Fellowship
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- Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship (MSMF)
Lifting Up Gender Intersections through Powerful Storytelling
The Mina Swaminathan Fellowship was constituted in 2020, with the intention to amplify and spotlight MSSRF’s gender intersections. Set up in recognition of the late Mina Swaminathan’s contribution to making gender and development as part of the institution’s core commitment, this fellowship is also a homage to our pro-woman, pro-poor and pro-nature approach.
MSSRF began a gendered approach to research and development under the leadership of the late Mina Swaminathan several years ago. She is nationally known for her contributions towards developing a holistic view on gender equality and child development, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which takes account of the multiple needs and roles of women.
The main objective of this fellowship is to promote the exchange of ideas between researchers and the media / press persons for greater partnerships between science and media. The broad theme for the Fellowship is ‘Gendered livelihood transformations and their impacts on food, nutrition and health security in the hinterlands of India’.
The first ever MSMF was in 2021 on the theme ‘Gendered Impact of Covid-19’; how the pandemic changed women’s lives in the areas of agriculture, employment, income and access to market, healthcare, house maintenance, care work, etc’. Three young media fellows were identified through an expert committee and were mentored by MSSRF researchers from three states – Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Odisha. They were oriented on the research activities of the Foundation in the areas of gender and livelihoods, development work at specific field sites as well as the objectives of the fellowship.
- Hema Ramachandran Fellowship
For Women Scientists
The Hema Ramachandran Fellowship for women scientists was instituted at MSSRF in 2021 in memory of the renowned physicist, Late Prof. Hema Ramachandran, to commemorate her scientific contributions. This Fellowship was initiated by her spouse, Mr G P Ramachandran, to encourage young post-graduate women to pursue research in biotechnology.
About Prof. Hema Ramachandran
Prof. Hema Ramachandran was a renowned physicist and a founding member of the Light and Matter Physics (LAMP) Department at The Raman Research Institute (RRI). Prof. Hema Ramachandran had an illustrious scientific career, beginning at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, in 1984, where she specialized in High-Pressure Crystallography. In 1995, Dr. Hema joined RRI as a faculty member, initiated research on Optics, and later ventured into atomic physics. Quantum computing was one of Hema Ramachandran’s research interests. She served on several program Advisory Committees at the national level and played a key role in drafting the ambitious Quantum Mission program. She was also the recipient of the INSA Young Scientist Award. She passed away in 2020 at the age of 58 after a prolonged illness. She was a great inspiration and a role model to young researchers, particularly women.
More about the late Dr.Hema Ramachandran: https://wwws.rri.res.in/htmls/library/imprints_collection/bios/hema.html
Recent MSSRF-Hema Ramachandran Fellows:
- 2021 - Ms. Kausalya Sakthivel Pursuing Ph. D in Biotechnology at TN Agriculture University, Coimbatore
- 2022 - Ms. D. Ezhil Pursuing Ph. D in Microbiology at MSSRF
We are accepting applications to the Hema Ramachandran fellowship on a rolling basis. Please email admn@mssrf.res.in for more information and application process.
