischaemic heart diseases, peripheral artery diseases Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and and diabetic sores. Furthermore, nanostructures Technology in material sciences and nanotechnology. that promote the process can be engineered as scaffolds that can be harnessed as therapeutics in the The Joint Centre has three major goals: above conditions. In contrast, nanostructures that are engineered to inhibit the process could evolve (i) Development of a strong research program as potential therapy for pathological conditions elucidating the role of nanostructures in stem characterized by overt neovascularization, including cell biology in the vascular context; cancer, diabetic retinopathy and rheumatoid (ii) Development of a strong training component arthritis. and exchange program; and (iii) Aggressive pursuit of translation of technology The collaboration between the partners brings developed by promoting an entrepreneurial together scientists from a multidisciplinary culture and partnerships with the industry. background, where chemical engineers, polymer chemists, material scientists, and nanotechnologists Specifically as the research component, the focus is work closely with molecular and cell biologists. on the mechanistics underlying the recruitment and It is anticipated that this exchange of knowledge differentiation of stems cells into vascular structures, would enable the development of expertise on and the development of novel nanostructures both continents. Furthermore, annual training
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programs would be conducted at NCBS on tools Also as part of the CRESE activities, the second and technologies in the area of bio-nanotechnology, meeting of the Boston-Bangalore Bioengineering which would be open to scientists across India. Initiative was held from 07-08 November 2010 at Bangalore to spearhead a discussion between Three active research projects have already been engineers, physicists, chemists, materials science initiated by the binational team are: experts and biologists.
(i) Heparan Sulfate Glycosaminoglycans (HSGAGs) in Research publications generated: human ES cell differentiation into cardiovascular lineages (Shiladitya Sengupta, Harvard-MIT and (i) Sinha Roy R., Soni S., Harfouche R., Vasudevan Maneesha Inamdar, JNCASR); and P.R., Holmes O., de Jonge H., Rowe A., Paraskar (ii) Mechano-biology of the stem cell niche and the A., Hentschel D.M., Chirgadze D., Blundell T.L., control of quiescence (Jeff Karp, Harvard-MIT and Gherardi E., Mashelkar R.A. and Sengupta Jyotsna Dhawan, InStem) S (August 2010) Coupling growth-factor (iii) Harnessing the human mesenchymal stem cell engineering with nanotechnology for (hmsc) secretome for cardiovascular regeneration therapeutic angiogenesis. Proceedings of using bioengineering strategies (Sudhir H. the National Academy of Sciences USA, Ranganath, JNCASR, Maneesha Inamdar, 107(31):13608-13 JNCASR and Jeffrey M. Karp, Harvard-MIT). (ii) Paraskar A.S., Soni S., Chin K.T., Chaudhuri P., Muto K.W., Berkowitz J., Handlogten M.W., As part of the CRESE activities, several exchange Alves N.J., Bilgicer B., Dinulescu D.M., Mashelkar visits have been undertaken. Jeff Karp visited NCBS/ R.A. and Sengupta S. (July 2010) Harnessing InStem in November 2010 and in March 2011 and structure-activity relationship to engineer a participated in scientific discussions. Shiladitya cisplatin nanoparticle for enhanced antitumor Sengupta visited NCBS/InStem in March 2011. R.A. efficacy. Proceedings of the National Academy Mashelkar visited Shiladitya Sengupta’s laboratory of Sciences USA, 107(28):12435-40. in October 2010. Patents granted/filed: Abhijit Majumdar was recruited in the joint project between the Dhawan and Karp labs in (i) Paraskar A., Soni S., Basu S., Sengupta P. and 2010 and has made substantial progress on Sengupta S. Platinum nanoparticles and generating micro-patterned surfaces for growth methods of use thereof. PCT/US10/23217. and induction of quiescence of mesenchymal Currently being licensed to Invictus Oncology, stem cells. Sudhir Ranganath was recruited in the New Delhi by BWH. joint projects between the Karp and Inamdar labs (ii) Sinha-Roy R., Soni S., Harfouche R. and in August 2010 and has made substantial progress Sengupta S. 1K1 nanoparticles for angiogenesis. in establishing conditions for study of the hMSC PCT filed by BWH. This patent has been licensed secretome. to Vyome Biosciences, New Delhi.
