Indian Institute of Technology graduate begins prestigious American fellowship

Manoranjan Sahu
Manoranjan Sahu

Manoranjan Sahu, the son of Niasha Sahu and Kalandi Charan Sahu of Orissa, has been named a McDonnell International Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis, and he has received a corporate fellowship from Engineering and Environmental Research Group, Inc. (EERG) of Ames, Iowa, U.S.A. He holds a master of technology degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, which is one of 15 leading Asian universities partnered with Washington University in St. Louis in the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.

Mr. Sahu is pursuing a doctorate in environmental engineering in the Sever Graduate School of Engineering and expects his study to continue for four to five years. His career plans include working in research and academics to make a better environment for the society. He is supported in his research by a fellowship awarded to him by EERG, which provides a wide range of management, specialized consulting, and technical services in the energy and environmental field. EERG is composed of a diverse and complementary array of professionals and service groups including engineers, environmental planners, information technologists, regulatory experts and laboratories.

“The EERG Corporate Fellowship is a very prestigious award, and we are delighted that Mr. Sahu has received it,” said James V. Wertsch, Ph.D., the Marshall S. Snow Professor in Arts & Sciences and Director of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. “He looks like the perfect match as we at the Academy help develop global leaders of tomorrow and EERG thinks about building new links to India and elsewhere in Asia.”

The McDonnell International Scholars Academy is both new and unique. Employing an unusual structure and approach, it brings together top scholars from many countries to pursue world-class education and research while forging a strong network with one another. Key to this are partnerships Washington University has established with top universities and corporations around the world with an eye to increasing opportunities for joint research and global education.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars are considered future world leaders in their fields. As such, they are provided not only rigorous graduate instruction, but a thorough cultural, political and social education designed to prepare them as leaders knowledgeable about the United States, other countries, and critical international issues.

Once selected for this highly competitive program, each scholar is matched with a distinguished member of the Washington University faculty who serves as a mentor for the scholar and also as an “ambassador” to the university partner from which the scholar has graduated. The ambassador assists the McDonnell Scholar in academic and professional life and travels annually with the scholar to the partner university to build relationships between the two institutions.

Pratim Biswas
Pratim Biswas

Pratim Biswas, Ph.D., the Stifel and Quinette Jens Professor of Environmental Engineering Science, is Mr. Sahu’s faculty mentor-ambassador. Dr. Biswas holds a doctorate from the California Institute of Technology, a master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and a bachelor of technology degree from IIT. He has published extensively in his field and served on many international organizations and conferences. His research interests include aerosol science and engineering, nanoparticle technology and bioterrorism.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars receive funding for full tuition, living expenses and travel to and from St. Louis. Most of the scholars reside in two fully equipped and furnished apartment buildings near campus.

Funding is provided through a sustaining endowment gift from John F. McDonnell, vice chairman of the Washington University Board of Trustees and retired chairman of the board of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, additional endowment pledges, and 11 multinational corporate and foundation sponsors. Sponsoring corporations also offer internships and on-site educational opportunities for the Academy’s Corporate Fellows.