report on programmatic activities 2018-2019

Indo-U.S. Science and Technology ForumCatalyzing Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Cooperation

Report on PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES

2018-2019

Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum

The Indo-U.S. 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, bilateral organization jointly funded by both the Governments to promote science, technology, engineering and biomedical research and innovation through substantive interaction among Federal Agencies, Academia and Industry. The Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and the U.S. Department of State are the respective nodal departments.

From the Executive Director’s Desk 6

History of Indo-U.S. S&T Cooperation 8

IUSSTF: Vision, Mission and Objectives 9

Strategic Programs 11 y Indo-U.S. Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center y United States-India Science & Technology Endowment Fund

Indo-U.S. S&T Partnerships 35 y PACEsetter Fund y Partnerships for International Research and Education y Research Initiative for Real-Time River Water and Air Quality Monitoring

Bilateral Workshops 53

Indo-U.S. Virtual Networked Centers 79

Public-Private Partnership Programs 93

y DST-Lockheed Martin Innovation Growth Program y Women Entrepreneur Quest y Make Tomorrow for Innovation Generation

Visitation Programs 103 y Water Advanced Research and Innovation Fellowship Program y Bhaskara Advanced Solar Energy Fellowship Program y Bioenergy-Awards for Cutting Edge Research y Building Energy Efficiency Higher & Advanced Network Fellowships y Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM y Indo-U.S. Genome Engineering/Editing Technology Initiative y American Society for Microbiology-IUSSTF Professorship in Microbiology y IUSSTF-American Physical Society (APS) Fellowships y Research Internships in Science and Engineering y Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide y Khorana Program for Scholars y IUSSTF - Viterbi Program y S.N. Bose Scholars Program y IRIS-ISEF

Key Contacts 149

Contents

I am extremely delighted to present this Programmatic Activities Report that summarizes the progress and accomplishments

of IUSSTF during the Indian fiscal year 2018-19.

Most of you might already know that we originally began with a small portfolio of networking activities comprising of Bilateral workshops/ Conferences and Virtual Centers. While these continue to be an important dimension of our work, we now have several other programs and mechanisms in our basket to carry forward and nurture those initial “points-of-contact” to manifest long-term collaborations. We support R&D programs in strategic areas of mutual interest such as Clean Energy, Environment, Water and Affordable Healthcare. We fund

translation of S&T driven innovations and ideas into market opportunities. In addition, we have a bouquet of fourteen designer fellowship programs, in diverse areas, to enable capacity building of the next generation of scientists and engineers.

This past year, in addition to our existing programs, a few new initiatives were formally announced and put into implementation. In order to further enhance the user experience of our stakeholders, we created a virtual platform for seamless connectivity and delivery of value-added services named “SPARK” (Scout for Partnerships, Resources and Knowledge). The intent is to create a formal network of IUSSTF stakeholders to establish not only an emotional

From the Executive Director’s Desk

Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum6


bond of ownership with the organization, but more importantly to increase their levels of engagement with us.

In terms of furthering our institutional connections, we signed a three-year Agreement with the American Chemical Society (ACS) to partner and jointly envision initiatives in areas of joint interest. IUSSTF is currently implementing two major R&D initiatives in the areas of Smart Grids and Energy Storage (with support from the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and U.S. Department of Energy) and Real-time River Water and Air Quality Monitoring (with support from the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and Intel®), which are still in the early stages of operation. These initiatives as the titles suggest, deal with the globally relevant issues of Clean Energy and Environment that are critical to the well-being and long-term survival of the human race.

Over the past years, we have added new dimensions to the IUSSTF portfolio to cater to all segments of the S&T and entrepreneurial ecosystem in both the countries. Our

stakeholder base and operational efficiencies have multiplied several times over, and our outreach and brand value have gone up by several orders of magnitude through strategic partnerships with key constituents of the U.S.-India S&T ecosystem. While resources available to us through committed bilateral support have remained stagnant over the years, we have still managed to grow by roughly 20 orders of magnitude.

We continue to look for newer opportunities and mechanisms to further raise the level of this vibrant S&T cooperation in the bilateral space and hope to create more exciting and impactful initiatives in times to come. I would like to place on record my sincere gratitude and genuine appreciation to our patrons, partners and stakeholders for their support and participation to make these accomplishments possible. My special thanks are due to our Reviewers and Technical Experts for their very direct contribution and to my own Colleagues at IUSSTF for their most diligent efforts and creativity in implementing our myriad program portfolio.

Rajiv Kumar TayalExecutive Director, IUSSTF

Report on Programmatic Activities | 2018 - 2019 7


� Green revolution facilitated with the U.S. PL 480 Rupee Funds

� Establishment of Land Grant Colleges1950s

� NASA-ISRO–SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment)

� Indo-U.S. S&T Subcommission1970s

� Indo-U.S. Fellowships Program

� ICAR MoU

� Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program

� DST-NSF Program

� NASA/NOAA-ISRO/DST MoU

� DBT/ICMR-NIH/CDC Health & Medical Sciences Program1990s

� Establishment of IIT, Kanpur

� Establishment of NCERT, New Delhi

� Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

� Tarapur Power Plant1960s

� STI (Science & Technology Initiative)

� USIF (U.S.-India Fund)1980s

� Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum � Indo-U.S. Science & Technology

Agreement y Indo-U.S. Binational S&T

Commission � High Technology Cooperation Group

(HTCG) � Indo-U.S. Strategic Partnership

y Information & Communication Technology

y Knowledge Initiative in Agriculture y Space Cooperation y Energy y Safety & Security y Health Sciences

� Indo-U.S. S&T Agreement/ Joint S&T Commission

� NASA-ISRO Agreement / MOES-NOAA Agreement

� Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement

� MoU on Energy Security, Energy Efficiency & Clean Energy and Climate Change

� U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund

� Indo-U.S. Joint Clean Energy Research & Development Centre

� India-U.S. Grand Challenge: Affordable Blood Pressure Measurement Technologies for Low-Resource Settings in India and the U.S.

� PACEsetter Fund

2000s

History of INDO-U.S. S&T Cooperation


History of INDO-U.S. S&T Cooperation

IUSSTF: Vision, Mission and Objectives


IUSSTF: Vision, Mission and Objectives

� Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation space through collaborative initiatives between Indian and the United States of America.

Vision

� Act as a catalyst to promote long-term scientific collaborations between India and the U.S. through partnership amongst individual scientists, scientific institutions and the scientific community at large.

� Establish platforms and mechanisms to connect the S&T eco-systems of both the countries to act as a fertile ground to foster individual and institutional partnerships in a natural and sustainable manner.

Mission

� Create awareness through exchange dissemination of Information and Opportunities in S&T cooperation.

� Capitalize and build on the scientific and technological synergy leading to long term partnership on shared values.

� Support exciting program portfolio that leads to sustainable interactions and strengthens strategic partnerships.

� Nurture contacts between young and mid-career scientists to develop mutual trust, foster excellence and explore new frontiers.

� Encourage public-private partnership to foster elements of Innovation, Application and Enterprise.

Objectives

STRATEGIC

PROGRAMS

Indo-U.S. Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center (JCERDC)

The Indo-U.S. Joint Clean Energy R&D Centre (JCERDC) is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt.

of India and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program began in the year 2012 with IUSSTF as the implmenting agency. The aim of the program was to facilitate joint research and development on clean energy technologies that may be deployed rapidly with the greatest impact. The JCERDC is based on a public-private partnership model of funding and is a first-of-its-kind initiative that has brought together more than 100 Indian and U.S. academic and industrial partners to work jointly in the space of clean energy research.

JCERDC Phase IThe three priority areas for cooperation under the first phase of the JCERDC were Solar Energy, Second Generation Biofuels, and Energy Efficiency of Buildings. The projects awarded under the First Phase were:

y The Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS), co-led by the Indian Institute of Science at Bengaluru (IISc) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

y The U.S.-India Joint Centre for Building Energy Research and Development (CBERD) co-led by CEPT University-Ahmedabad and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

y The U.S.-India Consortium for Development of Sustainable Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuel Systems co-led by the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology-Hyderabad and the University of Florida-Gainesville.

The above projects concluded after their 5 year tenures in March 2018. A Final Review Committee meeting for these projects was held at the IUSSTF Office, New Delhi on 25th March 2019. The committee was chaired by Prof. Anil Kakodkar (Chairman, Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission) and comprised of

Strategic Programs


eminent experts from the relevant fields and representatives from the Govt. of India and IUSSTF. The Review Committee was of the opinion that the JCERDC model has been one of the largest and most succesful collaborative R&D initiatives. They noted that all three tracks had sucessfully achieved their objectives and mandates.

JCERDC Phase IIBased on the success of Phase I of the JCERDC, both countries decided to expand the “Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R)” to two new research areas critical to improving the reliability, flexibility, and efficiency of the electricity delivery system: Smart Grid and Energy Storage. This initiative was envisaged to bring together top researchers from both countries and generate key technological advancements through collaborations between the U.S. and India. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Government of India (through Ministry of Science and Technology) each committed $1.5 million per year over a five year period (with 50% cost share coming in from the consortium partners).

After a multi-level, bi-national review process, a consortium titled “UI-ASSIST: U.S.-India collAborative for smart diStribution System wIth Storage” led in India by Dr. Suresh C. Srivastava from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and in the United States by Prof. Noel Schulz from Washington State University, Pullman, was selected and awarded in September 2017.

Project Objectivesa. Develop and demonstrate the Distribution

System Operator (DSO) functions for optimal utilization and management of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) by interfacing with DER control and microgrid control system as well as analysis of prototype feeders with high penetration of energy storage.

b. Address communication needs; data needs; security, including cyber-security; economy and resiliency issues; social issues; workforce requirements; policy recommendations; and suitable DSO functions.

India USA

y Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur y Indian Institute of Technology Delhi y Indian Institute of Technology Madras y Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee y Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar y The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi y NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance,

Greater Noida y BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd., New Delhi y UP Power Corporation Limited, Lucknow y Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Gurgaon y Customized Energy Solution, Pune y GE Global Research, Bengaluru y Synergy Systems and Solutions, Gurgaon y Mindteck, Bengaluru y Panasonic India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon

y Washington State University, Pullman y Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge y Texas A&M University, College Station y Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Honolulu y Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls y Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley y Snohomish County Public Utility District, Everett y AVISTA Utilities, Spokane y Burns and McDonnell, Kansas City y ETAP, Operation technology, Inc., Irvine y National Rural Electric Cooperative Association,

Arlington y GE Grid Solutions, Redmond y Clean Energy Storage, Inc., Temecula y ABB Inc, Sugarland y Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia

Institutional Engagement: UI-ASSIST

Strategic Programs


OverviewThe UI-ASSIST project activities are divided into eleven theme areas i) Finalizing Overall Project Management Architecture, ii) Distribution System Modeling and Benchmark System Development, iii) Energy Storage, iv) Microgrid and Active Distribution System, v) Cyber Security, vi) DSO Functions/Energy Management, vii) DSO- Market and Regulatory Issues, viii) Lab Testing and Validation, ix) Field Demonstration, x) Impact Analysis and Policy Recommendations, and xi) Workforce Development.

A Summary of the progress made by the Indian consortium members in collaboration with the U.S. lead team is as follows:

y After Kick off meeting of the project in October, 2017 and official launching on 18th November 2017 at IIT Delhi, periodic review meetings with the India team are being held electronically as well as physically, such as the one held on 24th February, 2018 at IIT Delhi and another on 8th July, 2018 at IIT Kanpur Noida centre.

y The main website of the project (URL: https://uiassist.org) and a project

management website using Redmine platform (URL: https://dash.uiassist.org) have been launched. Only the consortia members have secure access to the latter.

y Research work on control and protection of DC and AC microgrid with reduced communication, microgrid power management and control, virtual inertia control, power quality studies, and development of distributed secondary controller for DC microgrids have been carried out at IIT Kanpur. IIT Kanpur and TERI have started developing benchmark systems of semi-urban and urban microgrids.

y The research work already carried out at IIT Roorkee includes a novel load flow algorithm for AC-DC distribution network in presence of distributed generation. Research has also focused on control of DC microgrid and virtual generators. A multilevel converter configuration to integrate asymmetrical voltage rated DC buses to AC grid using open end transformer is proposed. Full scale test bed development is being developed to test the proposed research concepts.

y IIT Madras is working on control aspects

Strategic Programs


of main voltage source inverter, DC to DC converters and AC to DC converters with appropriate interface with the main grid. The operation of the system in presence of storage and super-capacitor is also studied.

y IIT Bhubaneswar is engaged in development of grid resynchronization algorithm. The study of a microgrid under various fault scenarios is also being studied. A lab testbed is developed to verify the algorithms.

y Research work on AC microgrid protection has been initiated at IIT Bhubaneswar and IIT Kanpur.

y The research works on energy storage are also initiated at various institutions. A simple linear degradation cost model for Li-ion battery is designed by IIT Roorkee to control the uncoordinated battery operation in the

scheduling process. IIT Kanpur has carried out storage planning study of their semi-urban pilot site, covering two lanes of residential area in the campus. IIT Bhubaneswar has developed a scheme for optimal charge and discharge scheduling of storage system. Depending on the solar-data, weather forecast, and load demand profile, a one-day-ahead optimal battery dispatch schedule is generated. This schedule aims at optimizing the battery utilization cost along with the cost of net energy consumption from the grid. IIT Bhubaneswar is also developing a simulation model for 55 kWh Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LiFePO

4) battery storage. TERI

has carried out initial studies on sizing of the battery storage for their various feeders planned to be used under their urban pilot. A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Strategic Programs


sizing approach and methodology has been developed for overload management cum peak-shaving application for a Distribution Transformer (DT). Research work on Cyber Security measures are initiated at IIT Delhi. Also, research work has been initiated for tasks on DSO functions and energy management. This specifically pertains to planning and optimization of distribution networks. The procurement for test bed to be developed at IIT Delhi has been started with the purchase of real time digital simulator.

y The research works on Cyber Security measures for micro-grid are also initiated at IIT Kanpur. For anomaly detection in micro-grid distribution system, two algorithms were developed. The first algorithm using partially supervised machine learning

algorithm were developed. The second algorithm, based on unsupervised machine learning algorithm, has been implemented with the neural network architecture. The algorithm detected the anomaly based on reconstruction error.

y Procurement activities and site preparation for lab pilots are under progress. TERI has completed setting up the lab pilot.

y NETRA has completed setting up DC micro/mini-grid in their office complex at Greater Noida. Experiences related to control and protection thereof would be used for setting up a bigger size DC mini grid in a remote village/locality to improve quality of life near Rihand power plant of NTPC.

y IIT Kanpur along with a local NGO Shramik

Strategic Programs


Bharati has completed the first round of social survey in the two village hamlets in Kanpur Nagar, selected for the rural pilot.

y Few rounds of consultations with villagers and local distribution utility Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam (DVVNL) under UPPCL have been held to decide the site, mode of setting up the rural microgrid.

y The first Joint Meeting of India and U.S. Consortia Members was held during 2-3 August, 2018, at Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. It was organized by Washington State University, and attended by 14 persons from the Indian consortium including 5 Ph. D. students, Dr. Rajiv Kumar Tayal from IUSSTF, Dr. Sanjai Bajpai from DST, and Dr. M. Ramamoorty, Member Advisory Board from India. More than 35 persons attended from the U.S. including consortia members from different organizations, Advisory Board members, students and staff. Michael

Pesin, Merrill Smith and Elena Thomas-Kerr from the U.S. Department of Energy also attended the meeting. On 2nd August, 2018, a brief meeting with the U.S. leads and India team was held, followed by a reception to network for the participants from India and the U.S. The full day workshop on the project activities was held on 3rd August 2018.

y As part of the JCERDC, UI-ASSIST project activities, a two days’ workshop on 'Smart Grid Technology' was held during 13-14 February, 2019 at IIT Delhi. Over 60 participants mainly from utilities, industries and R&D organizations were present for the workshop.

y The First Project Monitoring Committee of the project was held on the 15th February 2019 at IIT Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Ramamoorthy, Former Chancellor, K. L. University, Vijayawada, and attended by domain experts and consortium members.

Project HighlightsS.No Details Numbers

1 Papers published in Journals 12

2 Papers presented in Symposia/ Conferences 37

3 Joint workshops conducted 1

4 Scientists/Faculty Exchange visits undertaken 6

5 Researcher/Student Exchange visits undertaken 3

Strategic Programs


United States-India Science and Technology

Endowment Fund

The United States-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) was established in 2009 by

the governments of the United States of America (through the Department of State) and India (through the Department of Science & Technology) for the promotion of joint activities that would lead to innovation and entrepreneurship through the application of science and technology.

The aim of the Fund is to support and foster joint applied R&D to generate public good through the commercialization of technology developed through sustained partnerships between U.S. and Indian researchers and entrepreneurs. These initiatives can originate from government, academic, non-governmental or commercial entities, and any combination thereof provided they focus on applied R&D, incorporate a business plan and proof of commercial concept, and have significant sustainable commercial potential. Through a competitive grants program, the Fund selects and supports financially promising joint

U.S.-India entrepreneurial initiatives that address the theme of "commercializing technologies for societal impact” by providing grants of up to Rs. 2.50 crores or approximately $400,000 (subject to prevailing exchange rate) in two broad areas: -

Healthy individual: Focus on the development of affordable biomedical devices, diagnostic/preventive/curative measures, or food and nutrition products to improve health. (Drug development and clinical trials are not eligible activities).

Empowering citizens: Focus on to reduce the digital/technology divide including information and communication technologies with societal impact in areas such as water, agriculture, financial inclusion, education and others sectors.USISTEF has thus far supported 32 joint U.S.-India entrepreneurial projects through Eight Calls. The U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund activities are implemented and administered through the bi-national Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).

Strategic Programs


Projects CompletedThe following projects were successfully concluded and administratively closed in 2018-19:

S.No. Title of the Project Indian PI U.S. PI

1Developing Novel Biological Seed Treatments to confer Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crops

Anup KarwaSFPL Crop Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Jalna

Rusty RodriguezAdaptive Symbiotic Technologies, Seattle

2Commercializing a Transformation-al Modular Roofing Solution for Low-income Urban Homes

Hasit GanatraReMaterials, Ahmedabad

Shashi BuluswarLIGTT Corporation, Oakland

3Modular Diagnosis of Cervical Can-cer utilizing Smartphone Diagnostics and Artificial Intelligence

Adarsh NatarajanAindra Systems (P) Ltd., Bengaluru

Louis AugusteAlexpath, New York

4Digital Braille Accessibility for the Blind Made Affordable by Magnetic Actuator Technology

Surabhi SrivastavaInceptor Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai

Shraddha SangelkarThe Pennsylvania State University, Erie

Projects Currently Underway1. Transforming Arsenic and Fluoride Crisis in Drinking Water into an Economic Enterprise

Principal Investigators

INDIA U.S.

Abhijeet GanRite Water Solutions (I) Pvt. Ltd. Nagpur, Maharashtra

Minhaj ChowdhuryWIST Inc., Texas

Mike GermanWIST Inc., Texas

Arup K. SenGupta WIST Inc., Texas

Up to 100 million people across 18 of India’s 23 states are at risk of experiencing arsenic and fluoride poisoning from drinking naturally contaminated groundwater, resulting in potentially hundreds of thousands of people suffering from cancers, bone deformities and early death. The project scales-up production

and validates the effectiveness of HIX-Nano technology that is the first adsorbent for both fluoride and arsenic with high capacity across all relevant water conditions. Unlike active Alumina or Reverse Osmosis, this technology uses an ion exchange resin that selectively removes arsenic and fluoride contaminants.