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Indo-US Center for Research Excellence in Science and Engineering (CRESE) on Nanomaterials for Energy
Lead Partners: G. U. Kulkarni Timothy S. Fisher Sunil Murthy Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Purdue University, Indiana GE India Technology Centre, Advance Scientific Research, E-mail: [email protected] Bangalore Bangalore E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
The India-US Center for Research Excellence in for diverse professional and international Science and Engineering (CRESE) on Nanomaterials cultures. for energy set up by IUSSTF in partnership with (ii) Creation of joint research programs of both Department of Science and Technology is a academic-academic and industry-academic collaborative effort between the Jawaharlal Nehru types leading to new discoveries at the Center for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR, interface between nanotechnology and Bangalore, India) and Purdue’s Birck Nanotechnology energy. Center (West Lafayette, Indiana) with General (iii) Enhancement of collaborative use of cyber Electric’s John F. Welch India Technology Center infrastructure research and educational (Bangalore, India). To begin with, a Joint Networked resources such as nanoHUB.org and Center on Nanomaterials was developed through an thermalHUB.org. These resources will support IUSSTF-sponsored bi-lateral workshop in Bangalore global collaborations through the use of web- during August 2008 (http://www.nanohub.org/ based computational tools, online lectures/ resources/5514) and draws from the synergistic tutorials, collaborative user/project groups, and expertise in physics and chemistry of materials material databases. at JNCASR with that of nanofabrication and (iv) Organization and hosting of summer schools engineering at Purdue. The Center seeks to find and related tutorial materials offered annually new ways of exploiting the unique properties and to attract strong participation from industrial characteristics of nanomaterials in a broad range of and academic participants. energy-related applications. (v) Strengthening of links between academics and global technology companies with R&D centers The establishment of this center enables new in the US and India. synergies among the partners, leading to many tangible outcomes, including: Topics of collaborative research include:
(i) A new cohort of globally engaged researchers in (i) Metal-semiconductor superlattice thermoelectrics nanotechnology and energy with appreciation Faculty Participants: Umesh Waghmare
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(International Centre for Materials Science Faculty participants: Timothy Fisher ICMS, JNCASR), T. Sands (Purdue) (Purdue), Pat Erwin (GE) and Umesh Waghmare (JNCASR) (ii) Exfoliated graphite/graphene materials for enhanced interfacial transport (xi) Quantum transport through nanostructures Faculty Participants: C. Narayana (ICMS, Faculty participants: N.S. Vidhyadhiraja JNCASR), Timothy Fisher (Purdue) (JNCASR), Timothy Fisher (Purdue)
(iii) Liquid nanosolder for electrical contacts and (xii) Thermal hysteresis and avalanches across the thermal interfaces inhomogeneous Mott transition Faculty Participants: G.U. Kulkarni (ICMS, Faculty Participants: N.S. Vidhyadhiraja JNCASR), Timothy Fisher (Purdue) (JNCASR), Erica Carlson (Purdue), Karin Dahmen (University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne) (iv) Integration of carbon nanotubes for solar, thermal and lighting applications (xiii) Properties of B-C-N nano structures Faculty Participants: C.N.R. Rao (ICMS, JNCASR), Faculty participants: U.V. Waghmare (JNCASR), Timothy Fisher (Purdue) Timothy Fisher (Purdue), Ronald Reifenberger (Purdue) (v) Solid-state hydrogen storage Faculty Participants: M. Alam (JNCASR), U.V. (xiv) Graphite petals: growth mechanism, structural Waghmare (ICMS, JNCASR), Timothy Fisher and surface features (Purdue) Faculty participants: Timothy Fisher (Purdue), Ronald Reifenberger (Purdue) (vi) Behavior of attolitre water droplets Faculty Participants: G.U. Kulkarni (JNCASR), (xv) Atomic force microscope based electrical Scott (Purdue) characterization of mesoscopic graphitic islands and graphene films (vii) Au nanoparticle-PDMS composites Faculty participants: Timothy Fisher (Purdue), Faculty Participants: G.U. Kulkarni (JNCASR), G.U. Kulkarni (JNCASR), Ronald G Reifenberger Scott (Purdue) (Purdue)
