Purnati Khuntia has been awarded the prestigious Rowland Fellowship from the Rowland Institute at Harvard, USA. A research scholar from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, Khuntia shared insights into her interest in microbiology and the fellowship application process.
The Rowland Fellowship provides recipients with a personal research lab immediately after completing their PhD, along with significant benefits. Fellows receive start-up funding, with an annual budget starting at $225,000, which covers general operations, lab supplies, travel, and personnel hiring such as postdoctoral fellows or undergraduates.
Khuntia, a Hyderabad resident, discussed her research focus: “As a postdoctoral researcher in Tamal’s laboratory, I am exploring the dynamics of hair follicle morphogenesis in mouse embryonic skin.” In addition to the Rowland Fellowship, she applied for and received the Human Frontier Science Program Long Term Fellowship (HFSP-LTF) for another postdoctoral project on the molecular mechanisms and tissue mechanics driving spinal cord regeneration.
In an interview, the 30-year-old Odisha native shared her research journey. Her interest in research began during her undergraduate microbiology program at Delhi University. Recalling a formative memory, she said, “My earliest fascination with research was observing Hibiscus pollen germinating in a glucose solution. What appeared as dust to the naked eye came to life and grew under the microscope. During my BSc in Microbiology, this curiosity deepened as I discovered how organisms invisible to the naked eye exhibit so many intriguing behaviors.”
Khuntia’s passion for biology was sparked by a school teacher. She found further inspiration in cell biology textbooks and mentors at South Campus, Delhi University. “I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by individuals who cultivated a deep interest in understanding life under the microscope,” she reflected.
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