Page 32 - The Indian EYE 091925

Newsmakers of the Week SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 | The Indian Eye 32

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

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

Karthik Nayani receives Justin Bieber surprises Indian

prestigious NSF CAREER award Bride on Wedding Day

LOS ANGELES, CA

op superstar Justin Bieber gave one bride in Los Angeles a story she’ll
FAYETTEVILLE, AR
never forget after unexpectedly showing up during her wedding cele-
Pbrations this past weekend. The 31-year-old singer appeared casually
arthik Nayani, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Uni- dressed in a blue hoodie, white T-shirt, low-rise jeans, and red shorts as he
versity of Arkansas, received a five-year, $500,000 National Science
KFoundation CAREER award to unravel how rod-shaped strands of greeted the bride and wedding guests in what appeared to be a hotel lobby.
Photos and videos of the heartwarming moment were first shared by a fan
DNA move particles within cells to create these compartments. account on Instagram, capturing Bieber posing with the beaming bride, who
“The CAREER award gives me an amazing opportunity to do some fun-
damental science that will unravel the mysteries behind liquid-liquid phase was dressed elegantly in green and gold. One clip showed him approaching the
group as wedding guests reacted with laughter and excitement. The video’s
separation caused by rod-shaped particles. I am extremely excited about this on-screen text summed it up: “I would not be able to get married after this??”
project and am happy that the scientific community finds this important prob- Fans quickly flooded the comments section, praising the “Peaches” singer
lem highly relevant,” Nayani said. for his thoughtful surprise. “Awwww…..the smiles on everyone!!!” one user
Nayani’s research to understand how DNA works within a cell could lead
to faster and more sensitive tests for infectious diseases or abnormal genes. wrote. Another gushed, “Look at the joy! Blessings to the beautiful bride.”
Some followers joked about how they’d respond, with one fan playfully com-
The prestigious CAREER grants support early-career faculty with the
“potential to serve as academic role models in research and education,” ac- menting, “If he surprises on my wedding day I’ll leave my husband for him!”
The impromptu appearance comes amid a joyful chapter in Bieber’s per-
cording to the National Science Foundation (NSF). sonal life. Just weeks earlier, he and his wife Hailey celebrated their son Jack’s
“I am thrilled that Karthik has received an NSF CAREER award,” said
Keisha Walters, chair of the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engi- first birthday, with Hailey sharing heartfelt photos of the milestone on Instagram.
For one lucky bride, though, Bieber’s unexpected visit turned an already
neering. “Not only does this award support the research success of talented special day into an unforgettable moment — a wedding memory destined to
junior faculty, like Karthik, it also advances cutting-edge science and engi- be retold for years to come.
neering efforts in our state and helps prepare our students for career success.”
firm COVID-19 infections, often take days to deliver results. This new process Grishma Shah named Associate
Current PCR tests to detect DNA, like those that are widely used to con-
proposed by Nayani would be almost instantaneous and could identify small
amounts of a particular strand of DNA. The presence of DNA could even be Dean for Manhattan University
monitored live, which could be used to detect harmful biofilms as they form.
Nayani’s research covers a wide range of subjects. He studies the fun- NEW YORK, NY
damental structures of cells and the role of DNA. He created a new way to
detect COVID-19 and other infectious diseases using liquid crystals. He is anhattan University announced the appointment of Grishma Shah,
developing a technology, funded by an Arkansas Research Alliance grant, to Ph.D., Professor and Director of Global Business Studies, as the
make lithium extraction in southern Arkansas more efficient. Mnew Associate Dean of the O’Malley School of Business. Dr. Shah
The research interests all fall within the field of “soft matter physics.” Continued on next page... >>

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