(viii) Electronic structure, vibrational spectrum, and (xvi) Carbon nanotube Pd thiolate composites - thermal properties of yttrium nitride: A first- thermal and electrically improved properties principles study Faculty participants: G.U. Kulkarni (JNCASR), Faculty participants: Timothy Sands (Purdue), Timothy Fisher (Purdue) Umesh Waghmare (JNCASR) As part of the visitations under the CRESE, two (ix) First-principles analysis of ZrN/ScN metal/ faculty and two students from India visited their semiconductor superlattices for thermoelectric collaborators in the US and seven faculty and two energy conversion students from the US visited their Indian counterpart Faculty participants: Timothy Sands (Purdue), institutions. In addition, as a part of the CRESE activity Umesh Waghmare (JNCASR) a workshop was organized on Basics of nanomaterials and applications in energy conversion, transport and (x) Interaction of butene with metal/metal oxide storage in August 2010. The Joint Centre has led to clusters extended interactions with other institutions with
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and outside of India such as University College ferromagnetism in graphitic petal arrays. London (UCL), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Nanoscale 3(3): 900-903 Tribhuvan University - The University of Nepal, USAF, (ii) Smith K.C., Alam M. and Fisher T.S. (2010) Res Lab, Thermal Sci & Mat Branch USA. Athermal jamming of soft frictionless platonic solids. Physical Review E, 82(5) 051304 Part 1 Research projects awarded (iii) Bhuvana T., Boley W., Radha B., Dolash B.D., Chiu G., Bergstrom D., Reifenberger R., Fisher T.S. and Consequent to the institution of the IUSSTF Kulkarni G.U. (2010) Inkjet printing of palladium supported joint center has led to the following alkanethiolates for facile fabrication of metal research projects getting funded to the respective interconnects and surface-enhanced Raman partnering groups: scattering substrates. Micro & Nano Letters, 5(5): 296-299 (i) First-principles modeling and simulations of (iv) Smith K.C., Fisher T.S., Waghmare U.V. and thermal properties of hexagonal nanomaterials Grau-Crespo R. (2010) Dopant-vacancy binding (PI: U.V. Waghmare ; Co PI: Timothy Fisher effects in Li-doped magnesium hydride. Physical and A. Voevodin) funded by Air Force Office Review B, 82(13) Article Number: 134109. of Scientific Research (AFOSR)/ Asian Office (v) Scott A., Gupta R. and Kulkarni G.U. (2010) of Aerospace Research and Development A Simple Water-Based Synthesis of Au (AOARD) Nanoparticle/PDMS Composites for Water (ii) Nano thermal interface material development (PI: Purification and Targeted Drug Release. Timothy Fisher) funded by Defense Advanced Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, Research Projects Agency (DARPA) 211(15): 1640-1647 (vi) Kurra N., Scott A. and Kulkarni G.U. (2010) Research publications generated in 2010-11 Electrocondensation and Evaporation of Attoliter Water Droplets: Direct Visualization (i) Rout C.S., Kumar A., Kumar N., Sundaresan Using Atomic Force Microscopy. Nano Research, A. and Fisher T.S. (2011) Room-temperature 3(5): 307-316.
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Joint Centers
Indo-US Networked Center on Theoretical Physics of Ultra-cold Atoms in Optical Lattices
Lead Partners: Other Partners: H.R. Krishnamurthy Krishnendu Sengupta Nandini Trivedi Indian Institute of Science, Indian Association for the Ohio State University, Bangalore Cultivation of Sciences (IACS), Columbus E-mail: [email protected]. Kolkata E-mail: [email protected] ernet.in E-mail: [email protected] Marcos Rigol James K. Freericks Vijay Shenoy Georgetown University, Georgetown University, Indian Institute of Science, Washington DC Washington, DC Bangalore E-mail: mrigol@physics. E-mail: freericks@physics. E-mail: [email protected]. georgetown.edu georgetown.edu ernet.in
The Indo-US Networked Center on Theoretical (ii) Determination of the response of these systems physics of ultra-cold atoms in optical lattices is a to different external perturbations (both linear collaborative effort between Georgetown University, response and non-equilibrium responses), Ohio State University, Indian Institute of Science and which include moving the trap, either suddenly, the Indian Association for Cultivation of Science. or slowly, modulating the system by changing
The specific collaborative research goals of the Joint Center are two-fold:
(i) Determination of the stable phases in homogeneous and trapped systems of spinless and spinor bosons with on-site as well as longer-range interactions, and of mixtures (bose-fermi, or bose-bose). One of the main themes will be to determine precisely what information can be found from time-of-flight measurements, and how theory can calculate those results.
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(ii) Development of a generalized gradient approximation to go beyond the local density approximation in handling strongly correlated inhomogeneous systems such as ultra-cold atoms in a trap.
The current activities of the Joint Center are focused on:
(i) Developing a strong-coupling approach to non-equilibrium ultra-cold atomic problems in an optical lattice with a trap.
(ii) Calculating the efficiency for dipolar molecule the amplitude of the optical lattice (Bragg formation in Rb-Cs mixtures on an optical spectroscopy), and newer experimental lattice for use in an experiment from the techniques as they arise. Innsbruck team.
