Thaindian News

Washington, Oct 4 (IANS) Three Indian Americans, Dr Kartik A Srinivasan, Sumita Pennathur and Hari Shroff, are among 94 researchers honoured by President Barack Obama with Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.

The presidential early career awards embody the high priority the Obama administration places on producing outstanding scientists and engineers to advance the nation’s goals, tackle grand challenges, and contribute to the American economy, according to the White House.

El Paso, Texas-born Srinivasan, 31, is the project leader of the research group on nano-fabrication at the Centre for Nanoscale Science and Technology. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.

Foxboro, Massachusetts-born Pennathur, 33, is assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California in Santa Barbara. Her research is focused on using fundamental fluidics knowledge at both microscale and nanoscale to create novel devices for practical applications.

Kerala-born Shroff, 29, heads the lab at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, a part of the National Institutes of Health under the Department of Health and Human Services.

Obama said, “It is inspiring to see the innovative work being done by these scientists and engineers as they ramp up their careers-careers that I know will be not only personally rewarding but also invaluable to the nation.”

“That so many of them are also devoting time to mentoring and other forms of community service speaks volumes about their potential for leadership, not only as scientists but as model citizens,” he said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)