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India Today
16 hours ago
- Science
- India Today
Award-winning professor Suman Chakraborty is new IIT Kharagpur director
Suman Chakraborty, a distinguished figure in mechanical engineering, was appointed the new IIT Kharagpur on June 19. Chakraborty, who also holds the title of Sir JC Bose National Fellow, assumes the position immediately, succeeding Professor Amit Patra, the acting to the statement, his tenure will last five years or until he reaches 70, whichever occurs first. This pivotal appointment aims to further the institute's educational and research RESEARCHERProfessor Chakraborty has gained recognition for his pioneering work in micro and nanoscale flows, contributing significantly to diagnostic technology advancements and enhanced healthcare access for disadvantaged groups. He's known for creating low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic tools to tackle everyday medical issues like anaemia, cancer, COVID-19, and awarded him the 2026 TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences for his efforts. Notably, in 2023, he was ranked among Asia's top 100 researchers across all fields, underscoring his influence in engineering and work inspires many within the scientific AND RECOGNITIONChakraborty's remarkable career is decorated with the National Award for Teachers in 2023 and the Infosys Prize in 2022. Additionally, he received the esteemed Santi Swaroop Bhatnagar election as a Fellow of prominent bodies like the American Physical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry highlights his status as a leading mind in science and accolades mark his commitment to and impact on his ASSOCIATION WITH IIT KHARAGPURStarting his journey at IIT Kharagpur in 2002 as an assistant professor, Chakraborty advanced to senior professor by 2008. His appointment as a full-time director by the Centre marks a significant point in his enduring association with the this, Amit Patra, director of IIT BHU (Varanasi), was the acting director following VK Tewari's term ending in December 2024. This transition highlights the institute's focus on leadership excellence.(With PTI inputs)Must Watch
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Prof Suman Chakraborty appointed director of IIT Kharagpur
Professor Suman Chakravorty has been appointed the director of IIT Kharagpur for a period of five years. He will take over from the current acting director, Prof Amit Patra, also the director of IIT-Bhu, who assumed additional charge at the end of last year, following the retirement of Prof VK Tewari, the earlier director. Prof. Chakraborty, the Institute Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, has recently been honoured with the 2026 TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences by UNESCO and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), a testimony to his contributions to micro and nanoscale flows, which have led to transformative innovations in diagnostic technologies, improving rural healthcare access and enhancing livelihoods for marginalised communities. During his nearly 23-year-old long stint in IIT Kharagpur, Prof Chakraborty has been the recipient of several awards including the National Award for Teachers (2023), the Infosys Prize in the Category of Engineering and Computer Science, Infosys Science Foundation (2022) and the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, considered the highest scientific award in India. He is widely considered to be one of the leading researchers in the country, and an innovator known for his contribution to revolutionising healthcare. Chakraborty completed his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Jadavpur University and the Masters of Engineering programme from IISc Bangalore. He joined Jadavpur University as a lecturer and then got his PhD from IISC in 2002. He joined IIT Kharagpur in August 2002 as an assistant professor in the department of mechanical engineering Live Events Since then, he has held several positions at IIT Kharagpur including Head, School of Medical Science & Technology; Associate Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, and Dean, Research and Development/ Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy. His current areas of research include Microfluidics, nanofluidics and affordable medical devices for community healthcare. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
A father-son legacy of Padma honors and pioneering scientific research