Two projects have already been completed and (iii) Further elaboration and implementation of the these include: generalized gradient approximation as a way to go beyond the local density approximation (i) Development of a strong coupling expansion in a variety of contexts. for quantities that are directly experimentally measured in systems of ultra-cold bosonic (iv) Studying quantum quench dynamics around a atoms in a deep optical lattice as described by quantum critical point. the Bose-Hubbard model with a trap potential, for parameter regimes when superfluid regions As part of the visitations associated with the Joint are present. The expansion works well in much Center, three scientists from Georgetown University of the experimentally relevant regimes. visited the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and three Indian scientists visited Georgetown University.
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Indo-US Networked Center on Accelerators and Detectors for future High Energy Physics Experiments
Lead Partners: Other Partners: R.K. Shivpuri Kirti Ranjan Rejeena Rani Y. University of Delhi, Delhi University of Delhi, Delhi Bharat Electronics Ltd, E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Jalahalli, Bangalore
Shekhar Mishra Y. P. Prabhakara Rao Harry Weerts Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois Bharat Electronics Ltd, Argonne National Laboratory, E-mail: mishra_shekhar@ Jalahalli, Bangalore Illinois comcast.net E-mail: [email protected]
International Linear Collider (ILC) and Project-X (ii) Delhi University, through the Centre for R&D programs at Fermilab is extremely beneficial Detector and Related Software Technology for Indian and US institutions, as these allows them (CDRST), has been actively involved in ongoing to share resources, man-power and expertise in and future high energy physics experiments an interesting, topical and fast developing area of through significant contributions in detectors accelerator and detector technology. The strong and physics analysis. motivation for establishing the Indo-US networked center on accelerators and detectors for future The ILC provides a tool for scientists to address many high energy physics experiments was due to the of the most compelling questions of the 21st century following reasons: including questions about dark matter, dark energy, extra dimensions and the fundamental nature of (i) Fermilab is host to the world’s current highest matter, energy, space and time. energy accelerator along with its state-of-the- art detectors and is playing a major role in the ILC program.
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The goals in the area of accelerator development (iii) To perform radiation hardness studies on these are: sensors and participation in detector testing using the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. (i) To study and understand the preservation of small transverse beam emittances through the (iv) To design, construct and test prototype double- main linac of the proposed international linear sided silicon detector modules. collider using beam dynamics simulations. (v) To characterize scintillator modules read out (ii) To analyze and develop techniques of beam- with SiPM’s. based alignment to limit the transverse emittance growth because of static (vi) To develop pixilated photon detectors for the misalignments of the beamline elements. next generation of particle physics experiments and imaging applications. (iii) To understand the effect of dynamic misalignments, like ground motion on the Single sided detector fabrication is currently being emittance growth and develop 5-Hz feedback done at Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore. Masks, system to perform dynamic tuning. needed for this purpose have been designed and fabricated. As part of the exchange visits undertaken, (iv) To perform integrated simulation in the Kirti Ranjan and Arun Saini from Delhi University emittance transport region to predict the visited Fermilab; and Marcel Demarteau and Jerry luminosity of the ILC machine taking into Nolen from Argonne National Lab visited the Tata account the ring-to-main linac system, and also Institute for Fundamental Research. the beam delivery system. Publications (v) To conduct cavity and coupler simulation for Project-X. (i) Saxena P., Ranjan K., Bhardwaj A., Shivpuri R.K. and Bhattacharya S. (2010) Development of multi- The objectives in the Silicon (Si) detector development guard ring-equipped p+–n Si microstrip sensors are: for the SiD detector at the ILC. Semiconductor Science and Technology, 25, 105012. (i) To design, develop and fabricate the double- sided silicon strip sensors and perform (ii) Simulation Studies of the n+n- Si sensors characterization on these devices. having p-spray/p-stop implant for the SiD experiment. Accepted for publication in (ii) To perform simulation studies to understand Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics and optimize the Si detector design. Research A proceedings, 2011.