Strategic Programs


The polymer beads form the ion exchange resin material within which nanoparticles of Titanium oxide, Zirconium oxide and Iron oxide are infused. These in turn selectively pick up

arsenic and fluoride. The energy needed for using this technology is minimal as compared to other energy-intensive processes like Electro-fluoridation and Reverse Osmosis.

2. Moving Beyond the Pavement: Affordable Mobility for Users around the World


INDIA U.S.

Sudhir MehtaPinnacle Industries Ltd. Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh

Tish Scolnik Global Research Innovation and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

People with disabilities face challenges, as regular wheelchairs do not meet most of their needs. Over 75% of them live in rural areas, where standard wheelchairs just do not work

- they are hard to push, they break easily, and they cannot be repaired locally. The Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) is an all-terrain wheelchair designed to meet the needs of people with

Strategic Programs


disabilities. Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC3) combines the mobility offered by LFC1 with the folding and manufacturing improvements of LFC2. This would be achieved by integrating the Lever Drive-train in its mechanism which

allows it to create more torque. Another equally unique technical feature of the chair is its front wheel that allows it to move over obstacles and yet remain comfortable by absorbing shocks.

3. Handheld Forced Oscillation Device for Improved Detection and Monitoring of Airway Diseases


INDIA U.S.

Anurag AgarwalCSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi

Ashutosh SabharwalCognita Labs LLC, Houston, Texas

The team from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Medicine and Cognita Labs LLC is developing the world’s first handheld, low-cost, portable and battery-powered Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) device, called PulmoScan, for measurement of lung function. PulmoScan, is a next generation of smart portable airway diagnostic device, with an assistive coaching tablet application and a cloud support. The key breakthrough here is in co-designing the hardware and signal processing algorithms for accurate flow design, combined

with accounting for the unique features of human breathing. The device’s innovative zero-effort, quick test makes it possible to integrate respiratory diagnosis in primary-care work flows and to customize its use in different contexts. PulmoScan allows minimally trained medical professionals to conduct accurate airway testing, including small airways at the periphery of the lung. The device is suitable for testing patients who are very young (<3 years), elderly or highly debilitated.

Strategic Programs


4. JaipurBeltTM (Belt System for Body Support)


INDIA U.S.

Ganesh Ram JangirNewndra Innovations Private Limited, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Paul ScottMedSpark, LLC, San Luis Obispo, California

The JaipurBeltTM is a lightweight, protective and therapeutic device that supports the backbone. Complete with a shoulder strap, thigh pad and a back strap; the load is diverted from the lower back to the thigh region. It is an efficient and economical exoskeleton that supports the

spine and waist by sharing physical workload up to a predefined, variable limit without restricting body movements. Weighing 1.5kg, it will particularly help people who work in the manufacturing, construction and other labour-intensive industrial and agricultural sectors.

5. Wireless Sensor-based Wearable Device for Heart Disease Management


INDIA U.S.

Ravi BhoguMonitra Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana

Joseph S. MenezesDuPont, Sunnyvale, California

Some abnormal heart rhythms can be serious or even fatal, and a 24-hour (or longer) recording of the heartbeat is often necessary to detect any rhythm problem that occurs daily but not constantly. ECG and Holter device are conventionally used for such heartbeat

monitoring purposes. The team has developed a wireless, wearable device for cardiac patients as a replacement for conventional ECG and Holter device for early diagnosis and management of heart rhythm disorders. The device would be significantly cheaper leading

Strategic Programs


to enhanced affordability and improved user experience and compliance. The device uses a single patch made of breathable polymeric material with long lasting adhesion to capture the signal, which otherwise are sensed through multiple locations in the body using conventional protocols. In addition, the breathable polymeric material (a monolithic film) would prevent external moisture and air from penetrating through the material while allowing excess moisture to escape from the inside. The role of the device is to acquire signals, digitize and compress

them, and then wirelessly transmit them to a server. The server then applies computation to generate meaningful reports for physicians.

6. Development and Certification of a Super affordable, Rugged, Reliable, Connected, and Easy-to-use Defibrillator with a Built-in Power Source for Low-resource Settings


INDIA

Ashish Gawade Jeevtronics Pvt. Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra

Aniruddha AtreJeevtronics Pvt. Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. If this happens, blood stops

flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it is not treated within minutes. India’s (and other developing

Solution

No Wires

*Patent Pending

Breathable Water-resistant

Confidential

Strategic Programs


countries) death rate due to SCA is 3 to 4 times that of developed countries. This is largely due to inadequate availability of Defibrillators. The defibrillator designed by the team with a built-in hand-cranked generator would enable it to work in un-electrified areas or areas without continuous power. Further, the device is engineered to withstand harsh conditions

in developing countries such as grid power fluctuations, impact, vibrations etc. making it rugged. Batteries are completely eliminated thus making the device virtually maintenance-free and highly reliable. The product’s price point would be around Rs. 85,000 as compared to a similar product of Philips which is priced at Rs. 250,000.

7. Non-Stress Foetal Heart Rate monitoring tool for Ante-natal Check-up


INDIA U.S.

Balaji TeegalaBrun Health Private Limited, New Delhi

Ivan TzvetanovBerkeley, California

The team has developed a biomedical device for monitoring foetal heart rate during the course of pregnancy to help clinicians screen high-risk

cases and take decisions regarding possible interventions to reduce the high rate of stillbirths. The device is based on plurality of Ultrasound

Strategic Programs


and Doppler sensors and captures the foetal movement without causing any stress to the baby. An algorithm analyzes the data to determine if it is reactive or non-reactive. A simple LED indicator then shows whether the baby is safe or not. The device is compact and is equipped to gather data

and transmit it through a smart phone by primary healthcare workers to a point where they can be clinically examined. Its technology ensures easy detection of vital signs improving its ability while keeping costs manageable.

8. Millimeter Wave Transceiver Development for High Bandwidth Secure Communication


INDIA U.S.

Neha SatakAstrome Technologies Pvt. Ltd.Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Raghunath DasAniaraSpaceCom LLC, Princeton, New Jersey

The project involves high-bandwidth mm-wave wireless communication technology that has applications both in terrestrial and space sectors, coupled with space internet transponder, which will enable access to low cost, high-speed internet, to facilitate point-to-multipoint link

formation through a key-patented technology. The proposed development of microwave equipment supports communication between towers at 20+Gbps speeds as compared to 1-2Gbps available today.

Strategic Programs


9. Blood Cell Counter for Point-of-Care Diagnostics


INDIA U.S.

Usama Ahmed AbbasiPratimesh Labs Pvt. Ltd (MicroX Labs), IndianInstitute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Leanna LevineAline Inc., Rancho Dominguez, California

The project proposes an automated point-of-care device for performing rapid Complete Blood Count (including a three-part leukocyte differential count, hemoglobin measurement in parallel to erythrocytes and platelet count at the point-of-care on the same chip) using a single cartridge for low-resource settings based on single-cell impedance measurement

in conjunction with a patented micro fluidic device. Innovations in the cartridge include fluid storage system on-chip without any blister; easy fluid dispensing system without the need of any external actuator; size of the disposable cartridge is 64mm x 43 mm; and, weight of the instrument is less than 4 kg.

10. Lightweight, Ultra-Fast, Next-Generation Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners


INDIA U.S.

Arjun ArunachalamVoxelgrids Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, Karnataka

Shahin PourrahimiSuperconducting Systems Inc., Billerica, Massachusetts

The team is developing the first liquid helium-free, commercial high-field full body MRI Scanner that would impart acceleration in the imaging process as compared to current scanners.

Ownership costs were expected to come down by 3-4x and the device would be 60% lighter in weight as compared to existing solutions. The technology enables increased patient

Strategic Programs


throughput by enhancing system utilization, and expands the scope of MRI to real-time imaging of moving organs such as the heart

and the abdomen. Its electricity consumption is 40 percent less than conventional MRIs.

11. Continent Ostomy Management Device


INDIA U.S.

Pranav ChopraCrimson Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Peter ThierXimedica, Providence, Rhode Island

The project proposes the development of SphinX – a novel ostomy management system that provides a safe, secure, discreet, accessory-free and cost-effective solution for colostomates and ileostomates. The soft, pliable

and insertable SphinX port is replaced every 29 days, and does not need supporting accessories such as adhesives, belts etc. It also eliminates bag-associated skin excoriations. SphinX will improve the patient’s overall quality of life and

Strategic Programs


provide them confidence in performing day-to-day activities while eliminating all complications caused by current products. While currently

an ostomate spends USD 45-70 per month in the United States; the selling price of SphinX is estimated at USD 30 or INR 1,800 per month.

12. Test4Safety: Detection of Adulteration in commonly consumed liquids.


INDIA U.S.

Deepa BhajekarD Technology Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, Maharashtra

Deepak MehrotraOak Analytics Company, Agoura Hills, California

The technology involves a handheld pocket scanner that transmits a low-power laser beam into the test sample. The captured Raman response is compared to the “golden signature” in Oak's (U.S. Partner) cloud-based database. The user gets instant verification on their phones if the food product is genuine. The U.S. Partners’ role relates to opto-electronic design and application/cloud software comprising of patented technology that measures the spectral response of the food item. The Indian

Partner’s role is to help validate the equipment being developed by using pure unadulterated samples of different types (brands) of oils, milk etc. and identifying specific identity markers of these samples. The product will have built-in capability for self-calibration and temperature compensation to allow for its usage in extreme weather conditions. Machine learning algorithms will allow the evolution of databases to adapt to natural aging in products.

13. Precise Fertilizer Applicator for Doubling Farmers' Profits and Reducing Environmental Damage including Soil, GHG & Water


INDIA U.S.

Ayush NigamDistinct Horizon Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana

Nathalie CollinsIDEO.org, San Francisco, California

13

Yr 1 Milestone Completion d technology

Strategic Programs


The current method of fertilizer application results in up to 70% wastage, which drastically degrades the soil, pollutes water and yet does not improve productivity. This project proposes precision application of fertilizer through a powered Urea Deep Placement (UDP) applicator

that is integrated with soil testing. The team claims 25% increase in yields; 40% reduction in fertilizer consumption; 7-8 times reduction in labour requirement; doubling of farmers' profits; and increasing soil organic content.

14. Low cost companion diagnostic test for predicting benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in ER+ breast cancer


INDIA U.S.

Vani ParmarTata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Anant MadabhushiCase Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Mark LloydInspirata, Inc., Tampa, Florida

There has been a dramatic increase in breast cancer incidence over the last decade, which has led to an increased demand for predictive and prognostic companion diagnostic (CDx) assays to ascertain the aggressiveness of cancer phenotypes so that patients with less aggressive biology can be spared chemotherapy. Predictive CDx assays can also aid in design of clinical trials, and help reduce healthcare costs by optimizing treatment regimens. This project

Scientific Fertilizer Application Technology(International Patents Filed)

Doubling Farmers’ Profits Sustainably

INDIAN PARTNER: US PARTNER:

Strategic Programs


proposes an accurate and low-cost prognostic test based solely on digitized Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) tissue slides for identifying which Indian women with Estrogen Receptor positive (ER+) breast cancers will receive additional benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. The

technology (image-based risk score; IbRiS) uses computerized image analysis algorithms and needs digitally scanned tissue slide images. IbRiS would have significant cost advantages over molecular-based tests ($50-75 vs. $4,000 per test).

15. Blood Test for All Forms of Active Tuberculosis (TB) for Commercialization in India


INDIA U.S.

Sarman SinghAll India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Vivek ChandraNextGen InVitro Diagnostics (P) Ltd, New Delhi

Imran KhanUniversity of California Davis, Sacramento, California

According to a WHO Report in 2016, India ranks at the top among the tuberculosis (TB) endemic countries because TB case detection is inadequate and there are no good diagnostics available for pulmonary, extra-pulmonary and pediatric TB. This project proposes the development of a multiplex blood-based test (RU-1) for the detection of all forms of TB. The test can be used on dried blood spots (ensures easy collection in remote areas); displays 91% - 96% specificity; is instrument agnostic and runs on multiple systems. RU-1 has high throughput (upto

Strategic Programs


360 patients/day) and with automation, it can analyze thousands of samples per day. It is suitable for high-burden settings and provides quick turnaround of results when patient loads are high. These are major advancements over

the current front line, WHO recommended, sputum smear (SS) AFB-microscopy test with low sensitivity (~50%) and throughput. One RU-1 kit will provide from 1-90 tests (for up to 90 patients) and each test is priced at INR 500/-.

16. VECTRAX: an Efficacious Long Lasting Semiochemical Based Attract and Kill Formulation for Management of Mosquito Vectors of Human Diseases


INDIA U.S.

Markandeya GorantlaATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Secunderabad, Telangana

Agenor Mafra-NetoISCA Technologies, Riverside, California

The project aims at commercializing a unique, efficacious and long-lasting semiochemical-based attract and kill (A&K) formulation to control Dengue, Zika, Malaria, Chikungunya and Filariasis Mosquito Vectors. The product Vectrax, is a patented floral attractant and phagostimulant blend of sugars and proteins with lethal doses of insecticide that lures the mosquito to feed continuously until it is fully engorged. Vectrax is a slow-release, sprayable

formulation, that can be used through micro and macro bait stations and can sustain its A&K capacity in the field for weeks at a time. The product will be optimized for deployment in India as part of various Mosquito-control programs. Prototype formulations for use as passive traps could cost as low as Rs. 12/- per unit, Rs. 30/- per unit for the macro bait stations, and around Rs. 350/- per acre treated with the A&K micro baitstation dollops (sprayed).

Strategic Programs


USISTEF Program: 9th CallThe 9th Call for Proposals under the USISTEF program closed on 15th June 2018 and IUSSTF received 389 applications – 217 in the Healthy Individuals (HI) category and 172 in the Empowering Citizens (EC) category. As the first step, all 389 applications were screened internally by IUSSTF to examine eligibility. Following this, 210 applications in the HI category and 170 applications in the EC category were shortlisted for review by the Joint Expert Panel (JEP). The JEP shortlisted 48 proposals in the EC category and 44 in the HI category for Stage-I. These detailed proposals were then reviewed by the JEP and 12 applications in EC Category and 9 applications in HI category were invited for in-person presentations to the Joint Experts Panel (JEP) at Washington DC on 24-25 September 2018. The JEP shortlisted 9 projects (5 in HI and

4 in EC) for subsequent site-visits and Financial Due-Diligence. The Due-Diligence Committee met on 14th November 2018 and reviewed the 9 shortlisted projects. Following this, the Nineteenth Meeting of the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Board (USISTEB) was held via DVC on 19th December 2018 under the Co-Chairmanship of Mr. H. K. Mittal, Head, National S & T Entrepreneurship Development Board, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India (Indian Co-Chair) and Mr. J. Robert Garverick, Minister Counselor, Economic, Environment, Science & Technology Affairs, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi (U.S. Co-Chair). The U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Board recommended the following six projects for support:

S. No. Project Title Lead Partner India Lead Partner U.S.

1 Low Cost, Anti-counterfeiting labels

Deepak GuptaIndian Institute of Technology Kanpur Sudhanshu Bahadur

Ampora LLC, Cupertino Pranav AsthanaTranspacks Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Kanpur

2MIRACLE Dialysis - Wearable Alternate Kidney

Gowrishankar WuppuluruPadmaseetha Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Chennai

Beth KolkoShift Labs, Seattle

3ArmAble: An Interactive Arm Training Rehabilitation Device

Habib AliBeAble Health Pvt Ltd.Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

Ramana Kumar VinjamuriStevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken

4

Commercialization of Advanced Multi-layer Wound Dressing, for Accelerated Healing and Infection Prevention of Indian Diabetic Foot Patients

Vijay ViswanathanMV Hospital for Diabetes and Prof M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre, Chennai

Ashwinraj KarthikeyanInMEDBio LLC, Neenah

5Lab-on-a-strip (LOS) : Towards Multi-analyte Screen Printed Biosensor Strips

Vinay KumarPathShodh Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru

Erik SventeckisGSI Technologies, Burr Ridge

6GaN based High Power LNA for 5G Applications

Yogesh Singh ChauhanIndian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Amitava DasTagore Technology Inc., Arlington Heights

Strategic Programs


INDO-U.S. S&T

PARTNERSHIPS

Indo-U.S. PACEsetter Fund

In 2013, the Governments of India and the United States of America launched Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE)

as a new track under the U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) alongside the existing research (PACE-R) and deployment (PACE-D) tracks. PEACE aims to harness commercial enterprise to bring clean energy to individuals and communities unserved and underserved by the electricity grid.

In June 2015, the PACEsetter Fund was established to support the PEACE initiative

by providing early-stage grant funding to accelerate the commercialization of innovative off-grid clean energy products, systems, and business models. The Fund’s main purpose is to improve the viability of off-grid renewable energy businesses that sell small scale (under 1 megawatt) clean energy systems to individuals and communities without access to grid connected power or with limited/intermittent access. The bi-national Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) is the Administrator of this Fund.

In the first round of funding, the following 9 projects were selected for award:

S. No. Project Title Lead OrganizationOther

Partnering Organization

1High rate biomethanation of organic waste for generation of power for off-grid applications

Ahuja Engineering Services Pvt Ltd (AES), Secunderabad

-

Indo-U.S. S&T Partnerships


S. No. Project Title Lead OrganizationOther

Partnering Organization

2

Unlocking clean home energy for the base of the pyramid: Developing and Piloting the World’s First Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) integrated home energy system in India

BioLite, Brooklyn, New York -

3 Waste to energy innovation at small-scale Grassroots Energy Inc., Massachusetts

SEWA Bharat, New Delhi

4

Remote performance monitoring & outsourced service management of solar pumps and off-grid solar PV plants through an online portal with pilot demonstration projects in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh states of India

Shri Shakti Alternative Energy Limited, Hyderabad

-

5

Creation of an innovative market maker debt provider (incorporated as cKers Finance Private Limited) to catalyze growth of market players in Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) based energy access projects

Energy Development Finance Company (EDFC), Ahmedabad

Legal entity: cKers Finance Private Limited (cKers), New Delhi

-

6Development of user friendly gasifier and engine system for irrigation

OptimaHeat Technologies, Paramakudi

-

7 Microgrid remote monitoring & controlCustomized Energy Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., Pune

-

8 Solar PV micro grids for remote hamlet electrificationMera Gao Micro Grid Power Pvt Ltd, Lucknow

-

9 Powering agriculture: Community based solar pumps Environment Conservation Society (Switch ON), Kolkata

-

A Techno-Financial Expert Committee meeting (TFEC) comprised of subject experts, members from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India (MNRE), U.S. Embassy and IUSSTF was convened in November 2018 at IUSSTF for the monitoring of four projects of Round I and for deliberation and shortlisting of the detailed proposals under PSF-Round II. On receiving approvals from MNRE in January 2019, 14 teams

have been shortlisted for technical presentation before the Committee and submission of the financial information along with the discussion. The teams presented their project ideas and financial details about their submitted proposals before the Committee in February 2019. The final selection of awards under the Round II is underway.



Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)

Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) is a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), program that

supports international activities across all NSF-supported disciplines. PIRE seeks to catalyze a higher level of international engagement in the U.S. Science and Engineering community which is essential to addressing critical science and engineering problems. With this background, in 2014 the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory Body established by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, entered into a formal understanding with NSF to partner for the PIRE program. The program is administered in India through the binational Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF).

The primary goal of PIRE is to support high quality projects in which advances in research and education could not occur without international collaboration. PIRE promotes excellence in science and engineering through international collaboration and facilitates development of a diverse, globally-engaged science and engineering workforce. PIRE support high quality research and education projects across all disciplines, which are highly collaborative in nature.

Under the 2014 call, “GROWTH - Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen”, an international collaborative network of astronomers and telescopes dedicated to the study of short lived cosmic transients was selected for award.


G. C. AnupamaIndian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru

Mansi M. KasliwalCalifornia Institute of Technology, Pasadena

The Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) is a network of observatories with a collection of telescopes around the world positioned in a way that allows the collaboration to observe a transient event uninterrupted by daylight. It is an international partnership created by researchers from seven countries pooling their resources towards common scientific goals. GROWTH is poised to discover many fast transients with the advent of the next generation of wide-field synoptic imaging with the Zwicky Transient Facility (2017) and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (2022).



Partnering Institutions

India : Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and AstrophysicsU.S.A : San Diego State University, University of Maryland, Pomona College, University of

Wisconsin, Los Alamos National LaboratoryJapan : Tokyo Institute of TechnologySweden : Oscar Klein Center at Stockholm UniversityIsrael : Weizmann Institute of ScienceTaiwan : National Central UniversityGermany : Humboldt University of Berlin

An extension for two years was granted to the project considering the progress made during the first three years of the project tenure.

Hanle: the site of GROWTH-India telescope.



Research Initiative for Real-Time River Water and Air Quality Monitoring

Recognizing the need for developing online River Water and Air Quality monitoring (WAQM) systems in the frontier areas

of sensor technology, data communication and data analysis, the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (DST) and Intel® have collaborated to jointly initiate a research program titled “Research Initiative for Real-time River Water and Air Quality Monitoring”. The program is being administered by the binational Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).

The WAQM program aims to develop key technologies for sensing, communication and analysis of large scale data collected from autonomous networks of perpetual/ long lived sensor nodes, followed by integration and

deployment for water and air quality monitoring in real time. It is envisaged to develop tools and constituent blocks that will enable end to end water and air quality monitoring systems on smart, networked, low cost, low power sensor nodes with large scale cloud based data analysis. The Four Research Vectors (RV) identified for study are:-

1. Sensing and Sense making at the Edge

2. Novel energy harvesting technologies

3. Ultra low power wireless networking

4. Distributed analytics and sense making

After a comprehensive review, two projects each in Air and Water Quality Monitoring were selected for award.

A summary of the progress of these four projects is provided below:

Air Quality Monitoring

I. Title : Streaming Analytics over Temporal Variables from Air quality Monitoring (SATVAM)

Partnering Institutions, India Partnering Institutions, USA

y Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)

y Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)

y Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru

Other Industrial Partners:

y Respirer Living Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai

y Duke University (DU), Durham

This inter-disciplinary team is working to develop affordable real-time air-quality monitoring devices based on scientifically calibrated low-power and low-cost sensors, and advanced analytics. The eventual goal of this initiative is to help build a sustainable nationwide real-

time urban air quality monitoring network by leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.

SATVAM has 4 research vectors: (i) To methodically calibrate low-cost PM2.5, PM10, O

3 and NOx

sensors, leading to auto-calibration using



edge analytics; (ii) Utilize energy harvesting technologies to power the devices, with an emphasis on using a Fresnel lens concentrator to improve the photovoltaic energy efficiency; (iii) Leverage low-power networking and IoT protocols such as 6LoWPAN for reliable communication; and (iv) Use machine learning models for analytics and fabric health management on the edge and cloud.

During the first year of the Project, the SATVAM team has accomplished the following milestones:

y Gas Sensor Interface and Low-Power Communications Stack

Team has developed a detailed understanding of the Alphasense NO

2-B

43F and O

3-B

4 analog

sensors to enable hardware and software interfacing. The design of a generic platform for interfacing various gas, PM, temperature and humidity sensors are underway. Four preliminary SATVAM air quality monitoring devices have been built by the team and is currently undergoing evaluation. A highly configurable software stack based on ContikiOS has been developed for transmitting data from the sensor nodes to the Raspberry Pi (RPi) border router over 6LoWPAN open standard. Further, a resilient and scalable software stack on the border router performs basic analytics like averaging and persists the real-time data stream to the Cloud for further visualization on a dashboard.

y Roadmap for Data Sciences & Analytics for Sensor Air quality datasets

Following are some of the key aspects that are being looked

into from the Data Sciences perspective:

- Identify statistical algorithms for data fitting and sensor calibration.

- Identify and train machine learned models for sensor calibration.

- Deploy calibration models to the edge for computation, offline and dynamically (also helps with city-scale deployment).

- Identify statistical and machine-learned algorithms for health, performance and failure modelling.

- Deploy alerts and notifications for fabric management using health models (helps with city-scale deployment).

y Strategy for the city-scale deployment

The current SATVAM gas sensor deployments consist of 2 SATVAM sensor nodes consisting of NO

x, O

3, PM, Temperature & Humidity sensors

co-located with reference grade equipment at MRIU, Faridabad. Additional co-location site has



also been setup at IIT Bombay with the MPCB gas sampler equipment. The next phase of scaling up will involve additional 40 monitors deployed – 25 of these in Kanpur & 15 monitors in Mumbai, both at the respective IIT campus.

The strategy for city-scale deployment are as follows:

- Validate and enhance scalability of individual edge middleware.

- Validate and enhance scalability of edge and cloud middleware and IoT fabric for city scale deployment using VIoLET (VIoLET is the Data Sciences algorithms & platform from IISc).

- On the low-power communication stack, currently 6LoWPAN based communication stack has been used. Extensive field

evaluations of the communication stack will be done & based on that the suitability for this stack for city-scale deployments will be decided.

- On the SATVAM device side, custom sensor-interface & ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) circuit boards are being developed which will lower costs & optimize performance of the devices. These custom circuit boards will be used in the city-scale deployments.

- In the power module part, the Fresnel lens based concentrator is being designed in order to bring down the required panel area. The issue of dust removal for the panel/concentrator surface is being contemplated to be automated for long term intervention-free operation.

Figure 1: The overall scheme for the simultaneous GPR and simple linear regression calibration model (Zheng, T., S.N. Tripathi et al., 2019, Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, under review)



II. Title: High resolution air quality monitoring and air pollutant data analytics


y Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru

y CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI), Pilani

y University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles

The project addresses three interrelated problems:

1. Development and validation of a low-cost sensor array system to measure parameters needed for air quality index determination.

2. Deployment of sensors at city scale for obtaining high quality air quality data at high spatio-temporal resolution and low cost.

3. Development of novel low cost sensors calibration techniques using statistical and modelling tools.

y Objective 1Metal oxide gas sensor chips for detecting CO, CO

2, NO

2 and SO

2 have been fabricated

at IISc (Figure 3). In parallel, sensing characterizations have been performed at different combinations of temperature and humidity. A sensor calibration protocol has been adopted, along the lines adopted by European Union. All calibration experiments will be in adherence with the defined protocol. Furthermore, the design and specification for the AQ sensor array (AirCeNSE 2.0) were finalized (Figure 4) and prototypes produced. Simultaneously, CEERI Pilani has been working on development of Volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensors and University of Southern California has been developing ozone sensor based on Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator (FBAR) method.

Figure 4: Air CeNSE 2.0 box

Figure 2: Linear regressions between aggregated PM2.5 mass concentrations (µg m−3 ) of the E-BAM and the two uncalibrated PMS3003 sensors at 1 and 24 h time intervals during the monsoon season (from 8 to 29 June 2017) and the post-monsoon season (from 23 October to 16 November

2017) at IIT Kanpur. (Zheng, T., S.N. Tripathi et al., 2018, Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 11(8),4823–4846)



at IISc (Figure 3). In parallel, sensing characterizations have been performed at different combinations of temperature and humidity. A sensor calibration protocol has been adopted, along the lines adopted by European Union. All calibration experiments will be in adherence with the defined protocol. Furthermore, the design and specification for the AQ sensor array (AirCeNSE 2.0) were finalized (Figure 4) and prototypes produced. Simultaneously, CEERI Pilani has been working on development of Volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensors and University of Southern California has been developing ozone sensor based on Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator (FBAR) method.

Figure 4: Air CeNSE 2.0 box

y Objective 2

As part of the initial deployment phase along the IISc campus and in Electronic City, LoRa network was set up for collecting data from the different sensors (Climo and AirCeNSE) and anemometers. Cameras, combined with vehicle counting algorithms, were used to estimate the number and type of vehicles on the road adjacent to the deployed sensors. After testing, an array of AirCeNSE sensors will be deployed at

other locations as well. CEERI Pilani is ready to deploy the multi-sensor platform for CO, SO

2,

NO2 and NO. Furthermore, initial versions of a

low-power smartphone-based personal AQM platform and a high-precision fixed node have been developed. The sensors developed by the different partners in the consortium will finally be integrated into one sensor box that can be deployed in a fashion similar to that shown in Figure 5.

y Objective 3

Preliminary statistical analysis of measured pollutant data from the IISc campus and Electronic City using Bosch CLIMO have been performed. The analysis allows to identify the seasonality and drift components in the measured pollutant data. For example, Figure 6 shows the seasonal component for CO concentration over each day of the week.

The data is from sensors in IISc campus and Electronic City. Unlike at IISc, a strong weekly seasonality is observed at Electronic City, which is a busy office locality.

Figure 3: Metal oxide sensor component view



In a network of sensors there are two main limitations to obtaining robust measurements, viz., 1) Measurement of each sensor is noisy and 2) Sensors can acquire drift due to

degradation originating from electronic noise to meteorological factors. Noisy measurements can be addressed by clustering the correlated sensors while the drift detection can be inferred

Figure 5: Bosch CLIMO sensor deployment at IISc campus, along with anemometer

Figure 6(a): IISc Campus Figure 6(b): Electronic City



by the increase in the cost function associated to clustering (which can be seen as a measure of the variance of the system). Consequently, a class of algorithms for drift detection and the approximate time of drift acquisition in a sensor network have been developed. In the next step,

the algorithms will be validated using real data obtained from the network of 50 Bosch CLIMO sensors. The goal would be to obtain robust measurements and identify drifting sensors that would then need to be recalibrated.

Water Quality Monitoring

III. Title: Design and Development of Aquatic Autonomous Observatory (Niracara Svayamsasita VedhShala - NSVS) for In situ Monitoring, Real Time Data Transmission and Web based Visualization


y Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK)


y Kritsnam Technologies, Kanpur

y Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

The project team proposes to design and develop low-cost, multi-parameter, water quality monitoring platforms that would consist of array of sensors and Auto Sampler placed on a stationary platform for all-weather, robust, stable and semi-submersible mechanical system. For self-sustenance, the platform will be equipped with different energy harvesting systems. Long ranged, low power, Wireless communication technology that can work in open-source ecosystem will be adopted for data communication. At the final phase, a mobile platform will be developed for the inspection of

pollution sources from the river tributaries.

In the first phase of development, the team were able to develop an initial concept that was stable and could house all river profiling systems, while the wireless communication system was chosen according to the specified needs of the project. An initial hydrodynamic model was developed to aid in analysing the stability of the system as well as ascertaining the waterline, Centre of Buoyancy (CB), centre of Gravity (CG) and Metacentric Height (GM).

Figure 7: Overall dimensions and hydrostatic results of the designed buoy (Left) & Rendered 3D Model for Autonomous Aquatic Observatory (Right).



The Consortia have completed the preliminary designs of the major sensors proposed in the project. Purchase of components followed by fabrication is underway.

y Conductivity: This will be a compact MEMS-based four pole conductivity sensor. The MEMS design has completed. Fabrication will soon be underway. The MEMS will be fabricated at WHOI. The associated driver electronics and a communications module will be soon designed.

y Oxygen sensor: Team will re-engineer (modify) a present cubic dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor for underwater deployment in this project. The sensor itself is prefabricated by the vendor and provides I2C signals for delivery to a logging and communication processor. Re-engineering of the sensor will soon begin.

y pH sensor: This consists of a conventional glass type pH sensor with a protective covering. Major circuitry consists of a synthesis of analogue devices designed along with the compatible microprocessor.

y Channelized Optical System II (CHANOS II): The CHANOS II sensor package has been designed for in-situ underwater measurements of total CO

2 and trace metals

(e.g. copper) based on spectrophotometric principles. The system consists of a sensor box, a pressure housing containing all electronics, and a

reagent box. An optional battery package is available if necessary during deployment. The fabrication of a CHANOS II sensor is at the final stage.

y Auto-sampler: The auto-sampler for in-situ collecting water samples for E-coli and major ions from rivers has been designed by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The fabrication is underway.

The team have also focussed on developing the equipment holding assembly apart from developing a full-fledged modular design concept that can hold and house all required

Figure 8: Conductivity Sensor Assembly.

Figure 9: Oxygen Sensor Assembly



sensors, equipment, energy harvesting devices. The materials used are such that the system is light and robust. A Lenz-type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine system is concurrently developed to utilize the wind energy at the site and help in supplementing power for electrical requirements. Static stability analysis on ANSYS AQWA was carried out to make sure the design is hydro-dynamically stable.

The system has to provide accurate water quality measurements in real-time and with minimal or human assistance. For this purpose, a LoRaWAN protocol for enabling the communication between the sensors and the cloud, while reducing its power consumption has been adopted. The system architecture along with specifications has been finalized.

IV. Title: Integrated low cost water sensors for real- time river water monitoring and decision- making


y Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-D) Delhi

y National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), Berhampur

y National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI) Nagpur

y Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET), Pune

y University of Hyderabad (UH), Hyderabad


y Asiczen Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar

y SunMoksha Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru

y University of California (UC), Riverside

y Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing

y Stanford University (SU), Palo Alto

y New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Newark

This project focuses on providing solutions to issue of lack of field-adjusted low–cost and energy-sufficient sensors for measuring water quality parameters (primarily COD, microbial indicators, temperature, turbidity,

nitrogen content) and water resource-related parameters (primarily water flow rate, elevation, depth, pH etc.) which are important for water-related decision-making process. The Indo-U.S. team aims to achieve this goal using four

Figure 10: Chanos IIFigure 11: simulation in ANSYS AQWA.



interconnected work packages (Figure 12) which focus on following research vectors: sensor development (RV1), energy harvesting system (RV2), wireless networking (RV3), and analytics (RV4). The proposed prototype early warning

system will use real-time field data from sensors and modelling for predicting water quality at different locations for warning purposes.

The developed integrated system will be used for

Figure 12: Schematic showing interconnectedness of different tasks and research vectors (RVs)

(AM: A.Mulchandani, UC Riverside, USA; KS-K. Saraswat, Stanford Univ. USA; JR-J. Rose, MSU, USA; DM: Durgamadhab Misra; BR-B Rajendran, NJIT) (SJ: S.Jha, IITD; SK: S. Kar, IITD; VK: V. Komarala, IITD,India;BRM: Mehta, IITD; VRGR: V.Ramgopal Rao, IITD; VD: V Dutta, IITD; BKP: B K Panigrahi, IITD;

SU: S. Udgata, Univ. Hyderabad, India; PP: P. Prasad, NEERI India; ST: S.Tandon, NEERI India;RK-R. Kumar, NEERI, India; AK: A. Kumar, IITD; AG-A K Gosain, IITD; VP:V. Perumal, IITD; AKN-AK Nema, IITD; DCT: Dhanya CT, IITD; AKP: Ajit Kumar Panda; MD: Mrinal Das; SKP: Santosh Kumar Patnaik;

GP:Girish Phatak; CMET)



regulators for obtaining real-time information on water quality information. The developed sensors and Energy Harvesting System (EHS) will be used for different applications in other fields as well.

Salient achievements so far

(a) Innovations

IITD: Redesigning of the COD chip - cost-effective, yet can withstand the oxidative step without any catalyst (temp. 900C)

UCR: Development of the non-lytic phage based microbial biosensor (Limit of detection=14 CFU/mL)

(b) Patents

IITD: Prof. V. Komarala, IIT Delhi (Room temperature processed >16% solar cell’s; current density-voltage characteristics; Indian patent applied: 201811017912)



BILATERAL

WORKSHOPS

Functional Materials (ISFM-2018): Energy and Biomedical Applications

13-15 APRIL 2018 | CHANDIGARH, INDIA


Raju Kumar Gupta Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Vikas Berry University of Illinois at Chicago

In the present era, there is an incredible growth of Advanced Functional Materials that can improve the performance of various advanced

technologies. The scientific community is devoting efforts to harness the potential of materials to cure challenging diseases as well as to solve energy related issues. In the interest of minimizing environmental damage, various renewable forms of energy production have enjoyed substantial progress technologically and economically during the last decade. But much still needs to be done to ensure that our energy infrastructure can stay on a sustainable footing. This cannot be achieved through one technological solution alone, but requires the utilization of several energy production and storage technologies and measures to improve energy efficiency. Various methods of energy harvesting such as solar photovoltaics,

thermoelectric etc., could be employed on a large scale, lessen the burden on conventional energy production systems. Moreover, the efficiencies of these energy harvesting mechanisms could be further enhanced by the synthesis of various functional materials. This Symposium on Functional Materials (ISFM-2018): Energy and biomedical applications organized by Raju Kumar Gupta (Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur) and Vikas Berry (University of Illinois at Chicago), focused on these niche areas and presented an opportunity for scientists and engineers in India and the U.S., working in academic institutions and industry to partner and collaborate with each other to leverage their expertise to accelerate research goals and achieve faster commercialization leading to affordable devices based on Functional Materials.

Bilateral Workshops


Coastal Groundwater Dynamics: Combining Future Climate

Change and Human Development (CLIMWAT-2018) 07-09 JUNE 2018 | PUDUCHERRY, INDIA

Coastal aquifers are susceptible to degradation due to its proximity to seawater, higher population, climatic

influences and human intervenes. For coastal aquifers to continue being used as operational freshwater reservoirs, the development of better tools that facilitate the prediction of aquifer behaviour under climate change conditions and human interference is essential. This Indo-U.S. Workshop on Coastal Groundwater Dynamics: Combining Future Climate Change and Human Development (CLIMWAT-2018) organized by K. Srinivasamoorthy (Pondicherry University, Puducherry) and Saugata Dutta (Kansas State University, Manhattan) aimed to discuss and explore areas for advancing scientific understanding of groundwater and future climate change scenarios. It brought together researchers and practitioners from

Indian and U.S. universities/organizations to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences in combating coastal groundwater dynamics relating to future climate change and human influences using integrated techniques in specialized areas such as Technologies for vertical electrical tomography in assessing coastal vulnerability; Combined hydrochemistry, Isotopes and REEs in isolating coastal dynamics, past and present climatic influences; Application of flow, transport and geochemical modeling for coastal groundwater; Neural networks, multivariate statistical modeling for sea water intrusion and water quality parameters; Biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems, adaptability of biota to climate change, exposure to contaminants; and, Remote sensing and GIS techniques for coastal groundwater resource management, climate change resilience and protection scenarios.


