Indian-American physicist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Dr. Mani L. Bhaumik has contributed $3 million to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), establishing a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship within the Division of Physical Sciences.
The newly created Bhaumik Prize Postdoctoral Fellows Program aims to bolster cutting-edge research in the fields of Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, and Biochemistry.
This program will also provide fellows with opportunities in public engagement, policy, and entrepreneurial training, equipping them for diverse career paths.
To further support this initiative, UCLA’s Division of Physical Sciences will contribute an additional $1.5 million, forming a $4.5 million fund to attract exceptional early-career scientists.
Over the next six years, the pilot program will appoint four fellows each year for up to three years, eventually supporting around 16 fellows.
Dr. Bhaumik, who began his own academic journey at UCLA as a Sloan Foundation postdoctoral fellow, expressed heartfelt gratitude toward the institution. “When I joined UCLA at 28, the university was still young itself. Watching it evolve into a world-class institution has been truly incredible,” he said. “I’d love to witness its continued transformation over the next hundred years.”
Dean Miguel García-Garibay recognized Bhaumik’s generous spirit and dedication to fostering young scientific minds.
“This gift not only elevates UCLA’s appeal for emerging researchers but also paves the way for future breakthroughs that can impact society at large,” he remarked.
Originally from a small village in West Bengal, Dr. Bhaumik made significant strides in laser technology at Northrop Grumman, playing a key role in the development of LASIK eye surgery.
A recipient of the UCLA College 100 Visionary Award, he has also been instrumental in establishing the Mani L. Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory at UCLA.
That’s all for this. If you are a South Asian wanting to thrive in the USA? Please join our community.
