Four professors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay have been recommended for the prestigious JC Bose Fellowship, one of India’s highest honors for active scientists. The institute recently congratulated Prof. M. Ravikanth, Prof. Deepankar Choudhury, Prof. Ruchi Anand and Prof. Debabrata Maiti after her selection was recommended by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).Formerly known as the JC Bose National Fellowship, the five-year fellowship recognizes senior researchers who have made sustained contributions to science and engineering while continuing to lead cutting-edge research in India.
From earthquake engineering to drug discovery
The four laureates represent two disciplines: chemistry and civil engineering, but their research spans a wide range of real-world applications.Prof. M. Ravikanth from the Department of Chemistry is internationally recognized for his work on porphyrins and macrocyclic molecules, which have applications in chemical sensing, photochemistry and advanced functional materials. A member of the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Indian National Science Academy, his research has influenced modern inorganic and supramolecular chemistry.Professor Deepankar Choudhury of the Department of Civil Engineering is a leading authority on earthquake geotechnical engineering. His work focuses on soil behavior during earthquakes, foundation engineering and the design of safe and resilient infrastructure. He has also contributed to international design guidelines for combined pile and raft foundations and played a key role in the development of the Indian engineering code IS: 19117.
Scientists tackling antibiotic resistance and advancing modern chemistry
Recipients include Professor Ruchi Anand, Head of the Department of Chemistry, whose research explores structural biochemistry, biosensors and antibiotic resistance. Using techniques such as macromolecular crystallography, their work helps scientists understand how disease-causing microbes resist drugs, paving the way for improved treatments. She is a member of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and has received the National Women Bioscientist Award.The fourth recipient, Professor Debabrata Maiti, is considered one of India’s leading researchers in synthetic organic chemistry. His pioneering work on C-H bond activation has opened up new possibilities in pharmaceutical research by enabling chemists to develop complex drug molecules more efficiently. Winner of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, he is also Editor-in-Chief of the international chemistry journal Synlett.
What is JC Bose Scholarship?
Administered by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the JC Bose Fellowship recognizes scientists between the ages of 45 and 65 who have demonstrated exceptional research excellence and continue to make significant contributions to science and technology.The grant provides Rs 25 lakh annually for five years to support research, along with institutional funding to strengthen research infrastructure. Beyond financial support, it is considered one of India’s most prestigious honors for active researchers, recognizing both scientific excellence and continued mentoring of the next generation of scientists.With four professors receiving this recognition in a single year, IIT Bombay has added another milestone to its longstanding reputation for research excellence, highlighting contributions ranging from safer infrastructure and sustainable chemistry to combating antibiotic resistance and accelerating drug discovery.