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Conference proceedings • Saini A., Mishra C.S., Ranjan K., Solyak N., Yakovlev V.P., et. al. Compensation of failure of (i) Particle Accelerator Conference (2011) Inter- RF cavity in Superconducting CW Linac. University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi: http://www.iuac.res.in/InPAC2011/ • Ranjan K. Emittance preservation for the ILC proceedings/InPAC2011%20Proceedings/ main linac http://www.iuac.res.in/InPAC2011/ Oral%20%20and%20posters%20 proceedings/InPAC2011%20Proceedings/I-20/ contributory/102_arun.pdf KRanjan.pdf • Saini A., Mishra C.S., Ranjan K., Solyak N., • Saini A., Mishra C.S., Ranjan K., Solyak N., Yakovlev Yakovlev V.P., et. al. Study of higher order V.P., et. al. Lattice design for superconducting modes in the Project-X linac. http://www.iuac. CW linac for Project-X facility at Fermilab. http:// res.in/InPAC2011/proceedings/InPAC2011%20 www.iuac.res.in/InPAC2011/proceedings/ Proceedings/Oral%20%20and%20posters%20 InPAC2011%20Proceedings/Oral%20%20 contributory/103_arun.pdf and%20posters%20contributory/98_arun.pdf (ii) Particle Accelerator Conference (2011), New • Saini A., Mishra C.S., Ranjan K., Solyak N., Yakovlev York City V.P., et. al. RF cavities for superconducting CW linac for Project-X facility at Fermilab. http:// • Saini A., Mishra C.S., Ranjan K., Solyak N., www.iuac.res.in/InPAC2011/proceedings/ Yakovlev V.P., et. al. Study of failure of beam InPAC2011%20Proceedings/Oral%20%20 line elements and their compensation in CW and%20posters%20contributory/100_arun.pdf superconducting Linac. http://www.c-ad.bnl. gov/pac2011/proceedings/papers/wep006.pdf • Saini A., Mishra C.S., Ranjan K., Solyak N., Yakovlev V.P., et. al. Electromagnetic design of • Saini A., Mishra C.S., Ranjan K., Solyak N., superconducting cavities for 650 MHz section of Yakovlev V.P., et. al. Calculation of Acceptance CW linac for Project-X facility. http://www.iuac. for high intensity superconducting proton res.in/InPAC2011/proceedings/InPAC2011%20 linac for Project-X. http://www.c-ad.bnl.gov/ Proceedings/Oral%20%20and%20posters%20 pac2011/proceedings/papers/wep007.pdf contributory/101_arun.pdf
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Indo-US Networked Center on Cardiovascular Biology
Lead Partners: Other Partners: Shyamal K. Goswami Sathyamangla Prasad Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi The Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic E-mail: [email protected] Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio E-mail: [email protected] Alan N. Schechter National Institutes of Health Suvro Chatterjee Bethesda, Maryland AU-KBC Research Centre E-mail: [email protected] Anna University, Chennai E-mail: [email protected]
The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in general (iii) To understand and develop nitrite based therapy and heart failure in particular is rising worldwide for promoting blood vessels in the stroke affected with the increasing aging population. Available tissues heart failure therapy is directed towards neuro- hormonal intervention (beta blockers, angiotensin Redox biology of cardiovascular diseases is an advance receptor blockers and angiotensin converting area of research being pursued by research teams led by enzyme inhibitors). In spite of these therapies, heart S.K. Goswami at JNU and S. Prasad at the Cleveland Clinic. failure remains a progressive disease with high The groups are now working together in integrating two rate of mortality and morbidity, demanding new aspects of cardiovascular function - redox regulation therapeutic strategies. of adrenergic signaling and adrenergic receptor sensitization-resensitization. The leads are now being The IUSSTF Joint Centre on Cardiovascular Biology pursued with regular e-communication and reagent is aimed towards bringing together US and Indian sharing. Suvro Chatterjee’s research group at Anna researchers in cardiovascular biology to create a niche University works on nitric oxide signaling in endothelial in adrenergic receptor dynamics and therapeutic bed and vascular remodeling to understand the role of angiogenesis, two fast emerging areas of research. nitric oxide signaling in cellular migration, permeability and angiogenesis; and Alan Schechter’s (NIH) expertise The objectives of the Joint Center include: is to detect, estimate and analyze the function of nitric oxide in human tissue contexts. The Joint Center has (i) To determine how PI3K regulates βAR re- resulted in the integration of their respective research sensitization areas. Under the aegis of the Joint Center, two Indian (ii) To determine the molecular mechanism of scientists visited NIH and one American scientist visited regulation of PP2A by PI3K-ROS/RNS axis collaborators at JNU and Anna University.
