ISI director & AI researcher wins Padma Shri for contributions to science & engineering

Dr Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay has won Padma Shri for her contributions to the field of Science and Engineering.

Bandyopadhyay is the Director of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata. Prior to being the director at ISI, she worked as a professor in the Machine Intelligence Unit. She also did her PhD from ISI.

She was the first female director of the institute and is also a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) of the Prime Minister of India.

Her research focuses on evolutionary computation, machine learning, pattern recognition, data mining and bioinformatics.

Earlier, Dr Bandyopadhyay has received Bhatnagar Prize, the TWAS Prize, the JC Bose Fellowship, the Infosys Prize, and the DBT National Women Bioscientist Award.

She has also authored and co-authored over 300 research papers and published six books. Find her research papers here. 

Congratulating Bandyopadhyay, Malay Bhattacharyya, Assistant Professor at Indian Statistical Institute, wrote: “Feeling excited to see the name of my doctoral supervisor, Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, currently the Director of ISI, in the list of Padma Shri awardees!!! A true inspiration for all of us.”

“Congratulations Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Director of ISI. Feeling honored and special belonging from same town as you ma'am,” said ISRO scientist Soumen K Das.

The President has announced a total of 128 Padma Awards -- 4 Padma Vibhushan,17 Padma Bhushan and 107 Padma Shri Awards. The awards will be conferred at a ceremonial function during March or April.

AIM too congratulates Dr Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay for this prestigious recognition.