Varanasi: In a reflection of its growing global academic stature, seven PhD scholars from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi were selected for the LOTUS programme comprising India–Japan circulation of talented young researchers in science. In all, 285 scholars were selected from various educational institutions across India, of which seven are from IIT (BHU).LOTUS programme is a joint research initiative between Indian and Japanese universities and research institutions, under which, meritorious research scholars are provided opportunities to undertake advanced research in Japan. The initiative contributes to strengthening Japan’s research and innovation ecosystem while fostering long-term academic partnerships between the two nations.The research scholars selected from IIT-BHU are Gyandeep (supervisor Dinesh Bhagavatula) from department of chemical engineering & technology; Jai Narayan Mishra (supervisor Prof Prabhakar Singh) from department of physics; Soham Mukharjee (supervisor Prof Joysurya Basu) from the department of ceramic engineering; Jatin (supervisor Rajnish) from department of pharmaceutical engineering & technology; Shivam Pandey (supervisor Shrawan Kumar Mishra) from School of Materials Science & Technology; Rahul Tiwari (supervisor Pavan Pujar) from department of ceramic engineering and Nishi Singh (supervisor Mahendra Kumar Pal) from department of civil engineering.Professor in charge (International Relations), Prof Santosh K Singh, said the LOTUS programme supported postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers and this achievement was particularly noteworthy in the context of increasing global competition for scientific talent. He said that two representatives from Sakura Science Programme Headquarters, Japan—Takashi Konishi and Yuji Nishikawa—visited IIT-BHU on Aug 7, last year to explore avenues for academic and research collaboration with the Institute.The IIT (BHU) director Prof Amit Patra said, “Such international engagements will further enhance our global academic footprint and open new pathways for collaborative innovation between India and Japan.”
