In an initiative that promises to bring together the best minds in research from India and the US, IIT Kharagpur has entered into collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) to conduct joint research in the fields of Bio-energy and Emerging and Neglected Diseases. The collaboration aims to address some of the most pressing issues in the areas of healthcare and energy and to accelerate the societal impact of research discoveries. The partnership leverages the strengths of both these institutions: UC Berkeley is particularly strong in scientific research while IIT Kharagpur is ideally positioned at the local level with issues related to biofuels, with patients in the area of healthcare biotech, and with industry in general.
Background
The first phase of the program was initiated in May 2008 with a group of 11 IIT Kharagpur students visiting Berkeley for a period of 8 weeks. The unique way in which the program is designed allows these students to be the ambassadors of the collaboration, with the aim of fostering faculty-faculty tie-ups through the students’ research. Each student is mentored by both Berkeley and Kharagpur faculty, with the expectation that the summer research project would be continued as a final year project, under the guidance of the Kharagpur thesis adviser. This faculty collaboration would be further strengthened by visits to each others’ labs and UC Berkeley students visiting IIT Kharagpur. IIT Kharagpur students would also be encouraged to pursue doctoral studies at either UC Berkeley or IIT Kharagpur.
The second phase will focus on conducting joint research and expediting the translation of scientific discoveries to local markets. The plan is to include all the program elements of phase 1 and introduce additional features such as longer stay visits, including faculty sabbaticals. This is expected to further strengthen the student-faculty relationships and also provide a platform for increased and sustainable research collaboration in selected areas. The increased pool of expertise will address the greater R&D challenges and opportunities in relation to Bio-innovation and Biotech Park, evolving sustainable industry-university bonds, and catalyzing much-needed solutions in the healthcare and bio-energy fields.
Also Visit the UC Berkeley – IIT Kharagpur Collaboration webpage on the College of Letters and Sciences website at UC Berkeley.
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