Bikramjit Basuis a Professor at the Materials Research Center and an Associate faculty at the Center for BioSystems Science & Engineering at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.He is also currently an Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore. Bikramjit''s current research integrates biomaterials and bioengineering approaches to address human healthcare issues. Employing quantitative experiments together with computational and pre-clinical studies, his laboratory has developed new multifunctional biomaterials (''Piezobiocomposites'' with bone-mimicking functional properties), new processing approach (multi-stage SPS or 3D inkjet powder printing) and new concepts (intermittent delivery of electrical/magnetic stimulation, in vitro) to understand biophysical stimulation mediated modulation of cell functionality. His seminal findings include engineering of microstructure at multiple length scales to develop a broad range of biocomposites (HA-Ti, Sr-doped glass-ceramics, HA- BaTiO3, HA-CaTiO3) with reliable fracture resistance properties (better clinical acceptability) and uncompromised biocompatibility. His research group, in an approach strikingly different from biologists, adopted unique culture protocols to motivate human bone-marrow derived stem cells to change its functionality towards neural/muscle/cardiac-like cells on electroconductive biomaterials (polyaniline, carbon nanofibers), in vitro. His research demonstrated similar bioengineering strategy to promote bone formation, when stem cells are grown on magnetoactive biomaterials with weak magnetic field stimulation. Overall, his research provided an understanding for mechanisms of poorly appreciated synergistic interaction among external stimulation parameters and substrate properties towards differentiation of stem cells through a specific lineage.
Together, Bikramjit''s contributions have significant impact on development of new generation biomaterials and bioengineering strategies to address clinically relevant problems for human diseases. In his leadership roles, Bikramjit has successfully integrated and co-ordinated two major multi- institutional research programs on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular tissue engineering, which were funded by Indo-US Science and Technology forum (2008-2012) and UK-India Education & Research Initiative, UKIERI (2009-2012). His collaborative research with Brown University on developing PLGA-carbon nanofiber based cardiac patches has received media attention worldwide. Together with UK researchers, his group has established long term implant stability and osseointegration of a new generation of strontium- substituted glass ceramic implants for osteoporosis treatment. Inspired by ''Bedside to bench to bedside'' concept, he is currently leading India''s first major translational Center of Excellence (CoE) on biomaterials for orthopedic and dental applications with an interdisciplinary team of 50 researchers and companies. In collaboration with researchers from NIT Rourkela and CIPET, Chennai together with clinicians, his research group invented new manufacturing processes to fabricate patient-specific ceramic femoral heads and polymer- ceramic hybrid acetabular sockets for total hip joint replacement device, respectively. Bikramjit''s international standing and impact on the field are illustrated by his prolific publication record (> 250 peer-reviewed research papers, including 35 in journals with high impact factor (>5.0), more than 20 invited review papers/book chapters) and citation record (total citation >6600, H-index: 44).
He has delivered 50 Plenary/Keynote/Public lectures and 140 invited seminars in USA, UK, France, Germany, and Japan. He has been a research adviser to 17 PhD students and mentored 20 academic colleagues. Bikramjit''s contributions in Engineering Science have been widely recognised. He is one of the youngest recipients from the Metallurgy/Materials Science community as well as the only Biomaterial Scientist in the complete history of India''s most coveted science award, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award (2013). He is an elected Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (2017), Indian National Academy of Engineering (2015), West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology (2014), Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs (2014) and National Academy of Sciences, India (2013). In 2015, he received National Bioscience award for unique contributions in the frontier areas of biological sciences. He remains the only Indian from India to receive the prestigious ''Coble Award for Young Scholars'' (2008) from the American Ceramic Society. Bikramjit received his undergraduate degree (1995) from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur; postgraduate degree (1997) from IISc, Bangalore and a PhD (2001) from KatholiekeUniversiteit Leuven, Belgium, all in Metallurgy/Materials Engineering.
Following a brief post-doctoral stint at University of California, Santa Barbara; he joined Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur in November 2001 as Assistant Professor and was promoted to full Professor (while on lien at IISc) in March, 2012 at IIT Kanpur, where he also served as Adjunct faculty during 2014-16. He moved to IISc in May, 2011. Amartya Mukhopadhyayis an Associate Professor at the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, IIT Bombay, Amartya Mukhopadhyay pursued his Doctoral in Materials research from the University of Oxford, UK, in December, 2009. He had obtained his Masters by research in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, India in September, 2006. Prior to that he did his under- graduation in Metallurgical Engineering from Regional Engineering College (presently, National Institute of Technology; NIT), Durgapur, India (1999-2003) and had also subsequently worked for one year (2003 - 2004), as a graduate engineer trainee at ESSAR steel plant, Hazira, India, where he was selected via campus recruitment. Following his PhD he did his Post-doctoral Research at Brown University, USA for a couple of years. His major research interests include materials for electrodes and solid electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage (i.e.
, Li/Na/K-ion batteries) and also advanced structural ceramics/ceramic nanocomposites. To date, Amartya has authored/co-authored about 50research papers in reputed peer-reviewed International Journals, contributed three chapters for books published by internationally recognized publishers and has 3 patents. As of April, 2018,H-index of his publications is 21 and total citations >1200. He is presently contributing towards the review process of reputed peer-reviewed journals, including journals published by Science and Nature. Among his major accomplishments as a researcher, he has been awarded with the ''INAE Young Engineer Award 2016'', ''ASM-IIM North America Visiting Lectureship Award 2016'', ''IIT Bombay Young Investigator Award'' for the year 2014 and the prestigious ''Dr. R. L. Thakur Memorial Award'' (a National Award as Young Scientist) by the ''Indian Ceramic Society'' in 2013.
Earlier, he was adjudged by St. Catherine''s College (Oxford) as the best overseas research student (2006-2007). He had also received the prestigious Clarendon Fund scholarship and Overseas Research student award for his D Phil studies at the University of Oxford. He has also contributed towards identifying the research areas that are important for the Nation''s cause with respect to the theme of ''Energy Materials'' (under the domain of ''Advanced Materials''), as part of the IMPRINT India initiative. Ashutosh Kumar Dubeyis currently an Assistant Professor and Ramanujan Fellow in the Department of Ceramic Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, UP, India. He earned his PhD from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, UP, India in 2012. He was JSPS Fellow at Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Japan during 2012-14. His research interests include External electric field and surface charge mediated biocompatibility evaluation of electro-bioceramics, piezoelectric tougheneing of bioceramics, Functionally graded materials, Nanoporous bio-ceramics, Orthopedic biomaterials, Analytical computation.
As recognition of his research work, he received various prestigious awards/fellowships such as Young Scientist Award by Indian Science Congress Association (2011-2012) as well as by Indian Ceramic Society (2015; Dr. R. L. Thakur Memorial Award), Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) Fellowship for Foreign Researchers (2012-14) and Ramanujan Fellowship by Departmen.