Two students from the School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), have been selected for the prestigious IAS-INSA-NASI Summer Research Fellowship Programme (SRFP) 2026, bringing laurels to the university and highlighting its growing emphasis on research and academic excellence.
Ms. Anindya Mishra, a second-year B.Tech Biotechnology student (Batch 2024–2028), has been selected to undertake her fellowship training under the guidance of Dr. Anshu Bhardwaj at the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTech), Chandigarh. During the fellowship, she will gain valuable research experience by working on cutting-edge scientific problems in a premier national research institution.
In another significant achievement, Ms. Mehak Kundal, a first-year M.Sc. Biotechnology student (Batch 2025–2027), has been selected to carry out her summer research training under the mentorship of Dr. Bibin G. Anand at the S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai.
The Summer Research Fellowship Programme is jointly administered by India’s three premier scientific academies—the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc), Bengaluru, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, and The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Prayagraj. The programme is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and competitive research fellowship opportunities available to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the country.
Through this fellowship, selected students are provided an opportunity to work closely with eminent scientists and researchers at leading research institutions across India, thereby gaining exposure to advanced scientific research methodologies and contemporary developments in their respective fields.
Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, congratulated both students on their remarkable achievement and conveyed his best wishes for their successful research training. Faculty members and students of the School of Biotechnology also extended their congratulations and expressed confidence that the fellowship experience would further strengthen the students’ research capabilities and academic growth.
This accomplishment reflects the university’s sustained commitment to fostering academic excellence, scientific inquiry, and innovation-driven learning. It also underscores the growing research culture within the School of Biotechnology and its efforts to encourage students to engage in high-quality research at national centres of excellence.