Global joint-PhD program of IITB-Monash Research Academy reaches new heights!

IITB-Monash Research Academy, a joint venture of IIT Bombay and Monash University, celebrated the remarkable milestone of its 200th graduate within a brief period of 14 years. The Academy is first in the world to award a joint PhD testamur where professors of both institutions supervise a PhD researcher for the period of 4 years. This achievement of the 200th graduate comes within 3 years of the 100th PhD milestone. The researchers of the Academy have access to research facilities of both premier institutions apart from its own state-of-the-art laboratories.

The Academy brings a solutions-driven approach to addressing global problems and with industry and government partnerships, it is taking the lead in solving some of the greatest challenges of our time.

Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay, said “We have achieved the feat of 200 graduates. It is a great achievement not only for the Academy but also for both the partner institutes, IIT Bombay and Monash University. In a short span of 14 years, the progress has been phenomenal. Today, it is probably the world's largest such initiative on a joint-degree PhD program”.

M.S. Unnikrishnan, CEO of IITB-Monash Research Academy, said, “We’re proud to have contributed 200 PhD scholars to the world with the best supervision and guidance provided by the professors of IIT Bombay and Monash University. The success of the program is due to the enthusiastic collaboration between professors who curate research projects focusing on grand challenges and with development of the society at the heart of it and the partnership with Industry and Government for scaling our program”.

The 200th PhD, Dr. Ami Mehta presented her research on “Fabrication and development of a blood-brain barrier microfluidic chip to mimic the brain vasculature” conducted under the supervision of Prof. Prakriti Tayalia, Dept. of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Prof. Prasanna Gandhi, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, and Prof. Nicolas Voelcker, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science. Her research on Organ-on-chips (OoCs) led to the development of the model to study neuroinflammation in the brain endothelium under dynamic conditions.

The event was also graced by Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharyya, Professor-In Charge - IITB-Monash Research Academy, Prof. Prakriti Tayaliya, and Prof. Prasanna Gandhi along with members of the Academy.