Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) Shines with Fulbright Scholarships

Dr. Balasubramani K., Associate Professor of the Department of Geography, has been chosen as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. This prestigious program, sponsored by the U.S. Government, aims to foster international collaboration and enhance global perspectives in American campuses, curricula, and communities. Dr. Balasubramani will represent CUTN during his tenure as he joins North Carolina Central University (NCCU) as a visiting scholar from August 2023 to May 2024. He will contribute to the Department of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Sciences by teaching a specialized course on Remote Sensing to students. Beyond teaching, Dr. Balasubramani will engage in various collaborative initiatives at NCCU, including mentoring student projects and exploring geospatial technologies in agriculture with the sustainability group. Out of 28 countries, Dr. Balasubramani is among 44 distinguished scholars selected for the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence program (2023-24).
Dr. KRS. Preethi Meher, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Material Science, School of Technology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, has been awarded the esteemed Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Academic and Professional Excellence. Her research project, titled “X-ray Diffraction (ex-site/in-situ) Enabled Optimization of Design, Processing and Performance of Environmentally Sustainable Photovoltaic Hybrid Halides to Meet Climate Targets,” focuses on exploring innovative layered perovskite halide compositions. These compositions are expected to possess greater stability coupled with optimum optoelectronic properties needed for extended lifetime of photovoltaic devices. Dr. Meher will spend six months at Boise State University in Boise, ID, where she will deepen her research and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for a greener future.
Prof Sulochana Shekhar, Registrar of the Central University of Tamil Nadu, had earlier been chosen by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) for the 2020-2021 Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar. As one of 11 individuals selected from India, Prof Sulochana visited Washington, D.C. for a 15-day seminar. This program fosters cultural exchange and collaboration between educational institutions in the United States and India.
Selected from a competitive pool of candidates, Prof Sulochana’s participation in the Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar promotes mutual understanding and strengthens ties between the two countries. Her expertise and contributions to education in India are acknowledged through this recognition, further enhancing the Central University of Tamil Nadu’s pursuit of academic excellence on a global scale. The program also opens doors for potential future collaborations with American institutions.