K. SrinivasamoorthyPondicherry University, Puducherry

Saugata Dutta Kansas State University, Manhattan

Bilateral Workshops


5th Bengaluru Cognition Workshop17-29 JUNE 2018 | BENGALURU, INDIA

Cognitive neuroscience research in India has roots in studies of head-injury and neurosurgical patients in the 1950s. This

tradition of clinical research continues, but over time it has become augmented by basic cellular and systems level research in neuroscience, as well as by the development of non-clinical programs in neuroscience education. The 5th Bengaluru Cognition Workshop organized by Balaji Jayaprakash (Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru) and Thomas D. Albright (Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla) represented a continuation of efforts to build human resource development in the country

in Cognitive Sciences. It was conducted through four modules which were aimed at providing a focused introduction to the problems and concepts in various aspects of neuroscience. These modules were: Vision, Attention – Multiple Scales, Motor Systems and, Memory and Spatial Navigation. The workshop introduced distinguished researchers with expertise in nearly every aspect of neuroscience to the participants. The goal of the workshop was to inspire Indian students to pursue a career in neuroscience while providing a mechanism to facilitate scientific exchanges between India and the United States.


Balaji JayaprakashIndian Institute of Science Bengaluru

Thomas D. Albright Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla

Bilateral Workshops


3D Printing: A Solution for Medical Devices

17 AUGUST 2018 | THANJAVUR, INDIA


S. Swaminathan SASTRA University, Thanjavur

Sangamesh G. Kumbar University of Connecticut, Farmington

Developing biomedical implants and devices have a huge demand in the medical industry as it extends the

essential function of human organs thereby improving the quality of patient lives. However, designing distinct types of medical implants or

devices demands specific sets of requirements in terms of dimension, architecture and material selection since the application of these biomedical implants may vary based on the implantation site. Emergence of 3D printing technology in the healthcare sector

Bilateral Workshops


enables the rapid customization of implants with high precision and enables new product developments right from the anatomical models, mass production of patient-specific implants to personalized surgery. The main concept of this joint workshop on 3D Printing: A Solution for Medical Devices organized by S. Swaminathan (SASTRA University, Thanjavur) and Sangamesh G. Kumbar (University of Connecticut, Farmington) was to inculcate 3D printing solutions to a broad group of people for replicating the complex prototypes identical to shape, texture and material properties of medical implants. The workshop provided awareness on the quick production of personalized implants and prostheses using 3D printing. It also provided a strong platform to healthcare sector people such as researchers and manufacturers for exploring the emerging technique to fabricate more standard and intricate customized orthopedic implants within few hours. The technical sessions led by eminent researchers from both India and

U.S.A. brought forth problems associated with current methodologies; emergence of newer technologies that are aiming to promote the exchange of ideas and to create a platform for collaborative research in the biomedical field.

Bilateral Workshops


Live Operative Training Workshop and Recent Updates on Urology

Malignancies 18-19 AUGUST 2018 | NEW DELHI, INDIA


Niraj Kumar Safdarjang Hospital and Vardhman Mahaveer Medical College, New Delhi

Murugesan Manoharan Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, Miami

The Indo-U.S. Live Operative Training Workshop on Urology Malignancies was organized by Niraj Kumar (Safdarjang

Hospital and Vardhman Mahaveer Medical College, New Delhi) and Murugesan Manoharan (Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, Miami) to discuss the recent updates in urological malignancies like prostate, bladder, kidney, adrenal, testis and penile carcinoma. Young Urologists from India got an opportunity to learn both basic and advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical skills along

with management of patients having various uro-oncological cancers including prostate, renal and bladder cancers. This encouraged them to start performing various advanced robotic surgical procedures including robotic radical prostatectomy, robotic simple prostatectomy, robotic radical cystectomy, etc. helping to significantly reduce the morbidity & mortality of critically ill cancer and kidney failure patients. The workshop witnessed an active interaction, discussion and exchange of knowledge between the Indian and American participants.

Bilateral Workshops


Nano/Micro 2D-3D Fabrication, Manufacturing of Electronic–

Biomedical Devices & Applications 31 OCTOBER TO 2 NOVEMBER 2018

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-MANDI, INDIA

In the present era, there is an incredible growth of new nano/micro 2D & 3D manufacturing of electronic and biomedical devices that can

improve the performance and functionalities

at lower costs through various advanced technologies. To deepen and broaden expertise and knowledge of new 2D & 3D manufacturing of electronic and biomedical devices and


Kenneth Gonsalves Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi

Nan Marie Jokerst Duke University, Durham

Satinder Kumar Sharma Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi

Bilateral Workshops


innovation to ever-increasing international needs, a workshop titled Nano/Micro 2D-3D Fabrication, Manufacturing of Electronic–Biomedical Devices & Applications was organized by Kenneth Gonsalves (Indian

Institute of Technology-Mandi), Nan Marie Jokerst (Duke University, Durham) and Satinder Kumar Sharma (Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi).

Bilateral Workshops


Water-Food-Energy-Climate Nexus: A Perspective towards a Sustainable Future

16-21 NOVEMBER 2018 | VARANASI, INDIA

Water is the basic element of life, livelihood, food security and sustainable development. Escalating

global populations and climate change are placing immense pressure on water and food security. Sustaining a high rate of food production will require innovations in water productivity and soil health, crop cultivar developments, agrochemical inputs, alternative energy sources for irrigation and other cutting-edge agricultural activities. An effective and sustainable solution of global environmental change or climate change requires better understanding and consideration of the linkages and inter-dependencies between climate change, water, energy, food security and sustainability. The purpose of this workshop titled Water-Food-Energy-Climate nexus: A

perspective towards a sustainable future, organized by Rajeev Pratap Singh (Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi), Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt (University of Nebraska, Lincoln), Akhilesh Singh Raghubanshi (Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi) and Alan S. Kolok (Idaho Water Resources Research Institute) was to address societal challenges in providing water, food and energy security in the future and how the nexus between Climate-Water-Food-Energy can be exploited to address sustainability challenges. Although these challenges are different in India and USA because of the scale of mechanization, resources availability, and other factors, therefore, the workshop addressed differences and similarities in these challenges to develop mutually beneficial solutions.


Rajeev Pratap Singh Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Akhilesh Singh Raghubanshi Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Alan S. Kolok Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

Bilateral Workshops


15th National EEG workshop and Masterclass for Epilepsy Surgery:

A Collaborative Indo-American Workshop21-23 NOVEMBER 2018 | VARANASI, INDIA


P. Sarat Chandra All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Ashwini Sharan Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia

Manjari Tripathi All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Epilepsy is said to be the commonest neurological disorder after headache. Over 10 million people suffer from epilepsy in

India, out of 50 million suffering from this disease worldwide. About 20% of persons suffering from epilepsy have drug resistance (DRE). The only option for DRE is surgery. In addition, epilepsy is shrouded by a lot of stigma thus characterized by a large treatment gap. There is also a limited training in the area of epilepsy at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. In addition, there have been significant achievements in this area over the past decade especially in the area of surgery with a better understanding of networks, biomarkers and neurobiology. The event titled 15th National EEG workshop and

Masterclass for Epilepsy Surgery: A collaborative Indo-American workshop organized by P. Sarat Chandra (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi), Ashwini Sharan (Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia) and Manjari Tripathi (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) is the first Indo-U.S. joint venture fostering a better collaboration for technical advancements and knowledge enhancement in this area.

Bilateral Workshops


Indo-U.S. Training Program and Workshop on Cancer

Proteogenomics06-11 DECEMBER 2018 | IIT-BOMBAY, INDIA


Sanjeeva Srivastava Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay, Mumbai

D.R. Mani Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge

Cancer research has been significantly aided by advancements in proteogenomics technologies, where proteomics

information derived from mass spectrometry is used to complement genomics using next generation sequencing. With the recent advent of Cancer Moonshot Project, the critical role that proteogenomics can play in improving cancer patient treatment is increasingly being recognized. This event titled Indo-U.S. Training Program & Workshop on Cancer Proteogenomics organized by Sanjeeva Srivastava (IIT-Bombay, Mumbai) and D.R. Mani (Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge) utilized advanced genomic & proteomic technologies and their data from

high-quality human biospecimens to identify potentially actionable therapeutic molecular targets. This was a collaborative effort by experts in the fields of proteomics and proteogenomics in cancer research. The program comprised of interactive lectures with case studies, hands-on sessions and demonstrations on proteogenomics aimed at accelerated understanding of cancer. The workshop covered the principles of proteogenomics followed by experimental sessions, where data was processed and analyzed by the participants for proteomics using LC-MS/MS. Hands-on session on computational methods was performed for statistical data analysis of proteogenomics data.

Bilateral Workshops


Understanding Cell Biology through Proteomics and Metabolomics

10-11 DECEMBER 2018 | PUNE, INDIA


Srikanth Rapole National Centre for Cell Science, Pune

John R. Yates III The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla

Arun Sreekumar Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

Proteomics and metabolomics are emerging technologies used worldwide to answer key questions in cell biology research. However,

these technologies are rapidly advancing with new applications in cell biology and there is a need for frequent updates to keep pace with fields. The Indo-U.S. workshop on Understanding Cell Biology through Proteomics and Metabolomics organized by Srikanth Rapole (National Centre for Cell Science, Pune), John

R. Yates III (The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla), Shantanu Sengupta (Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi) and Arun Sreekumar (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston) aimed at bringing together Indian and U.S. researchers working in the areas of proteomics and metabolomics under one umbrella to exchange scientific ideas and foster future collaborations.

Bilateral Workshops


Advanced instrumentation and computational techniques for

Nuclear Reactor Safety15-19 DECEMBER 2018 | IIT-BOMBAY, INDIA


Suneet Singh Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai

Hitesh Bindra Kansas State University, Manhattan

Nuclear power is considered a critically important means of energy generation throughout the world, but due to high

safety standards and process regulations, the cost of energy generation from nuclear fuel is much

higher than natural gas-based energy generation systems. Advanced sensors and modeling techniques can dramatically improve the nuclear reactor safety while making the design of the nuclear plants simple. With the recent advances

Bilateral Workshops


in material science, computational science, and artificial intelligence, there are ongoing development efforts in making robust sensors and computational data-driven techniques for achieving simpler designs, online reactor safety characterization, and accident management. This is a highly inter-disciplinary field and is rich in multiple, coupled physical phenomena ranging over wide length scales and time scales. The

workshop titled Advanced instrumentation and computational techniques for Nuclear Reactor Safety organized by Suneet Singh (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai) and Hitesh Bindra (Kansas State University, Manhattan) aimed to provide the forum necessary to synthesize such recent discoveries into clear predictions for other regions and directives for future work.

Bilateral Workshops


Indo-U.S. Symposium on Allergy and Asthma

15-16 DECEMBER 2018 | NEW DELHI, INDIA

Principal InvestigatorsRandeep Guleria All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Ruchi Gupta Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago

Atopic conditions such as eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and allergies are becoming more prevalent around the world. These

conditions are related through a phenomenon known as the “atopic march” where children

have increased risk of developing asthma and allergies if they are diagnosed with eczema early in life. Occurrence of asthma, environmental allergies, and eczema has risen over the last few decades and remain prevalent. An emerging,

Vartika Mathur Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University

New Delhi

Lucy Bilaver Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine

Chicago

Bilateral Workshops


worldwide trend of increasing food allergy (FA) prevalence has become a growing public health concern. In the U.S., FA affects 8% of children. FA may also slowly be on the rise in India, especially in urban areas but there is a lacuna in its awareness and monitoring. Despite the increasing prevalence of FA worldwide, factors contributing to this increase are not definitively understood. The Indo-U.S. symposium on Allergy and Asthma organized by Randeep Guleria (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi), Ruchi Gupta (Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago), Vartika Mathur (Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University) and Lucy Bilaver (Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago) aimed

to present the differences in prevalence and trends of atopic conditions in the U.S. and India; understand the biology of the development of atopic conditions; discuss factors that may impact atopic conditions and their relationship to the microbiome - hygiene hypothesis, timing of infant food introduction in different cultures, diet influenced by geographical location and culture, genetics, environmental exposures, pre- and postnatal risk factors, etc.; explore emerging microbiome research to determine factors contributing to and protecting against atopic conditions in India and the U.S.; and, enhance existing Indo-U.S. partnerships in the field of atopic conditions and the microbiome.

Bilateral Workshops


Multiscale Simulation and Mathematical Modeling of Complex

Biological Systems 28 JANUARY - 01 FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW DELHI, INDIA


Arnab Bhattacherjee Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Indira Ghosh Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

With the unimaginable gain in computer power over the last decade, the next frontier in computational biology is

to understand complex cellular machinery by investigating the structure and dynamics at the

molecular level. Despite the need, exploring the molecular properties is a daunting task. Experimental approaches are typically limited to a specific window of observable length and time scales. In contrary, integrated mathematical

Anatoly B. Kolomeisky Rice University, Texas

Bilateral Workshops


modelling and multiscale simulation approaches offer unparalleled strategies for exploring biological systems, a philosophy that may open up avenues to understand the etiologies of human diseases and supplement the known actionable findings and also can forecast possible ways of disease progression and resistance. However, the major challenge in such approaches is the sampling of molecular conformational states that often limits experiments to a biased outcome. This Indo-U.S. Symposium on Multiscale Simulation and Mathematical Modeling of Complex Biological Systems organized by Arnab Bhattacherjee (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi), Indira Ghosh (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) and Anatoly B. Kolomeisky (Rice University, Texas) brought together researchers from the U.S. and India to discuss such challenges and the advances

in the development of mathematical models and multiscale simulation techniques that have the potential to unravel the structure-function relations of cellular machinery. The major focus was on the different methods for modelling the dynamics of biomolecular systems, ranging from force-field based all-atom representation of individual biomolecules to coarse-grained models for multicomponent systems. The symposium also provided hands-on training in workshop mode on the necessary practical knowledge of mathematical modelling and development of multiscale simulations of large and complex biological systems. The focal point was on the applications of multiscale models and simulation to gain insights into diseases with specific reference to cancer, genetic disorders and infectious diseases.

Bilateral Workshops


Advancing Environmental Health Science Research and Translation

in India through Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR)

26-28 FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW DELHI, INDIA


Rajesh Tandon Society for Participatory Research in Asia, New Delhi

Banalata Sen Society for Participatory Research in Asia, New Delhi

The 2018 Global Environmental Performance Index, a ranking based on 24 performance indicators for environmental

health and ecosystem vitality, ranks India 177th in a list of 180 countries. Not surprising then that environmental risk factors are among the

Edith Parker University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City

Bilateral Workshops


top risk factors contributing to India’s disease burden. That health is closely interlinked with social and economic determinants is widely recognized, but, the evidence linking environmental exposures and health is limited in India. With rapid economic growth, India faces many environmental challenges, which are affecting the health and quality of life of its population. Improving environmental health research and its translation to practice in India is essential to address its environmental health burden of disease. To achieve this, traditional investigator-led academic research methods will not suffice. This Indo-U.S. Workshop on Advancing Environmental Health Science

Research and Translation in India through Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) organized by Rajesh Tandon (Society for Participatory Research in Asia, New Delhi), Banalata Sen (Society for Participatory Research in Asia, New Delhi) and Edith Parker (University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City) highlighted the use and benefits of CBPR methodology in environmental health research; showcased different approaches to participatory research; aimed to evolve an environmental health focused CBPR framework relevant for India; and identify collaborative Indo-U.S. CBPR projects to address some of India’s pressing environmental health challenges.

Bilateral Workshops


Training Program in Bioacoustics14-21 MARCH 2019 | TIRUPATI, INDIA


Robin Vijayan Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati

Padmanabhan Rajan Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi

Holger Klinck Cornell University, Ithaca

India is a unique country featuring an enormous biodiversity and two global biodiversity hotspots - the Western Ghats and

Eastern Himalayas. Much of this biodiversity is interspersed with a large, rapidly expanding,

human population. Along with the challenges of changes in land use, the Indian economy is also on the rise, which adds another set of challenges. Bioacoustics is a research field at the intersection of physics, biology, ecology, and

Bilateral Workshops


natural history. It can have various applications; in describing new species of various taxa, in helping understand genetic diversity, in understanding cultural diversity, and providing insights into behaviour and behavioural ecology of various organisms. Bioacoustics has also been used to understand the ecological impacts of deforestation and landscape change. With recent technological innovations, bioacoustics has grown to incorporate new automated recording techniques and innovative acoustic analyses that allow examinations of changing soundscapes and the resulting impact on biodiversity and animal habitats. Although research in biology in India has been rapidly increasing, bioacoustics has had limited capacity in the Indian subcontinent, and there are very few research groups in the country working in

this field. RAVEN is a commercially available software developed by Cornell University, and is arguably one of the most popular software being used by the community. This Indo-U.S. Training Program on Bioacoustics organized by Robin Vijayan (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati), Padmanabhan Rajan (Indian Institute of Technology Mandi) and Holger Klinck (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca) invited researchers and trainers from Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bioacoustics Research Program and Macaulay Library to IISER Tirupati to demonstrate and train students in RAVEN. They also demonstrated various recording techniques using hand-held recorders and with their own recorder SWIFT.

Bilateral Workshops


Sensor Technology for Next Generation Internet-of-Things

15-16 MARCH 2019 | BENGALURU, INDIA


Shankar Kumar Selvaraja Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

Shiv Govind Singh Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad

At the core of Internet-of-Things (IoT) is sensor technology. The development of discrete sensor technology and data

collection has created extensive datasets to understand the environment and enables accurate predictions. The concept was

introduced in the early 2000’s that primarily focused on data collection, management, and connectivity. The sensor nodes that are at the bottom end of the IoT architecture are implemented with the off-the-shelf physical and chemical sensors that are not necessarily

Mike A. Carpenter SUNY Polytechnic Institute, New York

Thomas Thundat University at Buffalo, New Yprk

Bilateral Workshops


optimal. A sensor node consists of energy modules, power management modules, RF modules, and sensing modules. Each listed modules should be designed to deliver the highest performance with the lowest energy. It is impossible to achieve the required performance and energy specification with improvement in a single module. Though power and communication modules are well explored for IoT application, development of sensor technology is barely addressed. This Indo-U.S. Workshop on Sensor Technology for Next Generation IoT organized by Shankar Kumar Selvaraja (Indian Institute

of Science, Bengaluru) Shiv Govind Singh (Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad), Mike A. Carpenter (SUNY Polytechnic Institute, New York), and Thomas Thundat (University at Buffalo, New York) discussed in detail physical sensor, chemical sensors, and optical sensor requirements and current status and future specific to IoT application. In addition, the workshop also focused on the packaging and connectivity aspects as well. Overall, the workshop was designed to discuss and deliberate the requirements and propose breakthrough technology that could be taken-up further for execution.

Bilateral Workshops


INDO-U.S. VIRTUAL

NETWORKED CENTERS

Investigating Dark Matter and Star Formation in the Outer Disks of

Galaxies using UV, optical and 21cm radio observations


INDIA USA

Mousumi DasIndian Institute of Astrophysics

Bengaluru

Stacy McGaughCase Western Reserve University

Cleveland


INDIA USA

Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru University of Oregon, Eugene

BackgroundMost of the studies of galaxy dark matter focus on determining the properties of the halo using galaxy rotation curves and/or nuclear gas kinematics. However, the vertical motion of gas and stars in galaxies indicates that there is considerable dark matter in galaxy disks as well. This disk dark matter will affect the formation of local disk instabilities and will become more important at larger radii where the stellar surface density falls. This is clear from observations of the outer parts of galaxy disks where there is neutral

hydrogen (HI) gas but no strong signatures of stellar disks. In such regions the dark matter must be supporting the gas and contributing to the disk stability. In some galaxies there is also star formation in the outer disks.