Written by Siddhi Patil, Dr Chetan Eknath Chitnis, a globally renowned Indian scientist, has dedicated his life to combating malaria, a persistent global health challenge claiming countless lives annually. His groundbreaking work in malaria vaccine development has earned him the prestigious Padma Shri this year, alongside awards like the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and the Infosys Prize. Remarkably, Dr. Chitnis shares a rare distinction with his father, Eknath Vasant Chitnis, a Padma Bhushan recipient (1985) and a founding member of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This rare father-son duo's Padma honors reflect a deep family legacy of scientific excellence, with both making transformative contributions to their respective fields. Dr. Chitnis's journey in medical research is deeply rooted in his upbringing. His father, a distinguished space scientist and former director of ISRO's Space Application Centre, instilled a passion for dedicated work. 'My father taught me that true commitment means loving what you do, no matter the hours,' Dr. Chitnis recalls. While he initially pursued physics, inspired by his father's rigor, it was his mother, a biochemist focused on cancer research, who steered him toward biology. This pivot led him to lead the Malaria Parasite Biology and Vaccines Unit at Institut Pasteur in Paris, where he drives innovative vaccine research to curb malaria's devastating impact. Pune holds a special place in Dr. Chitnis's heart. Childhood summers spent at his grandparents' home in Deccan Gymkhana, exploring nearby hills with cousins, evoke memories of a serene, green Pune. His parents' decision to settle in the city post-retirement deepened his connection. Today, as Pune evolves into a bustling hub of innovation, Dr. Chitnis is eager to engage with its academic and research communities, blending personal nostalgia with professional aspirations. From IIT Bombay to UC Berkeley, the National Institutes of Health, and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Delhi, Dr. Chitnis's career spans continents. His work at ICGEB, supported by robust government backing, laid the foundation for his current efforts in Paris. A significant breakthrough came during the COVID-19 pandemic when delayed vaccine trials at Oxford revealed that a 14-month gap between doses reduced malaria parasite growth—an unexpected finding inspired by similar COVID-19 vaccine insights. This discovery, coupled with advancements in mRNA technology, fuels his cautious optimism for future malaria solutions. The Padma Shri holds deep significance for Dr. Chitnis. 'Being recognised by my homeland, even after a decade abroad, is humbling,' he says. He views the award as a tribute to his team's collective efforts and a call to continue serving society.
Geek Wire
13-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
AI startup led by UW computer science whiz enables ‘superhuman hearing capabilities'
GeekWire's startup coverage documents the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial scene. Sign up for our weekly startup newsletter , and check out the GeekWire funding tracker and venture capital directory . Shyam Gollakota. A new stealthy Seattle startup is taking sound technology to a whole new dimension. Hearvana was just founded by University of Washington computer science researchers. Shyam Gollakota, co-founder of Hearvana, told GeekWire that the company is 'creating AI breakthroughs that are shaping the future of sound.' 'Our AI algorithms enable on-device superhuman hearing capabilities and will be part of billions of earbuds, hearing aids and smartphones,' he said. 'It is an exciting time.' Gollakota, a renowned tech inventor and researcher, said the company is developing unique AI models to help people seamlessly choose what they want to hear in real-time. Part of the company's secret sauce is its ability to quickly process audio on a device without requiring large amounts of power or compute on a device. Hearvana is being incubated at the AI2 Incubator in Seattle. 'Hearvana is my favorite kind of startup as it addresses a familiar pain point — we all struggle to hear in noisy settings like a restaurant or a party — with deep AI technology,' said Oren Etzioni, technical director and partner at AI2 Incubator. Etzioni, the former CEO of the Allen Institute for AI, called Gollakota a 'world-class computer scientist.' Hearvana co-founder Malek Itani. Gollakota has a track record of turning research into startups. He previously co-founded Sound Life Sciences, a UW spinout that developed an app to monitor breathing that was acquired by Google in 2022. He's also the co-founder of Wavely Diagnostics, which uses a smartphone app to detect ear infections. Gollakota last year won a $100,000 award as one of six researchers honored as part of this year's Infosys Prize. His research focuses on wireless tech, battery-free devices, WiFi sensing and imaging, medical diagnostics via smartphones, and more. Malek Itani, a research assistant and PhD student at the UW's computer science school, is a co-founder of Hearvana. Itani was an intern at Meta, where he worked on smart glasses. Gollakota and Itani published research last year on a headphone prototype that uses AI to create a 'sound bubble' and can learn the distance for each sound source in a room.
