Fostering Academic Connections with Fulbright Aspirants in India

Twelve PhD and postdoctoral candidates from premier Indian institutions such as IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IISER Kolkata connected with seven Columbia professors from disciplines spanning environmental health, epidemiology, climate science, and electrical engineering. These personalized conversations helped participants fine-tune their research focus, gain insights into Columbia’s academic ecosystem, and explore possibilities for mentorship that could shape their Fulbright journeys and beyond.

By opening doors to direct academic exchange, the workshop not only empowered applicants with clarity and confidence—it also laid the foundation for meaningful, cross-border scholarly partnerships.

Participating faculty included:

• Prof. Ioannis (John) Kymissis and Prof. Suman Jana (Columbia Engineering)

• Prof. Anirban Basu, Prof. Kathrin Schilling, and Prof. Pam Factor-Litvak (Mailman School of Public Health)

• Prof. Thomas Chandler (National Center for Disaster Preparedness)

• Prof. Kytt MacManus (Columbia Climate School)