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Cell-targeted Diagnostics and Therapy Using Nanomaterials
Lead Partners: Industry Partner: Other Partners: Shantikumar Nair Shireen Vali Brown Foundation Institute Amrita Centre for Cellworks Research India Pvt. of Molecular Medicine, Nanosciences and Molecular Ltd, Bangalore University of Texas at Medicine (ACNSMM), Kochi Houston E-mail: shantinair@aims. amrita.edu Stanford University
Antonios Mikos University of Connecticut Rice University, Houston, Texas E-mail: [email protected]
Growth of functional tissues includes regeneration (iii) In vitro and in vivo diagnostics of tumor cells and of specific cells in tissues by facilitating the cancer stem cells using multifunctional contrast differentiation of stem cells, or the attachment and agents. proliferation of particular cell types in judiciously designed nanomaterial-based assemblies (scaffolds, The following work has been carried out under the aggregates or gels). The use of bioactive molecules aegis of the Joint Center: with nanoscale objects with extremely high epitope densities could facilitate receptor clustering for (i) Development of locally implantable signaling and also maximize successful binding nanoparticle-based gel system for interferon between ligands and receptors at the three- (IFN) delivery: Researchers have prepared a dimensional interfaces between matrices and novel locally implantable gel based interferon cells. The objectives of the Indo-US Joint Center delivery system, wherein IFN is better stabilized on Cell-targeted diagnostics and therapy using and released in a sustained manner over a nanomaterials are as follows: period of ~ 21 days. (ii) Microfluidic device assembly and gradient (i) Use of multipotent stem cells for differentiation generation of vascular growth factors. into tissue using nanomaterial and (iii) Preparation of scaffolds for osteochondral tissue nanomedicines. engineering and diagnostics of embryonic (ii) Development of ECM simulating nanoscaffold stem cells using magnetic nHaP contrast constructs for tissue regeneration and agents: In this study two separate scaffolds vascularization. were combined and adult stem cells were
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differentiated into two cell types giving rise visited ACNSMM; and three doctoral students from to a composite osteochondral tissue. The ACNSMM visited Rice University, Stanford and scaffolds were Electrospun scaffold PCL with University of Connecticut respectively. Six seminars hydoxyapatite and Alginic acid/hyaluronic acid were also conducted at the partnering institutions composite hydrogel. as part of the Joint Center. (iv) Electrospinning of 3D engineered protein nanomaterials. Research projects awarded (v) Micro-nano scaffolds for articular cartilage regeneration: As part of this study, 3D PCL The IUSSTF supported joint center has led to the microfiber scaffolds, 3D PCL micro and PCL following research projects getting funded to the nanofiber composite scaffolds and 3D PCL- respective partnering groups: fibrin nanofiber scaffolds were generated. In India: In its collaboration with Cellworks, ACNSMM provided the small molecules of interest and (i) Nanotoxicology and nanomedicine funded by Cellworks conducted the computational analysis the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. to understand the concentration and sequence of of India. each of these molecules for efficient cancer therapy. (ii) Tissue engineering and stem cell therapy using The bioinformatics results will be compared with nanomaterials funded by Department of actual wet lab studies at ACNSMM to validate the Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India. results. In collaboration with Cellworks, the Heilshorn laboratory at Stanford University is investigating how In USA: cells respond to exposure of certain enzymes that (i) Preparation and delivery of clinically relevant may be used as therapeutic triggers. Rice University’s numbers of stem cells using 3D hydrogels collaboration with Cellworks explores the effects funded by California Institute of Regenerative of a model inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis Medicine. factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as of known osteogenic (ii) Adaptable biomaterials that enable cell-induced growth factors, including bone morphogenetic remodeling and drug delivery funded by the protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, BMP-7 and transforming National Science Foundation (NSF). growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), on bone regeneration. (iii) Flow perfusion bioreactor fabrication of bioactive polymer/ECM hybrid constructs funded by the As part of the activities of the Joint Center, four National Institutes of Health (NIH). Indian scientists visited their US collaborators and (iv) Injectable cellular composites for cartilage two US scientists visited India. Additionally, two engineering funded by the National Institutes doctoral students (from Stanford and Rice University) of Health (NIH).
