Odisha’s Dr. Poornati Khuntia Bags Rowland Fellowship from Harvard University – A Wave of Joy in Kakatpur
Kakatpur – 29/07/2024 (Tushar Dixit):
Dr. Poornati Khuntia, a native of Kakatpur in Puri district, Odisha, and daughter of Shri Nabaghan Khuntia, has brought pride to the region by securing the prestigious Rowland Fellowship at the Rowland Institute, Harvard University, USA. Dr. Khuntia is currently a research scholar at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
The Rowland Fellowship offers early-career researchers immediate post-PhD independence, including access to a personal laboratory. The fellowship also provides an annual startup budget—typically starting at $225,000—to support research operations, lab equipment, travel, and the hiring of postdoctoral or graduate-level staff.
Dr. Khuntia shared insights into her research domain, stating:
“As a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Tamal Das’s lab, I’m studying the dynamics of hair follicle morphogenesis in mouse embryonic skin.”
In addition to the Rowland Fellowship, she had also applied for the Human Frontier Science Program Long-Term Fellowship (HFSP-LTF) and was awarded for another postdoctoral project focusing on the molecular mechanisms and tissue mechanics in spinal cord regeneration.
Dr. Khuntia developed her passion for research while pursuing her postgraduate degree in Microbiology at Delhi University. Recalling a memory that sparked her curiosity, she said:
“One of my earliest memories of scientific fascination was observing hibiscus pollen germinate in a glucose solution. Something that looked like dust to the naked eye came alive under the microscope. During my BSc in Microbiology, I was deeply intrigued to learn that such invisible life forms displayed such fascinating behavior.”
She discovered her passion for biology during her school years and further nurtured it with the help of inspiring teachers and researchers at Delhi University’s South Campus.
“After school, I was drawn to cell biology textbooks and received encouragement from mentors who helped deepen my interest in exploring life under the microscope. I consider myself fortunate to have been mentored by those who cultivated in me a strong desire to study the unseen life.”
Dr. Poornati Khuntia’s remarkable achievement has been widely celebrated, with congratulatory messages pouring in from across the state.