Objectives y The effect of disk dark matter on the local

disk stability and star formation in the outer disks of galaxies. This has not been explored earlier but it is very important because it will help to understand (i) how much dark

Indo-U.S. Virtual Networked Centers

Report on Programmatic Activities | 2018 - 2019 81Report on Programmatic Activities | 2018 - 2019

matter in galaxies is associated with their disks, and (ii) the star formation and disk growth at large radii in galaxies.

y The global disk stability will be investigated using numerical simulations and compared to observations. One of the ways to do this is to use barred galaxies to understand angular momentum transfer between disks and halos in galaxies.

y Team would use existing data and new Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations to map dark matter in the outer regions of nearby galaxies and understand how it varies with galaxy types. This will include using GMRT 21cm neutral hydrogen observations of face-on spiral galaxies. Team will use both archival data as well as propose for new observations. Team will also explore how the velocity

dispersion of neutral hydrogen can be used to determine the dynamical masses of disk galaxies in their outer regions, where there is no visible stellar disk to gravitationally support the neutral hydrogen disk.

y For nearby face-on galaxies the team will use the near-IR images to estimate the stellar disk masses and compare it with dynamical disk mass surface densities derived from HI velocity dispersion. This will help to determine the dark matter mass distribution in the galaxies.

y To investigate the nature of star formation in the outer, dark matter dominated regions of galaxy disks where the stellar density is low and the metallicity is also poor will be studied. Such regions are also similar to high redshift galaxies, where matter is still in the process of assembling into disks. For this,

Figure 1: The figure shows the Astrosat UVIT far-ultraviolet image of the star formation in the nearby galaxy NGC6946. Our study is focussed on studying the star formation in the extreme outer regions which lie in the dark matter dominated parts of the galaxy.


Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum82 Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum

team will use ASTROSAT UVIT observations for studying such star forming regions in nearby galaxies. The high sensitivity of the UVIT telescope is essential for isolating the compact star forming complexes from the diffuse UV emission in the disks and estimating the star formation rates.

Salient Research Achievements thus far y Using high resolution N-body simulations, to

understand the evolution of the dark matter halos profiles of disk galaxies, it was found that the angular momentum transfer from disks to halos by bars takes 5 to 6 Gyr to transform the halo cusp to a core profile. Hence, bars are not that important for changing halo profiles. But the initial results of flyby interactions of galaxies with mass ratios 1:10 shows that halo cusps can be transformed into flat cores within a few Gyrs. The centre is now exploring how this depends on peri-center distances and initial positions.

y Archival optical and HI data were used to see whether halo dark matter is important for the vertical support of HI disks. It was found that it is important mainly for low luminosity dwarf galaxies.

y ASTROSAT UVIT data was used to understand star formation in the outer disks of galaxies. The initial observations of XUV galaxies did not yield good results as the observing time was too short. However, for one nearby galaxy NGC6946, the Center has detected a large number of compact star forming regions both in the inner and outer disk in the UVIT FUV image. The team is now comparing the star formation properties for both regions.

y It was also observed the star formation (UVIT FUV) in an HI rich low surface brightness galaxy UGC9024 (GMRT HI image). The results show that although the galaxy is metal poor and optically faint, it can support star formation.

Figure 2: The figures show the effect of increasing the number of particles or resolution of the simulation on the halo cusp removal by the bar. The figure on the left has a low resolution and hence the halo cusp appears to have been changed into a core. But our results show that with improved

resolution, the cusp to core transformation takes too long to be important.




INDIA USA

Amit KumarIndian Institute of Technology

Delhi

Anupam GuptaCarnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh


INDIA USA

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Duke University, Durham

Algorithms under Uncertainty

BackgroundHow to optimize a function given a set of constraints is one of the most basic questions in mathematics, computer science, and operations research. In computer science, an efficient algorithm that takes the function parameters and the constraints as input, and outputs a setting of the variables that optimizes the function while satisfying the constraints is needed. Moreover, investigations on the robustness of the problem include: can we find an approximately-optimal solution using much less time? What are the inherent trade-offs between quality and efficiency? These questions are as fundamental as they are practical: in life and work, we optimize all the time, and we would like efficient ways to do so.

ObjectivesThis center aims to foster research collaborations between research groups in India and the U.S. working in several areas related to designing algorithms under uncertainty. These areas (online algorithms, dynamic algorithms,



stochastic optimization, and machine learning) approach this general theme in different ways. The center aims to find common themes that cut across these traditional boundaries. A central goal is to define new models to capture the theme of uncertainty, and give broad techniques for problems in these models. This will lead to significant progress in theoretical computer science both by solving longstanding questions in these domains and also by expanding its scope to new models, problems, and application areas. In addition, this will bring theoretical progress in algorithm design closer to real applications, where uncertainty is unavoidable in many situations.

Anticipated DeliverablesThe expected outcome at the end of the tenure of the center would be the following:

1. Publications co-authored by the PIs and their students (from both countries) in theoretical computer science to extend the state-of-the-art in the research area.

2. Visits by members of partnering institutions should lead to more collaborations and interactions in future, even after the tenure of the institution.

The research program boot-strapped by this center should lead to other joint-projects in the future.




INDIA USA

Pramod K. GargAll India Institute of Medical Sciences

New Delhi

Dean E BrennerUniversity of Michigan Cancer Center

Ann Arbor


INDIA USA

Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research Amity University, Noida

Arizona State University, Tempe

Pennsylvania State University, State College

Reducing Cancer Mortality through Cancer Prevention

BackgroundBasic biomedical research is providing insight into the carcinogenesis process at the molecular level, facilitating the identification of new screening markers, risk assessment tools, and targets for cancer preventive interventions. However, translation of basic research to the benefit of individuals and populations at risk has not kept pace with discovery.

ObjectivesThe Joint Center aims to address this gap by sharing technologies and resources among strong Institutions in India and the U.S. with

the goal of translating basic science to practical clinical tools in the hope of reducing cancer incidence and mortality. Specific objectives of the Center include:

y Implementing 3 joint projects aimed at 3 representative epithelial sites that are responsible for cancer mortality in India and in USA that model the continuum of translational research from cancer biology to population based risk reduction.

y Using the projects to identify, share and transfer research strategies, data and technologies that will benefit investigators in India and the United States.



Anticipated DeliverablesThe 3 projects of the Joint Center are designed to gather data through joint funding and document collaborative experience and joint publications. Such productivity will enable future competitive joint funding programs for each of the projects proposed and spin-off projects.

Project 1: The Project supports the development of a library of Breast Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) organoids. Multiple joint projects aimed at identifying mechanisms of breast neoplastic progression and identifying interventions to reverse or delay progression will use this joint resource to build collaborative projects. This resource can be disseminated in India and abroad.

Project 2: The Project will create a new microbiome resource that will serve as a platform to generate hypotheses regarding gallbladder cancer and other upper GI neoplastic progression. Such a platform will support new joint basic science and translational therapeutic projects.

Project 3: The Center will enhance an NCI funded project funded to jointly develop new technologies and apply new technologies in the field. It serves as future infrastructure that will be capable of validating any new technologies and interventions aimed at reducing cervix cancer mortality in India or abroad.

Expected benefits for the Indian side:

y Transfer of new technologies—human epithelial stem cell isolation, 3-dimensional organoid technology, single cell molecular and proteomic analysis tools.

y New, cost effective technologies that can be generalized to a large at risk population.

y Potential reduction in mortality from cancer through implementation of new technologies to detect cervical cancer early in low resource setting.

y Potential to understand gall bladder carcinogenesis by understanding microbial alterations.

y Improved scientific competitiveness of junior faculty at AIIMS.

Breast cancer prevention teams from the University of Michigan and AIIMS working together at the AIIMS-DBT-Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research in New Delhi



Expected benefits for the U.S. side:

y The availability of primary DCIS will enable new strategies to identify and define individuals at high risk for transformation and treat them.

y New insights into the role of stroma in transformation of epithelial cancers. The DCIS model will permit intense studies of signaling from different types of stroma and recognition of signals and play a central role in cellular transformation.

y Geographic epidemiology of the microbiome will generate new hypotheses of inflammation and carcinogenesis.

y Ability to validate new point of care technologies for detection of proteins, in this case HPV antibodies. The technology can detect any protein that has a good antibody. The technology reduces costs of complex, hospital based laboratory technology and may improve care in underserved communities in USA. Validation in India is applicable to the U.S.

Progress to DateProject 1: Investigators from both AIIMS and the University of Michigan have jointly trained together at their respective institutions. The primary aim of the study was to establish

breast organoid culture in 3D and to optimize the suitable long term culture condition. The following work has been initiated:

1. Cultures of primary normal human breast epithelial cells have yielded organoids that can be passaged and cryopreserved.

2. Preliminary experience with ductal carcinoma in situ at AIIMS have yielded spheres and some three-dimensional cultures.

3. Long term cultures are in the process of being standardized and established.

Project 2: A pilot research project has been initiated.

Project 3: investigators from Arizona State University, University of Michigan, and AIIMS have produced preliminary experimental data for the function of a point of care device capable of performing immunoassays outside of a laboratory environment. The has been tested at AIIMS in plasma samples from cervical cancer patients and controls. The team has standardized of laboratory and clinical protocols, first use of the device at AIIMS, and a functional web based database for data collection and sharing.



Nanoscale Transport and Biological Interfaces


INDIA USA

Suman ChakrabortyIndian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Narayana R. AluruUniversity of Illinois Urbana–Champaign


INDIA USA

Indian Institute of Technology, MadrasNorthwestern University, Chicago

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

BackgroundStudies on nanoscale transport with biological interfaces hold remarkable impact towards progress and development of scientific and technological knowhow. With advancements in modern fabrication processes, biomedical engineering has received a tremendous impetus. Understanding the governing physics of nanoscale transport is essential for developing key functionalities of nanodevices that address such applications.

ObjectivesWith the above perspective, the Center aims to establish a virtual consortium on studying multifarious facets of nanoscale fluidic transport and biological interfaces. The key objectives are:

y Molecular dynamics simulation of ion transport through Graphene oxide membrane.

y Water quality monitoring using soild sorbents: a dry-sampling technology.

y Development of water filters using plant xylem.

y Diffusive spreading of charged dye in paper matrix.

Anticipated DeliverablesThe emergence of nanoscale functional devices having biological interfaces, with the potential to outperform the traditional devices in many areas, has created the need for an effort to put together the many disjointed activities on



nanofluidics in the U.S. and India and combine them in a single platform where ideas, expertise and resources can be assimilated, exchanged and developed. In response to this need, this Joint Centre on Nanoscale Transport with Biological Interfaces will coordinate their efforts to leverage resources internationally to speed up science discoveries and dissemination of results and education. This will eventually lead to:

y Parallel fund raising on synergistic aspects of nano-bio-technology in different countries.

y Mobility of faculty and students to transfer know-how and speed-up discovery.

y Complimentary lab facilities sharing.

y Organization of joint specialized courses and workshops.

y Development of New Technology.

y Fostering of entrepreneurship in both the countries.



Functional and Computational Proteomics


INDIA USA

Sanjeeva SrivastavaIndian Institute of Technology-Bombay,

Mumbai

Robert MoritzInstitute for Systems Biology,

Seattle


INDIA USA

National Centre for Cell Science, Pune Arizona State University, Tempe

BackgroundFunctional proteomics has emerged as one of the key technologies in biomedical research aimed at developing better understanding of disease pathology and diagnostic cure. However, the sheer amount of raw data generated using functional proteomics approaches warrants specialized computational techniques for data analysis. With this background, a group of scientists from India and the U.S. came together to form a Joint Centre with a goal to employ functional and computational proteomics to understand and unveil several broad biological questions pertaining to cancer (e.g., breast cancer) and infectious disease (e.g., tuberculosis).

ObjectivesThe main objectives of this Joint Centre will be to:

y Conduct functional proteomics analysis such as protein microarrays and Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging for elucidation and validation of cellular pathways involved in breast cancer and Tuberculosis (TB).

y Evaluate and develop selected reaction monitoring (SRM and MRM) assays for validation of breast cancer and TB biomarkers through mass spectrometry.

y Perform computational simulations for the derived data for peptide identification and validation, quantification and data interpretation.



y Explore the possibility of analyzing individualized omics profiles, and work towards the Wellness Project thorough personalized prevention and treatment.

y Train the next generation of scientists in functional and computational proteomics.

Anticipated Deliverables y Collaborative efforts will lead to enhanced

understanding on critical issues of common concern including functional aspects of breast cancer and TB.

y Identification of additional proteomic biomarkers for breast cancer and TB will benefit early prognosis and better survival rates of patients.

y The training program incorporated with the research activities will provide opportunities to young scholars from various research institutes and organizations to learn the state-of-the-art technologies, enhancing their professional skills in the collaborative arena of proteomics.

A proteomics workshop on Trans-Proteomic Pipeline (TPP) was conducted in December 2018 jointly by ISB and IITB teams at IIT Bombay



PUBLIC PRIVATE

PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

The 2018 Edition of the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) 2.0 was launched at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on

21st March 2018 during the concluding session of the Festival of Innovation; in the presence of Hon’ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind. The ceremony was also attended by the Union Minister of Science, Technology and Earth Sciences, Govt. of India Dr. Harshvardhan; Secretary, Department of Science and Technology Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and Prof. Anil Gupta and representatives from IIGP 2.0 stakeholders and implementation partners. The IIGP is more than a decade old program supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India, Lockheed Martin Corporation, U.S.A and TATA Trusts and being implemented by the bi-national Indo-U.S Science and Technology Forum

(IUSSTF), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay (IIT-B), Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

As a result of a nationwide call through an extensive social media campaign, newspaper advertisements and roadshows, a total of 3125 applications (710 Applications under the University Challenge and 2415 Applications under the Open Innovation Challenge) were received in response to IIGP 2.0.

From the pool of applications and based on the evaluations, the top 40 in the University Challenge were shortlisted and the top 50 in Open Innovation Challenge were shortlisted.

DST-Lockheed Martin-Tata TrustsIndia Innovation

Growth Program 2.0

Public-Private Partnership Programs


University Challenge Competition The University Challenge Competition was held at IIT Bombay from 29-30 June 2018. The top 40 shortlisted teams (20 from social track and 20 from industrial track) pitched to a jury of 7-8 members in each track. The jury consisting of IIGP 2.0 stakeholders and sectoral experts evaluated the teams based on the pitches made. The jury then went on to select the top 15 teams (7 from social and 8 from industrial) for the final awards. These winning teams represent the best from leading universities in the Tier-I, Tier-II and Tier-III cities in India.

Open Innovation Challenge Bootcamp at IIM AhmedabadAt IIM Ahmedabad campus a week long

bootcamp from 16-21 July, 2018 was held. The top 50 OIC 2018 teams and top 9 university challenge 2017 attended the bootcamp. The bootcamp focused on building the capacities of the top selected innovators from the online evaluations. The sessions held through the week focused on key topics such as understanding business model canvas & product fit, financial modeling, ‘Go to market strategy, scaling up and managing your performance etc. The innovators also received a one-on-one session with mentors. They were also prepared for their pitches for the upcoming OIC innovators competition.

Open Innovation Challenge- Innovation Challenge Following a rigorous weeklong bootcamp at IIM Ahmedabad, the 50 finalists of the IIGP 2.0 Open Innovation Challenge 2018



presented their innovations to an expert jury panel at an Innovators Competition on 1-2 August 2018 in New Delhi. The 4 top teams from the previous year’s University Challenge also competed alongside the 50 finalists. Based on their performance the innovators were judged on their problem identification, impact, innovation, unique value proposition, market advantage, financial sustainability, operational scalability and team. The jury panel comprising of industry experts and IIGP 2.0 stakeholders announced 16 teams (8 social, 8 industrial) as winners of the Open Innovation Challenge 2018. The IIGP 2.0 award ceremony was held on 2nd August, 2018 at New Delhi.

Final Awards under IIGP 2.0 were as follows: y University Challenge Competition-15 Awards

under area of Social and Industrial Innovations were awarded. An Award grant of Rs.10 lakh per University team along with Rs.1 lakh as the University overheads provided as support under the Program.

y Open Innovation Challenge Competition- 16 Awards under the area of social and Industrial Innovations were awarded. An Award grant of Rs.25.00 lakh per Innovator team is provided as support under the Program. The Awarded 16 teams were also sponsored for a U.S ecosystem learning visits to MIT and Harvard Universities in Sep-Oct 2018.



The Women Entrepreneur Quest (WEQ) sponsored by the AnitaB.org India and the Department of Science and

Technology (DST), Government of India is a partnership program to develop the ecosystem of entrepreneurship for women in technology in India, through sustained and collaborative efforts.

WEQ is a comprehensive platform that provides networking, mentoring and learning opportunities to women entrepreneurs in technology. The Top 10 winners of WEQ receive an all-expenses-paid experiential learning visit to Silicon Valley, US for five working days. The objective of the visit is to provide the WEQ Top 10 winners exposure to the thriving entrepreneurial culture in the Silicon Valley and give access to:

y Quality Networks: Visits and meetings with key stakeholders in the Silicon Valley

ecosystem such as leading technology companies, startups, investors, officials, incubators, accelerators, universities and so on.

y Expert Guidance: Sessions and workshops on important business functions, technology trends and growth strategies from industry veterans, mentors, entrepreneurs and experienced professionals.

y Great Inspiration: A credible and high-visibility platform to showcase their business, during close interactions and hearing directly from role models in the Silicon Valley.

This year’s top ten WEQ winners were announced on stage at the 2018 Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI 18) Asia’s largest gathering of women technologists during November 2018 at Bengaluru.

Women Entrepreneur Quest (WEQ)



WEQ 2018 Top 10 Winners

S.No Founder Designation Startup City

1 Anushka Shetty Founder Plop chat Bengaluru

2 Kalyani Khona Founder & CEO Inclov Delhi

3 Neha Satak Founder & CEO Astrome Bengaluru

4 Pallavi Gupta Founder Espresso Labs Delhi

5 Radhika Patil Founder & CEO Cradlewise Bengaluru

6 Shampa Choudhury Founder & CEO Citility Bengaluru

7 Shruthi Reddy Founder & CEO Anthyesti Kolkata

8 Surabhi Das Founder & Chief Legal Officer Ziroh Labs Bengaluru

9 Suruchi Rao Founder Ossus Biorenewables Bengaluru

10 Tarusha Mittal Founder & COO Ethx.co Delhi



Make Tomorrow for Innovation Generation is a public private partnership initiated by National

Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and Intel with Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) as the implementation partner. It is also supported by NITI Aayog - Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Designed to work with schools, teachers and maker spaces to skill youth on creating indigenous technology based solutions for local communities, this program was initiated to nurture and develop an innovation ecosystem in the country.

Program OutreachUnder the aegis of the program, a series of 5 Rapid Prototyping Camps (RPCs) were held for students and teachers in 5 different locations – Dharamshala, Dehradun, Bhubaneshwar, Shillong and Jamshedpur, between September – November 2018 reaching out to youth from 17 Indian states.

