How an Indian Scientist‑Fellow Bridged Top Institutes from IISER to Flatiron via Prestigious Global Scholarships

My name is Anupam Anand Ojha, and I am from Rajasthan, India. I am deeply passionate about science, travel, and music. I scored 99.92th percentile in the Indian Institute of Technology - Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE), making me eligible for any seat at the Indian Institutes of Technology. However, driven by my passion for the fundamental sciences, I pursued an integrated BS-MS program in Chemistry (major) and Physics (minor) at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram. Following graduation, I was awarded a prestigious one-year Swiss fellowship at ETH Zürich, where I studied quantum dynamics and statistical mechanics. In 2019, I moved to the University of California, San Diego, to pursue my Ph.D. in Theoretical and Computational Biophysics under the guidance of Professors Rommie E. Amaro and J. Andrew McCammon. In 2024, I joined the Flatiron Institute as a Flatiron Research Fellow, where I now develop multiscale simulation approaches that integrate cryo-EM and machine learning to understand biomolecular mechanisms.

Fellowship Details

1. INSPIRE Fellowship (2012–2017): The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Fellowship is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, India. This scheme was established to attract top talent into research careers by funding doctoral and integrated master's programs based on individual excellence through all-India entrance exam rankings. I was awarded the INSPIRE Fellowship from 2012 through 2017, receiving a total award of $5,000 to support my integrated BS-MS studies at IISER Trivandrum. This stability allowed me to focus entirely on foundational research in chemistry and physics.
2. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (2017): In 2017, I received the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship from the Swiss Federal Government. This program selects a handful of outstanding international researchers each year to pursue short—and long-term research studies in Switzerland. The award of $26,317 for a one-year fellowship at ETH Zürich covered my living stipend and research expenses. This highly competitive scholarship requires academic excellence and a very strong research proposal.
3. Molecular Sciences Software Institute "SEED" Fellowship (2021): Awarded by the U.S. National Science Foundation–funded by MolSSI, this Fellowship recognizes exceptional graduate students and postdocs who develop impactful open-source software for molecular sciences. In 2021, I was named the MolSSI "SEED" Fellow, receiving $42,057 over six months to advance my biomolecular simulation pipelines and work on the best practices in reproducible computational science. The program's small cohort each year highlights its selectivity and prestige.
4. Friends of the International Center Fellowship (2021): The Friends of the International Center at UC San Diego awards this $2,000 fellowship to graduate students who demonstrate exceptional contributions to international education and cooperation. I received this honor in 2021 for my leadership in mentoring incoming scholars and organizing cross-cultural events, strengthening global collaboration on campus.
5. Bonnie Reiss Carbon Neutrality Student Fellowship (2021): In 2021, UC San Diego's Carbon Neutrality Initiative recognized my commitment to sustainable research practices with the $4,000 Bonnie Reiss Fellowship. This award funded my project on developing green computing guidelines and workshops that contributed directly to the university's goal of carbon neutrality by 2025.
6. Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship (2022): Awarded by UC San Diego in 2022, this $17,000 fellowship supports exceptional graduate students by covering university fees and travel expenses. I utilized this funding to advance my Ph.D. projects in computational biophysics and present my findings at key international conferences.
7. Teddy Traylor Award (2023): The Teddy Traylor Award, granted by UC San Diego in 2023, provided me with a $3,000 fellowship for outstanding graduate research and conference support. This allowed me to communicate my research on advanced simulation methods for drug discovery at leading biophysical society meetings and conferences.
8. Merkin Graduate Fellowship (2023): In 2023, I was honored with the Merkin Graduate Fellowship at UC San Diego, a $20,000 award recognizing research excellence in translational medicine. Through this award, I facilitated collaborations with the University of Freiburg, Germany, bridging computational simulations and real-world therapeutic applications.
9. Merck Research Award for Underrepresented Chemists of Color (2024): The Merck Research Award for Underrepresented Chemists of Color celebrates significant scientific contributions and leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion. I received this distinction in 2024, highlighting my mentorship efforts and impactful research in computational chemistry.
10. E. Shaw Research Postdoctoral Fellowship (2025): In 2025, D. E. Shaw Research selected me for their Postdoctoral Fellowship, awarding $1,500 to support my participation in a symposium on machine learning, scientific software, and theoretical drug-discovery approaches. This Fellowship connected me with leading experts, expanding my network in computational biophysics.
11. CAS Future Leaders (2025): Each year, the American Chemical Society's Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Future Leaders program highlights the top 100 global scientists for research excellence and leadership potential. In 2025, I was named a CAS Future Leader, a non-monetary honor recognizing my trajectory as an emerging leader in chemical sciences.
12. Berkeley Haas Student Seed Fund Award (2025): The Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program awarded me a $5,000 Student Seed Fund grant to prototype the proposed automated multiscale simulation platform for accelerated drug discovery. This grant provided critical early-stage resources for translating the proposed computational methods into robust research tools.

Preparation

My preparation for scholarship applications was not a discrete study plan or specialized workshop. It was simply how I approached my life and work every day. From day one, I engaged in fundamental research, leading to multiple publications in computational biophysics and related fields. I also actively mentored students from underrepresented communities through programs like EXPAND and ChemPAL at UC San Diego, guiding them to co-author publications and succeed in STEM fields. At the same time, I supported and promoted sustainability by collaborating with UC San Diego's Carbon Neutrality Initiative to design and implement a 10-point green computing practice, raising awareness through seminars and workshops. My GPA for my undergraduate was 8.6/10, while for graduate studies, it was 4.0/4.0. In essence, I did not prepare for these fellowships. I built the habits, the achievements, and the impact that naturally made my applications competitive and compelling.

Journey

From IISER Trivandrum to ETH Zürich, followed by my Ph.D. at UC San Diego and now at the Flatiron Institute in New York, each institution has offered vivid, diverse experiences that have shaped my science and life. At IISER Trivandrum, a collaborative atmosphere cultivated curiosity and lifelong friendships, whereas at ETH Zürich, I further developed my scientific skills in a multicultural and impactful research environment while embracing new cultural perspectives. UC San Diego's more relaxed pace allowed me to pursue long-term projects, lead sustainability and mentorship initiatives, and enjoy the West Coast backdrop. I look at my life more positively at the Flatiron Institute amid an energetic, interdisciplinary community where day-to-day interactions spark fresh ideas and drive our shared mission forward.

Advice

Integrating my high-impact research, dedicated mentorship of students, and leadership in campus sustainability initiatives made my application stand out. In hindsight, I would not change a single approach, i.e., my everyday commitment to science, community engagement, and open-source science, crafting a compelling narrative without any special "scholarship preparation". My advice to aspiring applicants is straightforward, i.e., pursue genuine excellence in your field, seek opportunities to uplift others, advocate causes you to believe in, and never stop upskilling - when your work and impact speak for themselves, the fellowships will follow.