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Indo-US Networked Center on Physics Beyond Standard Model (BSM) Phenomenology
Lead Partners: Other Partners: Rohini Godbole Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Harish Chandra Research Institute E-mail: [email protected] University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Kansas, Lawrence Sandip Pakvasa University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii E-mail: [email protected]
detectors will be undertaken. Studies of avor structure of very high energy astrophysical neutrinos will be carried out. (ii) Top physics: Top physics will be looked at as a probe of BSM physics with the focus on use of the top polarization in isolating its nature at the LHC. (iii) Supersymmetry: Here the Joint Center will address connections between dark matter studies and avor physics; and correlations Our current understanding of nature can be between direct and indirect dark matter summarized in terms of two Standard Models: one searches and LHC experiments. for extremely large cosmological scales - standard model of cosmology; and another for extremely tiny Raj Gandhi, one of the project members based sub-nuclear particle physics scale - standard model at Harish Chandra Research Institute, visited the of particle physics. Both these models have been University of Wisconsin at Madison for a month to extremely successful at their respective scales but enable discussions with Vernon Barger and Danny are however unable to describe nature completely. Marfatia, two of the investigators on the US side of the project. These discussions enabled them to The beginning of Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at begin work on the first phase of calculations, which CERN, Geneva, ushered in a new era in particle is to thoroughly investigate the physics capabilities physics. “New physics”, whose presence is evident of a large liquid argon detector for atmospheric from observation of neutrino oscillations and neutrinos. Calculations underway at present focus existence of dark matter, might reveal itself in the on precise quantitative determination of the experiments planned at the LHC. The Indo-US capabilities of such a detector when used to collect Networked Center on Physics beyond standard data on atmospheric neutrinos. The same detector model (BSM) phenomenology investigates the when used as a target for a superbeam or neutrino properties of this “new physics” in three focused factory can yield complementary and additional areas: information on neutrino properties and parameters. The second phase of the project will focus on these (i) Neutrino physics: Among phenomenological calculations, and the final phase will work on how to aspects, a detailed study of capabilities of a combine these apparently disparate measurements Long Base Line and Atmospheric neutrino to add to knowledge gleaned from the two separate detector with emphasis on DUSEL-based sets of data.
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95 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Support To International Conferences/Events Functional Analysis and Operator Theory
8-11 August 2010, Bengaluru, India
T. S. S. R. K. Rao Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore E-mail: [email protected]
Functional analysis and operator theory is an active area of research in mathematics. Given the interest and expertise among the Indian mathematical community, a conference titled Functional analysis and operator theory was held in association with the International Congress of Mathematics. IUSSTF sponsored the participation of two outstanding US experts for the conference – H.P. Rosenthal (University of Texas, Austin) and T. Schlumprecht theory including algebras and its applications. Several (Texas A& M University). The talks given by the experts Indian functional analysts and research scholars were mainly on Isomorphic theory of banach spaces, participated in the conference and benefited by the Aspects of geometry of banach spaces and Operator talks given by experts.
Digital Preservation of Archaeological Heritage
18-19 October 2010, Kanpur, India
Onkar Dikshit Bharat Lohani Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Our cultural inheritance is rooted in a deeper past, wherein lies the source of our identity. The past, therefore, matters for understanding the present and shaping the future. The facts and other forms of evidence of the past have to be identified, classified, examined and evaluated to understand the past and draw conclusions. The disciplines of history and archaeology which are central to this enterprise have, in the course of their development, increasingly taken the assistance of scientific concepts and methods in the pursuit and fulfillment of their concerns, and archaeology in particular relies crucially on technologists to share their experience in learning them. The international workshop on Digital about the past and for enhanced cooperation in preservation of archaeological heritage digital archaeological applications. The objectives was attended by eminent archaeologists and of the conference were to create awareness in the technologists. IUSSTF supported the participation country about the upcoming digital technology for of Holly Rushmeier (Yale University) who archaeological preservation; exchange state-of- presented a talk on Progress and open issues in the-art R&D efforts in this area between national 3D scanning for cultural heritage applications. The and international experts; and to train the young workshop resolved to initiate closer interaction scientists/archaeologists about this new digital between Indian and American archaeologists and technology in archaeological applications.
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Radiation Biology: Nanotechnology, Imaging and Stem Cell Research in Radiation Oncology
15-17 November 2010, Chennai, India
S.P. Thyagarajan Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai E-mail: [email protected]
The continual advancement of molecular biology coupled with the development of highly sensitive molecular techniques has facilitated the growth of new focus areas of research in radiation biology, particularly, aimed at understanding the mechanistic processes that regulate radiation damage and response in both normal and tumor tissues. The challenge to radiation biologists and oncologists is to use these cutting edge technologies to significantly improve the curative index in the management of human solid tumors by means of translating these new findings in the clinic. The international conference on Radiation biology: nanotechnology, imaging and stem cell research in radiation oncology was conducted in conjunction with the 10th biennial meeting of the Indian Society of Radiation Biology (ISRB). IUSSTF supported the participation of two US experts for this conference – Mansoor M. Ahmed (University of Miami, Miller) and Jacqueline P. Williams (University of Rochester Medical Center). The major objectives were to expose Indian scientists to recent focus areas of this meeting were preclinical research research and technological development on stem in radiation oncology; research initiatives and recent cells, molecular imaging and nanotherapeutics in perspectives in low dose radiobiology; system radiation biology; and create awareness on medical biology; and heavy ion radiobiology in space. The management of radiation exposure.