Each RPC was a 3 day residential event and had sessions on Design Thinking, Ideation, IPR, Copyright, etc.; Tech creation hands on activities/DIYs through specially designed challenges and brief introduction about Atal Tinkering Labs. The sessions were designed in sync with the global learning path, and participants were guided by mentors experienced in conducting such workshops, together with local volunteers.

Post Rapid Prototyping CampsPost the camps, students were encouraged to share their ideas/ projects in an online format. They were asked to identify problems in and around them and share their proposed solutions for the same. A total of 415 ideas were received in response.

The ideas were judged online by a panel of judges and 50 ideas were shortlisted and invited for the National Showcase in Delhi during 1–4 December 2018. During the showcase -cum-competition event, these projects were evaluated by a panel of experts and top 10 projects were selected and felicitated during the Awards ceremony.

Make Tomorrow for Innovation Generation



Top 10 Project Awards

S.No. Project Title Participants Name of School

1 Smart Electroplater Shiv TyagiPPJ Saraswati Vihar Nainital, Uttarakhand

2 Smoke PurifierRohit Sharma & Abhinav Dogra

Trinity Public School, Banjar Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

3 Cardio-bandManjur Ahmed & Md Amaan

Kendriya Vidyalaya AFS Borjhar Guwahati, Assam

4 LPG Leakage Detector Vishal RanjanDAV Public School Koyla Nagar Dhanbad, Jharkhand

5Smart Solar Tracker Light With Motion Detector

Mehar Thakur & Bhanu Prakash Singh

Sanowar Valley Public School Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

6 Ennioa Soumyadeep SahuDAV Public School, unit – VIII Bhubaneswar, Odisha

7 IOT Based Smart StretcherSatyam Singh & Sushant Yadav

Hiralal Ramniwas Inter College Khalilabad Sant Kabir Nagar Uttar Pradesh

8 Agriculture Data Collecting BotAnshuman Nigam & Bharat Jain

Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

9Fashionable & Helpful - Women's Jewellery As Self-defence

Happy Singh & Kashish Aswal

Purkal Youth Development Society Dehradun, Uttarakhand

10 Floor Cleaning RobotMadhubrata Mohapatra & Sehnaaz Begum

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Dhenkanal, Orissa



VISITATION

PROGRAMS

Water Advanced Research and Innovation (WARI) Fellowship Program

Recognizing that Water is of fundamental importance for human development, the environment and the economy, and

therefore needs to feature prominently in the development agenda of both India and the United States; the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), the Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI)

and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) have partnered to nurture cooperation between students and scientists from both countries. The Water Advanced Research and Innovation (WARI) Fellowship Program - a dynamic and transformative program has thus been developed to foster long term Indo-American science and technology partnerships.

WARI Interns 2018

Name and Institute UNL faculty mentor(s) Project Title

Himani UppalAcademy of Scientific and Innovative research (AcSIR) - CSIR NPL, Ghaziabad

Xu Li

Utilization of wastewater for adsorptive media based recovery of nutrients for agricultural production

Kausik GhoshVidyasagar University, Midnapore

Francisco Munoz-Arriola

Integration of remote sensing and hydrologic model to quantify the individual impact of climate and anthropogenic pulses on streamflow and sediment nutrient load of the Himalayan river Teesta

Moitrayee MukhopadhyaySRM Research Institute, Kanchipuram

Xu Li and Daniel SnowRemediation of diethylhexyl phthlate using granulated activated carbon

Rudra Mohan PradhanIndian Institute of Technology, Mumbai

Daniel Snow and Karrie Weber

Uranium biogeochemistry and its impact on water quality

Saran AadharIndian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar

Brian Wardlow and Tsegaye Tadesse

Fresh water and drought monitoring over South Asia

Visitation Programs


WARI Interns 2018


Syed Ibrahim Gnani Peer MohamedNational Institute of Technology, Surathkal

Siamak Nejati and Ashraf Aly Hassan

Synthesis and characterization of antibiofouling zwitterionic thin film nanocomposite membranes for desalination

Tanuhree ParsaiIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Xu Li and Yusong LiFate of nanoparticles and corresponding ion in different environmental media

WARI Fellows 2018


Dhanya C. T. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Ayse Kilic and Tsegaye Tadesse

Enhancing the drought predictability through remote sensing of evapotranspiration and soil moisture

Visitation Programs


Bhaskara Advanced Solar Energy (BASE) Fellowship Program

Recognizing that climate change, clean and efficient energy and environmental protection are among the biggest

challenges facing India and the United States; the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India through its Solar Energy Research Initiative, and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) are

committed to tackling these issues by building capacity in these frontier areas. To nurture future innovators and thought leaders in Solar Energy, the Bhaskara Advanced Solar Energy (BASE) Fellowship Program - a dynamic and transformative program has been developed to foster contacts between students and scientists from India and the United States.

BASE Interns: Batch of 2018

Name and InstituteU.S. Mentor and Host

InstitutionProject Title

Anupam Srivastav Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra

York R. SmithThe University of Utah

Experimental and theoretical studies on Bismuth Vanadate and related materials for photoelectrochemical splitting of water and Hydrogen generation

Ashish Saxena Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai

Hitesh BindraKansas State University

Computational analysis of thermal stratification in horizontal solar thermal receivers with liquid metal coolants

Brajendra Singh Sengar Indian Institute of Technology, Indore

Clemens HeskeUniversity of Nevada Las Vegas

Surface structure and band alignment study of wide band gap buffer layers with CZTSSe thin film for photovoltaic application

Deepak Badgurjar Central University of Rajasthan,Ajmer

Thomas J. MeyerThe University of North Carolina

Cost effective panchromatic nanoparticle chromophore catalyst assemblies for light driven water oxidation

Jayashree Swaminathan CSIR- Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karai Kudi

Pulickel M. AjayanRice University

Designing electrodes for photo and elctrochemical water splitting reactions

Visitation Programs


BASE Interns: Batch of 2018



K. Ramesh Kumar Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad

Byron H. FarnumAuburn University

Designing efficient quantum dot solar cells by studying electron transfer and transport phenomena

Mohammad Adil Afroz Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Qiquan QiaoSouth Dakota State University

Understanding the crystal growth and stability in perovskite solar cells

Naresh Duvva CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad

Kirk S. SchanzeThe University of Texas at San Antonio

Design synthesis and optical properties of organometallic conjugated polymers for solar cells applications

Naveen Kumar Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar

Tara P. DhakalState University of New York

ZnSnO as an alternate buffer layer and defect passivation at absorber buffer interface for efficient carrier transport in CZTS solar cells

Shailendra Singh Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University

Murali BagguNational Renewable Energy Laboratory

Grid Integration of solar photovoltaics and operational issues in smart grids

Surender Subburaj A.C. College of Technology, Campus, Anna University, Chennai

Yongfeng LuUniversity of Nebraska Lincoln

Fabrication of InGaN GaN MQWs based Solar cells and electrical characterization for space applications

Vignesh M. Pondicherry University,Puducherry

John Zhanhu GuoThe University of Tennessee Knoxville

Development of high performance dye sensitized solar cells using in situ grown metal selenide onto graphene as nanohybrid counter electrodes

BASE Fellows: Batch of 2018



Adarsh Kumaran Nair Valsala DeviIndian Institute of Science Education And Research, Bhopal

Mathew C. BeardNational Renewable Energy Laboratory

Hybridperovskite nanocrystals for high efficiency photovoltaics fundamental studies and device fabrication

Visitation Programs


BASE Fellows: Batch of 2018



Ajay SoniIndian Institute of Technology, Mandi

Ramanth GanpatiRensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Flexible solar-thermoelectric devices of nanoplatelet chalcogenides for solar and thermal energy harvesting

Basudev Pradhan Central University of Jharkhand,Ranchi

Jayan ThomasUniversity of Central Florida

High efficiency monolithic perovskite silicon tandem solar cell

Bharatiraja C. SRM University, Kanchipuram

Brad LehmanNortheastern University

Design and development of digitally control high efficient compact novel solar power conversion system.

Kusum KumariNational Institute of Technology, Warangal

Sean E. ShaheenUniversity of Colorado

Development of perovskite solar cells via interface engineering using transition metal dichalogenide based ultra thin layers

Muniappan SankarIndian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

Francis DsouzaUniversity of North Texas

Synthesis and studies on porphyrin novel donor acceptor systems for artificial photosynthesis and photovoltaic applications

Saravana Ilango G.National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli

Subashish BattacharyaNorth Carolina State University

Development of sic based modular multilevel converter for improving power quality in grid connected solar PV systems

Satya Pal NehraDeenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Sonepat

Thuc Quyen NguyenUniversity of California

Fabrication and characterization of lead free perovskite photovoltaic devices towards low cost ecofriendly higher efficiency and stable photovoltaic technology

Shyamal Chatterjee Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneshwar

Gary Glass and Francis D'souzaUniversity of North Texas

Three dimensional heterojunction nanostrcutures for photovoltaic applications

Varun National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur

Yogi GoswamiUniversity of South Florida

Performance assessment of supercritical carbon dioxide thermodynamic cycle for concentrating solar power

Visitation Programs


Bioenergy-Awards for Cutting Edge Research (B-ACER)

The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum

have developed a dynamic visitation program between Indian institutions and premier U.S. Universities in the priority areas of Biofuel and Bioenergy - the Bioenergy-Awards for

Cutting Edge Research (B-ACER). The dynamic exchange of information and knowledge between premier institutions in India and the U.S.through a devised exchange program will create sustainable, long-term networks in the mutual interest of both countries.

B-ACER Interns 2018



Danish EqbalInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi

Paul J. CullenUniversity of Buffalo

Identification and functional characterization of genes involved in hyphal septation and development

Himanshu Karashanbhai PatelCSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar

Arthur J. RagauskasUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville

Exploration of economically attractive pathways for biooil deoxygenation

Jyoti KaintholaIndian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Ramesh GoelUniversity of Utah

Designing a consortium using anaerobic bacteria for efficient hydrolysis leading to enhanced biogas production from Rice straw

Nilesh Kumar SharmaSardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy, Kapurthala

Mark A. EitemanUniversity of Georgia

Identification and functional characterization of endogenous xylitol transporter gene of Kluyveromyces marxianus for the framework of enhanced bioethanol production

Paramvir SinghNational Institute of Technology, Hamirpur

Ashwani K. GuptaUniversity of Maryland

Waste and biomass to syngas and liquid fuel conversion as well as viability of producing enhanced value added products from the above feedstock

Visitation Programs


B-ACER Interns 2018



Ram Ji DixitIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Vijay RamaniWashington University in St. Louis

Bio crude refining to produce biofuel

Shubhasish GoswamiIndian Institute Of Science Education And Research, Kolkata

Danielle Tullman ErcekNorthwestern University

Designing a genetic circuit to understand cellulase synergy

B-ACER Fellows 2018

Name and InstituteU.S. Mentor and Host Institution

Project Title

Manoj Kumar Sharma Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

Peggy. G. LemauxUniversity of California

Optimization of efficient genetic engineering procedure for bioenergy feedstocks

Ragothaman Madhava Rao YennamalliJaypee University of Information Technology, Solan

Brian FoxUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Systems level analysis of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases and their involvement in degradation of recalcitrant polysaccharides

Visitation Programs


Building Energy Efficiency Higher & Advanced Network Fellowships (BHAVAN)

The Building Energy Efficiency Higher & Advanced Network (BHAVAN) Fellowships supported by the Department

of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology

Forum (IUSSTF) are envisaged to create a sustainable and vibrant linkage between the two nations, in the field of Building Energy Efficiency.

BHAVAN Interns 2018


Project Title

Ankit Bhalla The Energy & Resources Insitute, New Delhi

Rahman AzariIllinois Institute of Technology

Defining measured and validated sky luminance distribution model for India to accurately assess the availability of daylight in building interiors

Ashok Mohan Jadhav Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur

Siddharth SuryanarayananColorado State University

Development of distributed real-time computational framework for energy management in integrated buildings and microgrid system equipped with distributed energy resources

Gurubalan AnnaduraiIndian Institute of Technology, Chennai

Patrick J GeogheganOak Ridge National Laboratory

Investigation of membrane based liquid desiccant air conditioning system for building applications

Madhavi JainJawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

Dev NiyogiPurdue University

Urbanization and its manifestations on localized weather for building energy and thermal comfort modeling

Milan JainIndraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi

Osman AhmedPacific Northwest National Laboratory

Timely identify slow time varying faults in air conditioners and roof top units

Nilesh PurohitBirla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Brian A. FrickeOak Ridge National Laboratory

Energetic, environmental and economic assessment of a solar assisted Carbon Dioxide building environment and refrigeration system for warm weather

Visitation Programs


BHAVAN Interns 2018


Project Title

Praveen Kumar Govindasamy A.C. College of Technology, Campus, Anna University

Patrick E. PhelanArizona State University

Green Energy and Total Cooling Provision for Building Towards Sustainability

Priyam TewariMalaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Vivian LoftnessCarnegie Mellon University

Development of a building bio-climatic design chart for evaporative cooling using adaptive thermal comfort approach.

Ravita LambaIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Yogi GoswamiUniversity of South Florida

Thermodynamic modeling and performance analysis of Building Integrated Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric (BIPV-TE) hybrid system

Sneha JainInternational Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad

Christian KohlerLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Integrated shading and lighting control system based on real-time sky luminance maps forenergy efficiency and glare protection

Utkarsh MathurCEPT University,Ahmedabad

Harvey BryanArizona State University

Overall Thermal Transfer Value of a building envelope (OTTV)

BHAVAN Fellows 2018



Chaitali BasuSchool of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi

M.G. Matt Syal Michigan State University

Building performance evaluation for energy efficiency retrofitting decision-making in residential buildings

Gayathri Aaditya Ghatty Nitte School of Architecture,Govindapura

Reshma SinghLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Designing a low energy and economic footprint BIPV housing

Visitation Programs


Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM (WISTEMM)

Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum

(IUSSTF) jointly announced “Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) with an aim to provide Indian Women Scientists, Engineers & Technologists opportunities to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in U.S.A. to enhance their research capacities and capabilities in global perspective.

Proposed area of work may include Agricultural Sciences, Atmospheric and Earth Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Cognitive Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Medical Sciences and Physical Sciences.

In the First Call advertised during January 2018, IUSSTF received an overwhelming response of 1102 applications under the two program modules. Top ten candidates were selected under the Women Overseas Student Internship and Women Overseas Fellowship program modules respectively.

Women Overseas Student Interns 2018-19

Name and InstituteU.S. Mentor &

Host InstitutionProject Title

Divya ArumugamNMSSVN College, Madurai

Amit JoshiMedical College of Wisconsin

Quantum dots for magnetic resonance and near infrared second window image guided cancer therapy

Gaurangi GuptaIndian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Siva Prasad Gogineni University of Alabama

Low profile cavity backed antennas for glacial ice sounding radar systems

Jyoti TomarIndian Institute of Technology, Mumbai

Siva VanapalliTexas Tech University

Lab on a chip system for antimicrobial susceptibility tests on pathogens against antibiotics using droplet microfluidics

Kalpana SriramadasuSri Padmavati Women's University, Tirupati

Xianchun LiUniversity of Arizona

Host plant adaptation in the generalist Helicoverpa Zea

Visitation Programs


Women Overseas Student Interns 2018-19

Name and InstituteU.S. Mentor &


Meenakshi Verma(Unemployed)

Mandeep Singh BakshiUniversity of Wisconsin

Naphthalimide metal complex receptor for toxin detection in foodstuff and water

Preeti SarkarTezpur University Tezpur

Giuseppe Valacchi North Carolina State University

To investigate the bioavailability and inhibitory effects of bioactive peptides (generated from silk industry waste) against endothelial dysfunctional factors involved in causing pro-inflammatory phenotype in human endothelial cells during vascular inflammation

Rubia Zahid Gaur(Unemployed)

Sarina J. ErgasUniversity of South Florida

Enhanced methane production in high solids anaerobic digestion of aquatic weeds using paper and pulp

Sunita MishraIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Kaliat T RameshJohns Hopkins University

Micromechanics study on dynamic failure of rocks by using digital image correlation and x-ray contrast imaging

Tejal AgarwalIndian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune

Suckjoon JunUniversity of California

Coarse grained polymer models to study the dynamics and organization of Bacterial chromosomes

Tripti MidhaIndian Institute of Technology, Ropar

Anatoly B KolomeiskyRice University

Investigation of mechanisms of biological cellular transport phenomena utilizing analytical and computational tools

Women Overseas Fellows 2018-19

Name and InstituteU.S. Mentor & Host


Amritpal Kaur Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Madhav P. YadavEastern Regional Research Centre

Characterization and utilization of hemicellulose and cellulosic arabinoxylan fiber rich fractions

Visitation Programs


Women Overseas Fellows 2018-19

Name and InstituteU.S. Mentor & Host


Indu Jayaluxmi Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Pierre Emmanuel KirstetterUniversity of Oklahoma

Evaluation of satellite precipitation products from the global precipitation measurement mission

Jayati Sarkar Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Prabir PatraUniversity of Bridgeport

Dewetting assisted self-assembly origami formation and folding of Graphene particles

Kuntal MisraAryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Uttarakhand

Stefano ValentiUniversity of California

Unraveling the physics and progenitors of cosmic explosions

Preeti Anand BhobeIndian Institute of Technology, Indore

Ibrahim KaramanTexas A & M University

Magneto functional heusler alloys with large scale tunability of operation temperatures

Qaiser JahanIndian Institute of Technology, Mandi

Marcin BownikUniversity of Oregon

Characterization of scaling function and construction of wavelets on compact and locally compact abe

Richa Babbar Thapar University,Patiala

Indrajeet ChaubeyPurdue University

A study on economic fertilizer dose agricultural productivity and environmental protection

Sriparna SahaIndian Institute of Technology, Patna

Vineet BafnaUniversity of California

Exploring deep learning for solving different population genetics task

Taruna Anand ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar

Vincent A FischettiThe Rockefeller University

To produce novel phage lysins against pathogenic bacteria

Taruna Madan ICMR National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai

Raina Nakova FichorovaHarvard University

Host factors silencing vaginal inflammation promote resistance to HIV

Visitation Programs


Indo-U.S. Genome Engineering/Editing Technology Initiative (GETin)

Indo-U.S. Genome Engineering/Editing Technology Initiative (GETin) program is a joint initiative of the Department of

Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India and Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) in order to acknowledge the importance of strategies and techniques in genome modification, as modern-day essential tools for research and development between

Indian institutes and premier U.S. Universities, in significant areas of genome engineering/editing technology. Against the Second Call advertised during August 2018, IUSSTF received 99 applications. Top five candidates have been selected in the Student Internship and Overseas Fellowship program modules respectively and top 3 candidates have been selected in the Visiting Fellowship program module.

