NEW YORK (TIP) : Five Indian-origin researchers, including two Indian Americans — Eshaan Patheria and Garima Raheja — are among the 30 best young scientists in the world working on breakthrough solutions to climate change chosen for the prestigious 2025 Inflection Awards.
Organized by Marble, a European climate-tech venture studio, and supported by Breakthrough Energy Fellows and the Quadrature Climate Foundation, the Inflection Awards celebrate early-career scientists tackling one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Selected through a rigorous evaluation process from hundreds of applicants, they stood out for their scientific excellence, ambition, and potential to drive real-world impact, according to a media release.
“This cohort of groundbreaking scientists represents the power of research, the drive of young minds, and the urgency of action. They are not just imagining the future, they are building it,” it stated.
The 30 Awardees were honored at an exclusive event in Paris, engaged in a world-class bootcamp, and gained access to exceptional career opportunities.
Indian-origin researchers are:
Eshaan Patheria, California Institute of Technology, is a PhD candidate in chemistry at Caltech, developing high-energy-density lithium-ion battery cathodes using only inherently inexpensive, scalable raw materials.
He will complete his PhD in May 2025 and is working to scale this technology by leveraging existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing infrastructure.
Beyond his research, Eshaan is committed to expanding access to clean, affordable energy.
In 2018-19, with the NGO Gram Vikas, he established India’s first lithium-ion battery-powered microgrid in Kalahandi, Odisha.
Eshaan is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, a Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation Fellow, and holds an A.B. in Chemistry & Physics from Harvard University.
Garima Raheja, Columbia University, is a PhD candidate at Columbia University in NYC studying big data applications for air and energy.
Previously, she worked at on carbon-free electricity at the White House, earth observations at NASA, led an environmental strategy consulting org in Berkeley, and represented the US in climate diplomatic relations with Japan and South Korea.
She serves as an AGU Community Science Fellow and U.S. State Department Air Quality Fellow. She graduated with a BA in Data Science and a BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. She is interested in careers in energy/finance/data.
Monali Priyadarshini, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, is an Assistant Professor at VIT Vellore. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, she specializes in wastewater management through advanced oxidation processes and bio-electrochemical systems.
She has an impressive research portfolio, including 27 publications in reputed journals, five book chapters, and two best paper awards at international conferences.
As a member of prestigious organizations like the International Water Association (IWA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Dr. Priyadarshini actively contributes to advancing her field.
She currently serves as an Editor for Scientific Reports and Discover Water journals and has reviewed over 50 articles for various international journals.
Vikas Dhamu, National University of Singapore, is a PhD student developing innovative methods for CO2 storage in deep-sea sediments as clathrate hydrates, a promising solution for safely sequestering large amounts of CO2.
He is driven to contribute to global efforts like mitigating global warming, achieving net-zero emissions, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy. By fostering sustainable solutions and promoting a green growth economy, Dhamu aims to help build a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
Mahendra Patel is a PhD student at EPFL, Switzerland, working on solar-driven renewable fuel production. He holds BS and MS degrees in Chemistry from IISER Pune and EPFL.
His research focuses on converting sunlight, water, and CO₂ into sustainable fuels such as hydrogen, syngas, and ethylene, with potential applications in gasoline and aviation fuel production.
By developing an innovative integrated photoelectrochemical device that utilizes concentrated sunlight, his work demonstrates high solar-to-fuel efficiency, offering a promising pathway for sustainable fuel production and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Mahendra is passionate about advancing solar fuel technologies to tackle global energy challenges.
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