97 Annual Report Indo-us Science & Technology Forum
Travel Support To Avail Fellowships/Sabbaticals/Exploratory Visits
Travel support was extended to the following individual scientists to avail an already awarded fellowship or undertake their sabbatical research either in the US or India, or, for undertaking an exploratory visit aimed towards developing large-scale multi-institutional collaborations.
Asmit Bhowmik, student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, travelled to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an intern for a period of two months. His work at MIT was in the space of continuous manufacturing especially on modeling of powder flow using the discrete element method through the blender developed in Prof. Charles Cooney’s laboratory. This is an area receiving a lot of research attention with many companies preferring to switch over from batch to continuous mode for pharmaceuticals manufacturing.
Kris Villez, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Purdue University visited Shankar Narasimhan’s lab at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras for two months to work on Uncertainty in models for fault diagnosis - Bayesian Statistical Theory. The project involved challenges in the context of latent variable methods from data mining, data reconciliation and gross error detection as well as methods developed for the particular tasks of on-line fault detection and identification. The grant also resulted in a joint publication in Computers & Chemical Engineering Journal.
Marcy Delcourt, Professor in Instructional Leadership at Western Connecticut State University, undertook a visit to India to deliver lectures on Equity, excellence, and economy in a system for identifying students for gifted education programs at Sanskriti School and Agastya International Foundation. She also attended the first NIAS GEAR workshop on identification of gifted children in science and mathematics for school teachers at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. As an outcome of the workshop, a joint wiki has been developed to improve communication. It includes instruments to identify high ability students in science and mathematics and workshop presentations, publications, and photographs from the NIAS GEAR workshop (http://indousproject.pbworks.com).
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Terrence Deacon, Professor in Anthropology at University of California-Berkeley visited the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune where he delivered three talks: Answering Wallace’s riddle: How evolution achieves hierarchic complexity, where he used examples from gene duplication, body segmentation, vitamin C dependency, effects of domestication on bird-song, and language evolution to demonstrate this effect; How can a molecule come to be about anything? Origins of life and meaningful information, where by exploring a simple thought experiment to show how reciprocally dependent self-organizing molecular processes can generate, preserve, and reproduce constraints, and how these properties are necessary prerequisites to biological information; and Symbols aren’t simple: How the code analogy misrepresents language and thought, where he used a number of linguistic and nonlinguistic examples to demonstrate the dependency of symbolization on iconic and indexical phases of interpretation, and how this is relevant to universal constraints of sentence structure.
Vinay Gidwani, Associate Professor of Geography and Global Studies, University of Minnesota, visited the National Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore as a Scholar-in-Residence for the Urban Research and Policy Program from 7-22 August 2010. At NIAS, he conducted three Master Classes for graduate students and NIAS faculty (Origins of global modernity, The ideas of development, and Late capitalism); delivered a public talk entitled Postcolonial urbanism, and co-organized a two-day workshop on The urban commons from 18-19 August, involving a wide range of local and non-local scholars and civil society activists. He also participated on a panel on Informal sector labour in India: issues and challenges at the Madras Institute of Development Studies on 17 August 2010.
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Contact Points
Rajiv Sharma R. Varadarajan Executive Director Controller (F&A) Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road New Delhi 110 001, India New Delhi 110 001, India E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Michael Cheetham Smriti Trikha Director Senior Science Manager India Science and Technology Partnership (INSTP) Indo-US Science and Technology Forum American Association for the Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Advancement of Science New Delhi 110 001, India 1200 New York Avenue NW E-mail: [email protected] Washington, DC 20005, USA E-mail: [email protected]
Blair Parks Hall, Jr. Nishritha Bopana Minister Counselor Science Officer Economic, Environment and Science Affairs Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Embassy of the United States of America Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 001, India New Delhi 110021, India E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Debapriya Dutta Counselor for Science and Technology Indian Embassy 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20008, USA E-mail: [email protected] Indo-US S&T Forum
Annual Report 2010 2011
Indo-US S&T Forum Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road New Delhi 110 001, India Phone: 91-11-42691700 Fax: 91-11-23321552 http://www.indousstf.org INDO-US SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FORUM Catalyzing Indo-US Science & Technology Cooperation