Student Interns: 2018-19



Arpita PrustyUniversity of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

Cornelis MurreUniversity of California

Functional characterization of novel B cell super enhancers

Debarya SahaCSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad

Charles Keller Children's Cancer Therapy Development InstituteWest Beaverton

Analysis of the regulatory mechanisms governing quiescence

Meeti PunethaIndian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly

Jonathan A. Green University of Missouri

Exploration of the functional roles of early growth response genes in VEGF signalling in porcine luteal cells

Sonali JatharNational Centre for Cell Science, Pune

Je-hyun YoonMedical University of South Carolina

Decoding the molecular function of quiescence specific lnc RNA by genome editing approach

Syed Qaaifah GillaniUniversity of Kashmir, Srinagar

Thomas RobertsDana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University

Studying the role of PCTAIRE kinase in mitotic regulation and tumorigenesis by CRISPR Cas genome editing

Visitation Programs


Overseas Fellows: 2018-19


Project Title

Dinesh NagegowdaCSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Bengaluru

Jian-kang ZhuPurdue University

Role of ROP genes in geranyl geranylation dependent regulation of anticancer alkaloids biosynthesis inCatharanthus roseus

Kesavan KarthikeyanGuru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur

Val Cowley SheffieldUniversity of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Cationic nano-micelles as a non-viral vector in CRISPR Cas based genome editing for myocilin associated glaucoma therapy

Rhitu Rai ICAR-NRC on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi

Adam Joseph BogdanoveCornell University

Knock in targeting to develop a reporter based screening system in rice for monitoring Xanthomonas oryzae populations

Sanal Madhusudana GirijaInstitute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi

Arun SrivastavaUniversity of Florida

Design and optimization of CRISPR Cas for in vivo delivery using adeno associated virus for gene therapy

Suja GeorgeM.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai

Abhaya M DandekarUniversity of California

Assessing the efficiency of CRISPR mediated genome editing tools in higher plants for crop improvement under abiotic stress

Visiting Fellows: 2018-19

Name and InstituteIndian Mentor and


Charles R. LongTexas A&M University Caldwell

Naresh SelokarICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar

Production of respiratory disease resistant buffalo through gene editing and assisted reproduction

Vibha SrivastavaUniversity of Arkansas Fayetteville

M.V. RajamDelhi University South Campus

Gene editing and genome engineering in rice for fast track variety development

Visitation Programs


American Society for Microbiology (ASM)-IUSSTF Professorships in

Microbiology

Under an arrangement between IUSSTF and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the Indo-U.S.

Professorship Awards in Microbiology were instituted in 2003 with the aim to foster scientific cooperation, education, training and capacity building at individual and institutional levels through exchange visitation.

The program supports: y Teaching Professorships:

Microbiologists in India and the United States

to visit institutions (for 1-2 weeks) in the two countries to teach an interactive short course on a topic in any of the microbiological disciplines.

y Research Professorships: Microbiologists in India to participate in an interactive short course on a topic in any of the microbiological disciplines, or conduct a research project in partnership with colleague in a research facility in the U.S. (for a minimum of 6 weeks)

ASM-IUSSTF Awards - 2018

S.No. Name and Institute Category Proposal Title Mentor and Host Institute

1Jason Blackard University of Cincinnati

Visiting Research Professorship

Introduction to Molecular Phylogenetics and Virus Evolution

Pachamuthu BalakrishnanYRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education

2Mrinal Samanta Central Insttitute of Freshwater Aquaculture

Visiting Research Professorship

Deciphering the critical role of TLR and NLR-signaling in the reactivation and replication of quiescent ranavirus FV3 in Xenopus laevis

Jacques Robert University of Rochester Medical Center

3Neha JainAhmedabad University

Visiting Teaching Professorship

Immune modulation in response to curli (bacterial amyloid) induced aggregation of human proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases

Cagla Tukel Temple University

4Sangeeta Khare U.S. Food and Drug Administration


Nanotechnology applications in healthcare: toxicological risk assessment using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo host-microbiome interaction models

Santosh Kumar MisraIndian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

5Vijay Juneja Eastern Regional Research Center


Predictive Microbiology for Food Safety

Shalini Sehgal Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences University of Delhi

Visitation Programs


IUSSTF-American Physical Society (APS) Fellowships

IUSSTF and the American Physical Society (APS) have partnered to support a bilateral exchange program that includes the Indo-

U.S. Professorship Awards in Physics which are awarded to scientists from India and USA every year to conduct short courses or provide physics lecture series and, the Indo-U.S. Physics Student Visitation Program for student exchange every year. The program was launched in 2008.

‘Professorships and Lectureships’ consist of 1-2 week courses or a lecture series delivered at an Indian or U.S. institution. Recipients are selected by a joint APS-IUSSTF review committee, with a call for proposals once each year. Awards are typically used for travel, materials and expenses associated with course delivery. The objective

of the Visiting Professorship is to enable physicists to build strong collaborative linkages in physics education and research between the scientific communities of U.S. and India.

The 'Physics Student Visitation Program' aims to support graduate student travel to India by U.S. citizens, and for students of Indian citizenship to travel to the United States. These studentship programs will help to build early career relationships between the next generation of physicists from the U.S. and India. The students can apply for this visitation program to attend a shortcourse, or summer training; to visit with a professor in his/her field of study; to work temporarily in a lab; or for any other opportunity that the student/professor feels is worthy of support.

APS-IUSSTF Professorship Awards - 2018

S.No. Name and Institute Mentor and Host Institute

1Amit Ghosal Indian Institute of Science Education and Research,Kolkata

Nandini TrivediThe Ohio State University

2Ribhu Kaul University of Kentucky

Sumiran PujariIndian Institute of Technology, Bombay

3Sourov Roy Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata

Jure ZupanUniversity of Cincinnati

4Wladimir LyraCalifornia State University,Northridge

Sujan Kumar SenguptaIndian Institute of Astrophysics,Bengaluru

Visitation Programs


APS-IUSSTF Physics Ph.D. Student & Postdoc Visitation Awards - 2018

S.No. Name and Institute Mentor and Host Institute

1Anjali PSIndian Institute of Technology, Madras

Rana X AdhikariCalifornia Institute of Technology

2Deepyanti TanejaUniversity of Texas at Austin

Arnab BhattacharyaTata Institute of Fundamental Research,Mumbai

3Manuel WeberGeorgetown University

H. R. KrishnamurthyIndian Institute of Science,Bengaluru

4William GilpinStanford University

Shashi ThutupalliNational Centre for Biological Sciences,Bengaluru

Visitation Programs


Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum supported Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)

Program provides unique opportunities for science, technology, engineering and medical students from the United States to undertake internships in national laboratories, federal research centers, academic research institutes, and private R&D laboratories in India.

Objectives of the internships are to provide American students exposure to the Indian S&T landscape, gain practical skills and

develop collaborative networks. Internships are envisaged as a source of mutual, cultural and professional enrichment for both the interns and their host institutions. The result will be the development of joint efforts that builds long-term collaboration and mutually beneficial professional relationships. Indian and American citizens currently enrolled at a recognized institution of higher education pursuing Doctoral/Masters’ programs in science, engineering, technology and medical disciplines are eligible to apply. The internships provide monthly stipend, accommodation and airfare.

RISE Interns : 2018-19

Name Parent Institution Mentor and Indian Host Institution

Chandrachur BhattacharyaThe Pennsylvania State University, State College

Achintya MukhopadhyayJadavpur University,Kolkata

Claire Hope FoxCornell University, Ithaca

Joe KizhakudanCentral Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Chennai

Jaynise Marie Perez ValentinUniversity of Notre Dame, Notre Dame

Debasis SenguptaIndian Institute of Science,Bengaluru

Kristina Yurievna FialkoUniversity of Chicago, Chicago

Pratap SinghWildlife Institute of India,Dehradun

Visitation Programs


Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW)

The Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) program is a partnership between the Science and

Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide NSF Graduate Research Fellows with opportunities to enhance their professional development through research collaborations at top-caliber science and engineering research sites in India.

The objectives of the program are to promote research and capacity building in frontline areas of science and technology; to pave way for the next generation scientists and technologists from the United States to interact with their Indian peers, thus helping to build long-term R&D linkages and collaborations; and, to bring talented American students to research laboratories and academic institutions in India to build a deeper appreciation of the culture of innovation and long-standing tradition of scientific enquiry in India.

The following 2 students were selected for fellowships in India under the GROW Program in 2018-19:

Name and Institution Indian Host Institution Project Title

Allison Mitchell Young Michigan State University

National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCBS), Bengaluru

Foraging activity and mortality of tropical honey bees

Jamie MacLennanUniversity of Michigan Ann, Arbor

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune

Production of Ultracold sample of Sr atoms for a plasmon-polariton coupling system

Visitation Programs


Khorana Program for Scholars

The Khorana Program for Scholars is a tripartite arrangement between the Department of Biotechnology, Govt.

of India, WINStep Forward and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum in order to nurture young scholars and enable them to carry out research at a premier University in the United States. The program is named in honor of Dr. Har Gobind Khorana who won

the Nobel Prize for his work at the interface of chemistry and biology in 1968 while a member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty. The Khorana Program is a summer internship program for Indian students (currently enrolled in B.Tech, M.Tech. and M.Sc. programs in Biotechnology and allied areas) to undertake a research internship in the U.S. for a period of 10-12 weeks.

Khorana Scholars : 2018-19

Name and InstituteAdvisor and

Host UniversityProject Title

Abhinanda KarUniversity of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

Yamuna KrishnanUniversity of Chicago

Developing a c.elegans strain to simplify the genetic screening of cup-5 mutants

Abhishek PuthenveetilAmity University, Noida

Harjeet SinghUniversity of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Reprogramming of CAR+ T cell memory in culture milieu

Abhishek Sanjay DeshmukhSinhgad College of Engineering Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune

Eric McLamore Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida

Developement of label-free Mercury biosensor using sandwich assay concept

Adarsha D. P.University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru

Georg JanderCornell University

Regulation of defense gene against insect herbivory in maize

Aditya IyerIndian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

Lauren O’ConnellStanford University

Dietary Tuning of Ranitomeya imitator tadpoles

Visitation Programs





Aimen Akbar AB.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

Aseem Z. AnsariUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Establishment of Reporter Lines into the Human FXN gene using CRISPR/Cas 9 Genome Editing method

Akshita GuptaNetaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Delhi

Lei ZhengJohns Hopkins University

Development of Immuno-oncology Relational Database

Ananthi ShanmuganandamAnna University (BIT Campus), Tiruchirapalli

Dr. Prashant MaliUniversity of California

In vivo gene therapy in a mouse model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Asheesh MaheshwariVIT University, Vellore

Nitish ThakorJohns Hopkins University

Mixed Reality Training enviorment for upper limb amputees

Chesta JainJawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

Yatrik Shah University of Michigan

Hepcidin - ferroportin signaling in maintaining systemic iron homeostasos

Debasmita MukherjeeIndian Institute of Technology, Ropar

Chandan K. SenOhio State University

Sepsis derived EVs enriched in epigenetic regulators modifies recipient cell

Debayan ChaudhuryIndian Institute of Technology, Madras

Romas Kazlauskas University of Minnesota

Swapping active site residues in ancestral and modern enzymes to explore emergence of catalytic promiscuity

Dibin BabyIndian Institute of Science Education and Research,Tirupati

Yiping Qi University of Maryland

Assembling and construction of CRISPR/Cas9 T-DNA vectors for improving CRISPR Cas9 toolbox in plants

Divya ChoudharyIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Francis J. Doyle IIIHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences

Activity Recognition for free-living subjects using wrist-worn accelerometer

Visitation Programs





Dolly JainDr. B.R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi

Daniel Klionsky University of Michigan

The role of Atg41 in macroautophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Fauzia Bi Fairoz ShaikhParvatibai Chowgule College of Arts & Science, Goa

Bill Sugden University of Wisconsin-Madison

Comparing the infection efficiency of lentiviral vectors to deliver a CRISPR/Cas9 construct to EBV+ tumor cells

Ganta Sai KumarKonaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram

Rama Maganti University of Wisconsin-Madison

Acute and chronic effects of traumatic brain injury on sleep wake cycle in a mouse model

Gurudatt PatraAmrita School of Biotechnology Kollam

Jeff Perry University of California Riverside

Structure Based Drug Discovery Against POLQ

Harshil Rakesh ShahInstitute of PharmacyNirma University, Ahmedabad

Alexander Tropsha University of North Carolina

Cheminformatic Study and QSAR Modelling of Various Human Kinases for Treatment of Cancer

HeenaPunjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

Jason L Rasgon Pennsylvania State University

Functional genomics in insects with advanced molecular techniques

Heer Vipul JoisherBirla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Graham WalkerMassachusetts Institute of Technology

DNA based Strategy for elucidating the mechanism of action of Antimicrobial peptides

Henika Sanjay PatelIndian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram

Lars SteinmetzStanford University

Developing tools for CRISPR genome editing in yeast

Jalaja MadhusudhananIndian institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati

Fenglian XuSaint Louis University

Neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity

Visitation Programs





Jaya Sowkyadha SathiyamaniUniversity of Delhi, New Delhi

Partha Mitra Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Mouse Brain Architecture

Jhalak Bansal, National Institute of Technology, Warangal

William L. Klein Northwestern University

Alzheimer's disease

Manish AyushmanIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Trina Schroer Johns Hopkins University

Characterisation of Dynactin shRNA and Dynactin p25 mutants: Nemo and p25 K74A

Manuj BandralPanjab University, Chandigarh

Rajini Rao Johns Hopkins University

Secretory pathway calcium ATPase-2 (SPCA-2) regulates metastasis by altering the mesenchymal markers in triple negative breast cancer cell lines

Mitali Madhusmita PadhiKIIT University, Bhubaneswar

Aseem Z Ansari University of Wisconsin-Madison

Targetting Epigenetic modifications, i.e. Histone methylations to treat Friedrich's Ataxia

Nikhil VermaNational Institute of Technology, Raipur

Pattie Maes Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Real time Machine Learning model for Human Computer Interaction

Nikhita DamarajuIndian Institute of Technology, Madras

Julia Salzman Stanford University

Using bioinformatic and statistical approaches to look at circRNAs in simple organisms

Nikunj MehtaIndian Institute of Technology, Madras

David Sabatini Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Protein Complexes interaction study on KICSTOR and Gator1 in mTORC Pathway

Nila Madassary PazhayamUniversity of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

Matt Kaeberlein University of Washington

Dissecting the genetic pathways by which Complex I dysfunction influences mitochondrial stress signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans

Visitation Programs





Nirvik SinhaIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Yuan Yang Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

Nonlinear Distortion of Motor Commands in Multi-synaptic Descending Pathways: A Computer Simulation

Parul ChughAmity University,Noida

Xinyu Zhao University of Wisconsin-Madison

Validating the efficiency of ribotag in pv expressing cells and testing the specificity of ribotag in Fxr1-Cko/Pv cre/ribotag mice

Pratyush MainiIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Zico Kolter Carnegie Mellon University

Adversarial Machine Learning

Priti Satish ShenoySavitribai Phule Pune University,Pune

Vatsan RamanUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Insertion of the genes trxA and cmk in the T7 bacteriophage genome for host range modification and expansion

Priya SrivastavaGautam Buddha University, Greater Noida

Juan D. Alfonzo Ohio State University

Studies on tRNA Splicing endonuclease of Trypanosoma Brucei (TbSEN) and measuring binding affinity to different substrates in vitro including intron-containing tRNA

Rachita K. KumarSASTRA University,Thanjavur

Roger D. Kornberg Stanford University

Reconstitution of the preinitiation complex in thermophilic yeast

Sarim KhanIndian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

Mark F. Bear Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mechanisms of visual recognition memory

Saurabh RastogiGuru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University,New Delhi

Oleksandr Shcheglovitov University of Utah

Genetic mechanisms of pediatric epilesy and microcephaly

Saurav Saswat RoutIndian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata

Karin E. PetersonNational Institutes of Health

Understanding the role of MAVS in brain capillary endothelial cells during LaCV induced blood brain barrier leakage

Visitation Programs





Sayak MitraVIT University,Vellore

Natarajan MuthusamyOhio State University

Screening of Targeted Therapeutic Molecules in Haem Malignancies

Shalini ChakrabortyNational Institute of Technology Durgapur, West Bengal

Robert LandickUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Transcription-Translation Coupling

Shiksha Hitendra SharmaThe Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,Vadodara


Bacterial metabolic labelling to map host-pathogen interactions

Shivranjani BaruahSt. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata

M. Andrew Walker University of California

Grape pests and diseases- An understanding of disease susceptibility and culture maintenance

Shreyansh UmaleIndian Institute of Technology, Madras

Jeff GoreMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Alternative stable states in multi-species microbial communities

Shruthi MageshSRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kanchipuram

Jo Handelsman University of Wisconsin-Madison

Genetic analysis of microbial community assembly and invasion and finding antibiotic resistance mutations in metagenomic sequence data

Siddharth UppalBirla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Ashutosh Chilkoti Duke University

Drug delivery using Elastin like polypeptides

Sidhant Kalia Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,Vadodara

Gopal IyerUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Study of expression of Tumor suppressor gene products and cell cycle regulators on treatment with epigenetic drug JQ1

Sucheta GhoshIndian Institute of Technology, Mandi

Guang William WongJohns Hopkins University

Candidate receptor screen to identify potential cell surface receptor(s) for the CTRP family of metabolic hormones

Visitation Programs





Suraj H MTamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Richard VierstraWashington University in St. Louis

Plants response to stress by analysing Sumo and autophagy

Swati BodhAmity University, Rajasthan

Brenda RubensteinBrown University

Thermodynamic Predictors of Epistasis in HIV Envelope Proteins

Swati Mohapatra National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

Debananda PatiBaylor College of Medicine

Study of the effect of Sepin-1 and Statins on Neuroblastoma and Ewing Sarcoma Models

Vishnu Nethra Reddy University of Mysore

William L. KleinNorthwestern University

Study on Oligomer Expression and Synapse Levels in Embryonic Chick Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer

Visitation Programs


IUSSTF - Viterbi Program

An important aspect of engineering education in the 21st century is to provide the experience of international research

to young scholars and a practical way to achieve this would be to foster their participation in international research programs. Such initiatives would offer them an array of experiences both academic and social that would help them gain a global perspective and prove invaluable in their professional careers through a cross-cultural exposure. To address this need for human resource development and capacity building in the field of computer sciences and electrical engineering, IUSSTF and the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of

Southern California partnered to support the IUSSTF-Viterbi Program between Indian engineering institutions and the Viterbi School of Engineering.

The IUSSTF - Viterbi Program is a dynamic student internship program that creates long-term, sustainable and vibrant linkages between the two nations. The program provides an opportunity for Indian students pursuing a Bachelors or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computational Sciences at a recognized institution of higher education and learning in India to undertake a research internship at the Viterbi School of Engineering for a period of 8 weeks.

