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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JANUARY 03, 2025 | The Indian Eye 28

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

BHARAT BISWAL CAITLIN SANDRA NEIL
Researcher wins 2024 Excellence Chennai-born is crowned

Award by NJIT Miss India USA 2024

ew Jersey Institute of Technology, NJIT has announced the name of hennai-born Caitlin Sandra Neil was crowned Miss India USA 2024
Bharat Biswal as this year’s winner of NJIT’s Excellence in Research during the prestigious annual pageant held in New Jersey on Decem-
Naward. Bharat Biswal, a pioneer in the field of neural imaging who de- Cber 17. The event, which gathered a diverse group of contestants from
veloped a technique that sheds new light on brain-related diseases and injuries. across the United States, showcased the rich tapestry of Indian-American cul-
Biswal thanked the selection committee and senior administration at ture while promoting values of empowerment and community service.
NJIT for choosing him for the award. He added, “But I’m particularly grateful At just 19 years old, Caitlin is not only a student at the University of Cal-
to all the undergraduate researchers who, in spite of their very busy schedules, ifornia, Davis, but also a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment
still make time to do research and contribute very meaningful work, and to the and literacy initiatives. With her roots firmly planted in Chennai, Caitlin
graduate students, postdocs and colleagues who helped me in this research.” moved to the U.S. at the age of five. Her journey has been marked by a com-
Biswal joined NJIT in 2012 as a tenured full professor and was promoted mitment to balancing her academic pursuits with her aspirations in model-
to distinguished professor in 2016. That same year, he was elected a fellow ing and acting.
of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. He has
received continuous extramural funding since joining NJIT of more than $8 The Miss India USA pageant is renowned for celebrating the
million and has more than 48,000 citations, while his most-referenced paper achievements of Indian-American women while promoting cultur-
received 10,548 citations.
Atam Dhawan, NJIT’s senior vice provost for research, said Biswal “ex- al pride. This year’s competition featured 47 contestants from
emplifies the qualities of a leader as a visionary in neuroscience.” Biswal’s 25 states, each bringing their unique stories and talents to the
research in the field of brain imaging have catalyzed a paradigm shift in the
understanding of the resting human brain and its networks, fundamentally al- stage. The event was a vibrant display of fashion, poise, and in-
tering how scientists and clinicians approach the study and treatment of neu- telligence, with contestants competing in various categories in-
rological and psychiatric conditions.
In the early 1990s, “It was perceived as a crazy idea in neuroscience, which cluding Miss India USA, Mrs. India USA, and Miss Teen India USA.
was focused on task and response,” recalled Biswal, then a graduate student
at Wisconsin Medical Center and now a distinguished professor of biomed- Caitlin’s victory was not without its challenges. Throughout the competi-
ical engineering. “As an engineer, I wanted to understand the entire system tion, she demonstrated exceptional grace under pressure, impressing judges
of neural networks — and their connections — at baseline conditions. With with her confidence and eloquence during the interview segment. Her plat-
one scan, we could observe activity in the motor, visual and speech regions, form focuses on empowering young women through education and mentor-
for example.” ship programs aimed at enhancing literacy rates among underprivileged com-
Thirty years later, what is known as resting-state brain connectivity is the munities.
primary vehicle for examining brain connections in infants, very young, elder- Nirali Desai of Illinois was named first runner-up in the Miss India USA
ly and neurologically impaired people who can’t perform tasks on command. category, while Manini Patel from New Jersey secured the second runner-up
It is one of three required approaches in the National Institutes of Health’s position. As Caitlin prepares for her reign as Miss India USA 2024, she is
Human Connectome Project. excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. She plans to engage with com-
Biswal, director of NJIT’s Center for Brain Imaging, is now using it to munities across the country through workshops and events that focus on edu-
compare neural signaling in people with Alzheimer’s disease with those aging cation and empowerment.
normally. Continued on next page... >>

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