Scientist Murty Kambhampati chosen for U.S. presidential award

An Indian-American biology professor is among 15 scientists, who have been selected for a prestigious U.S. presidential award for excellence in the field of science, mathematics and engineering mentoring.

Murty S Kambhampati, a professor of biology at Southern University at New Orleans will receive the award at a White House ceremony later this year.

Prof. Kambhampati has been a mentor of high school and undergraduate students in research and successfully boosted graduation rates, the White House said in a statement.

“These educators are helping to cultivate America’s future scientists, engineers and mathematicians,” U.S. President Barack Obama said.

“They open new worlds to their students and give them the encouragement they need to learn, discover and innovate. That’s transforming those students’ futures, and our nation’s future, too,” he said.

Prof. Kambhampati, a PhD holder from both Jackson State University in Environmental Science and Andhra University in Ecology is an active research mentor for undergraduates.

Another person selected from Indian subcontinent, Sri Lankan-origin Tilak Ratnanather is an associate professor in the biomedical engineering department of the Johns Hopkins University, Maryland.