Manali girl bags Rs 2.5-cr scholarship for research

Our Correspondent

Kullu, August 31

Jaya Sagar of Manali will go to the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, for a four-year postgraduate research programme after being selected for the Zutshi-Smith scholarship. The scholarship is worth more than Rs 2.5 crore and she is the only student from Asia to make it to the top 10 in the world from among more than 400 applicants. She will be leaving for the UK on September 8.

Jaya Sagar completed her BTech in electronics & communication from NIT, Hamirpur, this year and will be pursuing PhD in quantum computing in UK. Recently, Jaya had earned accolades at the virtual conference of quantum technology held in Munich, Germany.

A meritorious student from her school days, Jaya had represented Himachal in the 10th national-level Children’s Science Congress on behalf of Manali Public School. She had won the gold medal at the IRIS National Science Fair in Bangalore in 2013. She had bagged two awards for India among child scientists from 80 countries at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the US in 2014. She became the youngest student to have a copyright for her work in the field of improving hydropower and apple farming.

Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur extended his best wishes to Jaya for research.

Jaya said last year, she did her research internship from the JKU Linz University of Austria, the expenses of which were borne by the Parmaarth Foundation. She said her professor Dr Alexander Paller inspired her to apply for this scholarship. Jaya gave credit for her success to her parents and teachers.