IUSSTF-Viterbi Interns : 2018-19

Name and Institute Mentor at USC Project Title

Abhishek Agarwal Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Hossein HashemiSilicon waveguide characterization

Anirudh Srinivasan College of Engineering, Pune

Yan LiuDeep Learning and Random Forests for Survival Analysis

Arundhati Banerjee Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Yan LiuA Comparative Study of Generative Models for Tracking Evolving Distributions

Hardik Mahipal SuranaPES University, Bengaluru

Leana GolubchikOptimization of Distributed Machine Learning

Visitation Programs




Harikumar KrishnamurthyIndian Institute of Technology, Madras

Salman Avestimehr

Applying coding techniques in distributed setting to gain computational orcommunication gains

Harshil Kalpeshkumar ShahIndian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar

Peter BeerelSecurity Analysis of DNN against Adversarial Examples

Hrishikesh P KaleCollege of Engineering,Pune

Prem NatarajanImage Copy move forgery detection

Karthik Vijay A. M.Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

Michelle Lynn PovinelliIncreasing Laser Sail Stability Using Nonlinear Resonances

Kunal DhawanIndian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Shrikanth Narayanan

An i-vector based Non-Negative Matrix Factorization approach towards noise robust Automatic Speech Recognition

Prajwal SinghaniaIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Meisam RazaviyaynAdaptive Binarization and Quantization of Neural Networks

Prakhar Kumar SinghIndian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

Rehan KapadiaA Non-Volatile Floating Gate Transistor Based Neuromorphic Crossbar Array Architecture

Pranav Dhananjay KulkarniIndian Institute of Technology-Bombay

C. Jay KuoImage Synthesis Using Multi Spectral Grid (MSG) Transform and Super-Resolution

Pratyush GargIndian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Justin Haldar

Reconstructing MR Images from k-Space data with Scan-Specifically Trained Convolutional Neural Networks

Visitation Programs




Ritam DuttIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Emilio FerraraDetailed analysis of Facebook Ads purchased by Russia during the 2016 Presidential elections

Saksham SuriIndian Institute of Information Technology, Delhi

C. Jay Kuo High resolution image synthesis

Shri Shruthi ShridharAnna University, Chennai

Prem Natarajan Neural Abstract Generation

Soumya MahapatraIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Mike Shuo-Wei ChenA Non-Uniform Subsampling (NUS) Scheme for Relaxing the Anti-Aliasing Bandpass Filter

Vinay ChennaIndian Institute of Technology, Madras

Hossein Hashemi High frequency filters

Visitation Programs


S.N. Bose Scholars Program

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India, the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum

(IUSSTF) and the Winstep Forward have partnered to develop a dynamic student exchange program between Indian institutions and premier U.S. Universities. The program is named the S.N. Bose Scholars Program after the late Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose, a visionary Indian physicist best known for his work on quantum mechanics in the early 1920s, providing the foundation for Bose–Einstein statistics and the theory of the Bose–Einstein condensate. A Fellow of the Royal Society, he was awarded India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 by the Government

of India. He made important contributions to the field of quantum physics in the 1920s that changed how particle physics has been studied ever since. The class of particles that obey Bose-Einstein statistics, Bosons, was named after him.

The S.N. Bose Scholars Program provides an opportunity to Indian and U.S. students (enrolled in Bachelors and Masters programs in Atmospheric and Earth Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Engineering Sciences; Mathematical and Computational Sciences; and, Physical Sciences.) to undertake a research internship each summer for a period of 10-12 weeks in each other’s countries.

S.N. Bose Scholars : 2018-19

Name and InstituteU.S. Mentor andHost University

Research Area

Abhinau Kumar VenkataramananIndian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

Katia SycaraCarnegie Mellon University

Electrical and Electronics

Abhiroop MishraIndian Institute of Technology Gandhi Nagar

Paul V. BraunUniversity of Illinois

Materials and Mettallurgy

Aditya GoenkaIndian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Arun MajumdarStanford University

Chemical Sciences and Engineering

Alekhya Reddy KommuruIndian Institute of Technology Chennai

Hari BalakrishnanMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Computer Science

Visitation Programs




Research Area

Anish Kiran KulkarniIndian Institute of Technology, Mumbai

Zohar KomargodskiStony Brook University

Physics

Anjana R KammathIndian Institute Of Science Education And Research, Mohali



Anupriya Edappalil SatheesanIndian Institute Of Science Education And Research, Thiruvananthapuram

Aseem AnsariUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison


Damera AbhishekIndian Institute of Technology, Chennai

Satish UkkusuriPurdue University

Civil and Earth Sciences

Ganesh ParidaNational Institute of Science Education and Research(NISER), Bhubaneswar

Raju VenugopalanBrookhaven National Laboratory

Physics

Gaurav KumarIndian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur

Muhammad Ashraful AlamPurdue University


Gayathri Venu Madhuri ChanduAmrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore

Vincent NgThe University of Texas at Dallas

Computer Science

Guru Lakshmi SubramanianNational Institute of Technology, Puducherry

V. Parameswaran NairThe City College of New York


Ipshita PandaIndian Institute of Technology, Tirupati

Satish Bukkapatnam Texas A&M University


Visitation Programs




Research Area

Mainak SarkarIndian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

Dominik SchillingerUniversity of Minnesota


Md Ishaque KhanIndian Institute Of Science Education And Research, Bhopal

Daniel J ChungUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison

Physics

Meghana Aparna SistlaIndian Institute of Technology, Chennai

Thomas W. RepsUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison

Computer Science

Mitradip DasNational Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar

Qiang CuiBoston University


Narayani BhatiaIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Subhasish MitraStanford University


Nayantara MudurIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Salman HabibUniversity of Chicago

Physics

Paras GuptaIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Arun MajumdarStanford University

Mechanical

Pradyumna Venkatesh ChariIndian Institute of Technology, Chennai

Truong NguyenUniversity of California


Pranay Praveen NagraniNational Institute of Technology, Srinivasanagar Surathkal

Ivan ChristovPurdue University

Mechanical

Visitation Programs




Research Area

Prasanna Venkatesan RavindranIndian Institute of Technology, Palakkad

Nitish V. ThakorJohns Hopkins University


Ravi PrakashNational Institute of Technology, Warangal

Debajyoti BanerjeeTexas A&M University

Mechanical

Ritesh Kumar PandaIndian Institute Of Science Education And Research, Kolkata

Josef WerneUniversity of Pittsburgh


Saakaar BhatnagarIndian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Karthik DuraisamyUniversity of Michigan

Mechanical

Sanjana Viraj ParazIndian Institute of Technology, Chennai

Sashi KunnathUniversity of California


Sanskriti MishraNational Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

Aseem AnsariUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison


Shashwat SinhaIndian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University

Vinayak P Dravid Northwestern University

Materials and Mettallurgy

Shravya SrivastavaUniversity of Delhi

Nigel HughesUniversity of California at Riverside


Shriya GehlotIndian Institute Of Science Education And Research, Bhopal

Jonathan M. RosenbergUniversity of Maryland

Mathematics

Visitation Programs




Research Area

Shubham BhuyanNational Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Orissa

Rama ChellappaUniversity of Maryland


Shubham JenaIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Derek PaleyUniversity of MaryLand

Mechanical

Shubham NegiIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Kaushik RoyPurdue University


Sidharth KumarIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Dinesh BharadiaUniversity of California


Sishir Suresh MohammedBirla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan

Ravi PrasherLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Mechanical

Somenath MandalIndian Statistical Institute,Bengaluru

Sudipto Banerjee University of California

Mathematics

Srijoni MajhiIndian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Thomas RecordUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison


Surjyendu BhattacharjeeIndian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

Paul D. AsimowCalifornia Institute of Technology (Caltech)


Suyash Pati TripathiIndian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Deep JariwalaUniversity of Pennsylvania


Visitation Programs




Research Area

Swapnil ShankarUM-DAE Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai

Thomas W. JonesUniversity of Minnesota

Physics

Vishwak SrinivasanIndian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad

Zico KolterCarnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh

Computer Science

In 2018-19, the following six U.S. students travelled to India under the U.S. component of the S. N. Bose Scholars Program:

Name and Institution Indian Mentor and Host University

Bhagyashri Onkarnath PandeyUniversity of Texas at Dallas

Naren RamananIndian Institute of Science,Bengaluru

Chanel S. VidalIowa State University,Ames, Iowa

Soumyajit MukherjeeIndian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Elsa Marie BarronThe University of Notre Dame

Vaishnavi AnanthanarayananIndian Institute of Science,Bengaluru

Michael Joseph D'amatoUniversity of Wisconsin – Madison

Ashwini GodboleInstitute of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bengaluru

Noah John BorchardtUniversity of Wisconsin – Madison

Kunchok DorjeeTibetan Delek HospitalDharamsala

Vimal Swarup KonduriUniversity of Wisconsin – Madison

Shalinder Sabherwal and Parul DattaShroff Eye Hospital,New Delhi

Visitation Programs


Intel® Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2018

TEAM India 2018 - 25 young and bright innovators went on a special science & technology journey from 14 – 18 May

2018 to the United States of America. During the week, TEAM India participated and competed at the Intel® International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), Pittsburgh, USA, the world’s largest pre-collegiate high school science research competition; and became part of a week-long exposure trip to science, research and technology based activities at museums, science center in Pittsburgh in addition to meeting officials from Indian Embassy and visiting Columbia University at New York.

TEAM India is made up of students who are winners at the Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science (IRIS) a research based science fair initiative for school students held in India annually. IRIS is a public – private partnership heralded by the Department of Science &

Technology (DST), Intel and Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) for empowering the next generation of innovators.

At a ceremony held at New Delhi, TEAM India was flagged off by Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Mr. Chander Mohan, Head - NCSTC, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Dr. Rajiv K. Tayal, Executive Director, Indo-U.S. Science & Technology Forum and Mr. Kishore Balaji, Director, Intel South Asia. Before the students left for the U.S., they got an opportunity to meet the Hon’ble Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment & Forests Dr. Harsh Vardhan at the Technology Day event held on 11th May 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan alongwith Secretary, DST; Secretary, DBT; Secretary, TDB and DG-CSIR.

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At ISEF, the students competed with more than 1800 participating science and research projects from over 81 countries. Team India won

5 Grand Awards, 9 special Awards, 1 Honourable mention in addition to having 4 planets named after them.

Team India - Intel ISEF 2018 Grand Awards

S. No. Category Project AwardName of

Student(s)School

1 Plant Sciences

The Plant Doctor - An Artificial Intelligence Based Collaborative Platform for Plant Disease Identification and Tracking for Farmers

4th Place Grand Award - $500

Kaushik Kunal Singh

Inventure Academy, Bengaluru

2System Software

Machine Learning Approach to Cancer Identification

4th Place Grand Award - $500

Shinjini GhoshSouth Point High School, Kolkata

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Team India - Intel ISEF 2018 Grand Awards


Student(s)School

3Translational Medical Science

An Inexpensive Solution for Visual Acuity Testing in Preverbal Children using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

3rd Place Grand Award - $1000

Ishita ManglaDelhi Public School, R K Puram, New Delhi

4Earth & Environment

Cost effective, Real-time monitoring of pollution in water bodies using a portable floating device

2nd Place Grand Award - $1500 (Planet)

Pranav Shikarpur & Sidharth Vishwanath

Bengaluru International Academy, Bengaluru, Karnataka

5Translational Medicine

An Economical Early detecting and dosage monitoring tool for PEM

2nd Place Grand Award - $1500 (Planet)

Swasthik Padma & Mohd. Suhail

Vivekananda Pre-University College & St Aloysius Pre-University College, Mangalore

Team India -Intel ISEF 2018 Special Awards

6Systems Software

Connecting doctors for good using a Peer to Peer Lung Cancer Detection Program

Association of Computing Machinery -$3000

Parth Raghav K.R.Mangalam World School, New Delhi

7Systems Software

Connecting doctors for good using a Peer to Peer Lung Cancer Detection Program

King Abdulaziz Foundation -$1000

Parth RaghavK.R.Mangalam World School, New Delhi

8 Plant Sciences


China Association of Science $1200

Kaushik Kunal Singh


9 Plant Sciences


Samvid Education Foundation

Kaushik Kunal Singh


10 Plant Sciences


USAID - $5000

Kaushik Kunal Singh


11 MathematicsSolving a Mathematical Mystery: Schinzel's Conjecture

Mu Alpha Theta - $1500

Sacheth Sathyanarayan

National Public School, Chennai

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Team India -Intel ISEF 2018 Special Awards


Student(s)School

12Bio Medical Engineering

Non-invasive self detection of asymptomatic acute myocardial infarction using BioElectrics: A translational investigation of transcutaneous blood analysis

Samvid Education Foundation - $500

Akash ManojThe Ashok Leyland School, Hosur

13Translational Medical Science

An Inexpensive Solution for Visual Acuity Testing in Preverbal Children using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Scholarship from University of Amazon

Ishita ManglaDelhi Public School, R K Puram, New Delhi

14Earth & Environment

Cost effective, Real-time monitoring of pollution in water bodies using a portable floating device

USAID - $5000

Pranav Shikarpur & Sidharth Vishwanath

Bengaluru International Academy, Bengaluru

15Translational Medicine

An Economical Early detecting and dosage monitoring tool for PEM

Samvid Certificate of honourable mention

Mohd. Suhail & Swasthik Padma

Vivekananda Pre-University College & St Aloysius Pre-University College, Mangalore

Intel Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum Scientific and Cultural Award to India

Indo - U.S. Science and Technology Forum in partnership with Intel announced a Grand Award “Intel Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum Scientific and Cultural

Visit to India Award” at the Intel Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2018, which entails a Scientific and Cultural exchange visit to India for a week, for three ISEF Best of Subject

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Category student winners from USA. These U.S. Student winners also showcase their projects at the Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science (IRIS) National Fair 2018. Three U.S. Awardees of the 2018 Intel Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum Scientific and Cultural Visit to India Award are:

y Anna Spektor, Nicolet High School, Wisconsin and Ayman Isahaku, Nicolet High School, Wisconsin

- Metformin as a Novel Neurogenic Method of Methylmercury Neurotoxicity Symptom Mitigation in Danio rerio as a Model for Human Fetuses

y Ronak Roy, Canyon Crest Academy, California

- Smartphone - Controlled Portable Phoropter Powered by Variable Focal Length Liquid Lens

Experiential Visits post ISEF 2018

The Team was taken to New York for a two day exploratory visit post ISEF during which they visited Columbia University.

The cohort also got an opportunity to meet with the Consul General Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty at the Consulate General of India in New York.

As a part of cultural visit, the team visited Niagara Falls, Ground Zero and the One World Observatory among other places. This visit was jointly organised by the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) in partnership with DST and Intel.

Honouring and recognising achievements and work of young Indian students, following four students of Team-India 2018 who participated in ISEF 2018, were conferred Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2019 at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 22nd January 2019:

y Mohammed Suhail Chinya Salimpasha, Karnataka

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y Naisargik Lenka, Bhubaneshwar

y Nishant Dhankhar, Delhi

y Aswath Suryanarayana, Chennai

IRIS 2018Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM (IRIS) is a public-private partnership program between Department of Science & Technology (DST), Intel and Indo-U.S. S&T Forum (IUSSTF) that promotes and nurtures young Indian innovators and recognizes outstanding projects in the field of STEM thereby providing a platform to be at global stage through Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in USA every year.

At the three-day national fair held in New Delhi, a total of 78 projects selected through a two level evaluation process from 1500 online applications received from across India, were showcased by 106 students vying for the IRIS Grand Awards. An expert jury comprising of 25 judges, including members of the IRIS Scientific Review Committee, and external Judges from the Scientific Community selected the top 20 projects.

These 20 winner Projects with a total of 25 students will represent India at the Intel ISEF in Phoenix, Arizona, USA in May 2019.

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IRIS 2018 Winners:

S. No Subject Category Title Names School

1 Animal Sciences

The efficacy of the suction - bait trap in controlling bactrocera cucurbitae (melon fruit fly) in the agricultural fields of cheriyathekanam of ernakulam district

Richard Joseph & Manya M Kumar

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kochi

2Behavioural and Social Sciences

A card and board game to reduce gender-based implicit biases using perspective-taking and counter stereotyping

Prerna MagonPolice DAV Public School, Jalandhar

3 Biochemistry

A simple, non invasive, point of care, low cost, polynomial-derived colorimetric device, using reactive oxygen species-induced lipid peroxidative changes in saliva, to assess the risk of oral pre-cancerous lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma in chronic smokers

Nikhiya Shamsher

Greenwood High International School, Bengaluru

4Cellular and Molecular Biology

A novel peptide drug as therapeutic for sickle cell anemia

Rutik ThoratDav Public School, Mumbai

5 ChemistryNovel and innovative chemical strategy for mosquito repellent and antibacterial textiles

Sanjeev Hotha & M Suneetha Prabhu

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ganeshkhind, Pune

6 Computer ScienceFlood risk prediction using extreme learning machine and particle swarm optimization algorithm

Sagnik Anupam

Delhi Public School, R K Puram, New Delhi

7 Computer Science

Machine learning based approach to identify devices, measure and reduce power consumption and carbon footprint

Sayli BandeJSS Public School, Bengaluru

8 Computer SciencePeriphery sweep algorithm: conquering a* algorithm at graph traversal solutions

Richik Vivek SenDelhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

9 Computer ScienceA high-performance unhackable, nature inspired database cloud application; mendeldb

Mohammed Suhail C S

The Learning Centre, Mangalore

10 Computer Science

Positively identifying species using convolutional neural networks and hypernetworks to aid wildlife conservation efforts

Aditya Radhakrishnan

Suguna PIP School, Coimbatore

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S. No Subject Category Title Names School

11 Computer Science FishiotherapyYashish Mohnot & Aayush Shah

Pace IIT and Medical, Mumbai

12 Computer ScienceA Novel Method For Improving Image Reconstruction Using Hidden Markov Models

Raghav PuriDelhi Public School, Dwarka, Delhi

13Environmental Management

Swar - solid waste-management android-application resource

Rishu Kumar & Aditya Kaushal

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, West Champaran, Bettiah

14Energy and Transportation

Integrating the piezoelectric and triboelectric effects to harvest mechanical energy

Aryaman Trivedi & Stuti Lohani

Amity International School, Noida

15Mathematical Sciences

Predicting the power of 2 in mersenne prime formula

Rajat LohanDelhi Public School, Hapur

16Medicine and Health Sciences

Gattii – wearable portable mobility assessment device

Sidharth JainJamnabai Narsee International School, Mumbai

17Medicine and Health Sciences

Kanna: a novel method for screening amblyopia using just a photograph

Viswesh Krishna & Vrishab Krishna

National Public School, Indiranagar, Bengaluru

18Physics and Astronomy

Biodegradable insulator and packing material from areca catachu sheath

Anusha N

St Philomena Aided High School, Darbe, Puttur

19 Plant Sciences

Nano-silica controlling bihar hairy caterpillar (spilosoma obliqua), a polyphagous pest accelerated mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk) / src domain initiating positive feedback loop associated with apoptosis activity regulated by mir-1

Aranyo RayAuxilium Convent School, Kolkata

20 Plant SciencesA computational model of the stimulus response of Mimosa Pudica

Anantharaman IyerNational Public School Bengaluru

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Core Staff

R Varadarajan Controller

[email protected]

Nishritha Bopana Principal Science [email protected]

Chaitali BhattacharyaPrincipal Science [email protected]

Nikhil Jain Associate Accounts Officer

[email protected]

Monika Madan Senior Personal [email protected]

Manoj Prasad Assistant Admin [email protected]

Rajiv Kumar Tayal Executive Director

[email protected]

Program Staff

Babulal Chaudhary Program Officer

[email protected]

Pushpa Iyer Program Officer

[email protected]

Priya Thomas Program Officer

[email protected]

Aasita ApoorvaAssociate Program [email protected]

Subhashree Basu Associate Program Officer

[email protected]

Akanksha Kaushik Associate Program [email protected]

Sravan Kumar Paleti Assistant Program Officer

[email protected]

Anita Vishwakarma Senior Accounts Associate I

[email protected]

Rakesh Kumar Singh Senior Accounts Associate I

[email protected]

Rakesh Bhandari Admin Associate

[email protected]

Key Contacts


Contact Details:Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum

Fulbright House, 12 Hailey RoadNew Delhi-110001, India

www.iusstf.org

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An autonomous organization jointly established by the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and the U.S. Department of State.

report on programmatic activities 2018-2019

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