In the current immigration landscape of USA, 6 children of Indian immigrants have bagged the prestigious 2026 Davidson Fellows Scholarship. These young researchers and innovators received $25,000 to $100,000 scholarships (collectively $325,000) for highly effective solutions to real-world problems, like passenger flight safety, citrus greening, nuclear reactor heat flux, malaria prevention, and drug discovery. Despite immigration upheavals, Indian-origin kids continue to shine in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, America’s Top Young Scientist Challenge, and Regeneron Science Talent Search.
6 Indian American Students Bag 2026 Davidson Fellows Scholarship
- Aditya Sengupta, Washington, received $100,000 for ForeCAT, an AI-based system that predicts clear-air turbulence.
- Tanishka Aglave, Florida, received $50,000 for her research on an eco-friendly approach to fighting citrus greening disease.
- Hitaishi Chillara, Texas, received $50,000 for his research on supermassive black hole growth using simulations and machine learning.
- Praadhyumn Indaana, New Jersey, received $50,000 for developing a physics-guided neural network to improve critical heat flux predictions.
- Rajarshi Mandal, Massachusetts, received $50,000 for developing a mathematical model to improve malaria prevention.
- Pavan Subramani, West Virginia, received $25,000 for combining generative AI and molecular simulations to accelerate drug discovery.
Aditya Sengupta and his AI solution for aviation safety
Among the 2026 Davidson Fellows, Aditya Sengupta bagged the top honor – Davidson Fellow Laureate Scholarship $100,000. An 18-year-old robotics enthusiast from Bellevue, Washington, Aditya developed an advanced system to help flights evade possible mid-air turbulences. Part of his winning project ‘ForeCAT’, the system uses atmospheric physics, weather data, and machine learning to predict clear air turbulence (CAT) with greater accuracy. Several turbulence events in 2025 jeopardizing international flights and passengers propelled him to invent the solution. Aditya is a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar too.
Tanishka Aglave and her citrus disease solution
The only Indian-origin girl among the Davidson Fellows in 2026, Tanishka Aglave received the $50,000 Davidson scholarship for her research on citrus greening disease. She took on this as daughter of an Indian-origin citrus grower in Florida. Her project combines curry leaf extract, localized steam therapy, and a computer vision app to treat the disease and track its severity. Her research brings together plant science, agriculture, and artificial intelligence.
Tanishka completed more than 300 hours of research, earning top honors at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. She aspires to major in biological sciences and develop cost-effective solutions for farming communities. Outside research, she enjoys cooking, spending time with her dog, celebrating Indian festivals with her family, and air pistol shooting.
Hitaishi Chillara and his research on supermassive black holes
Hitaishi Chillara from Leander, Texas earned a $50,000 Davidson Fellows Scholarship for his intriguing project on supermassive black hole growth. His research explores the relationship between galaxies and the giant black holes at their centers. An active member of robotics clubs, the 17-year-old got curious about AI and machine learning after wondering how a toy robot dog could maintain its balance while walking. He aspires to study astrophysics and electrical engineering. He also tutors others in mathematics and physics. If he could invite anyone to dinner, the guest list would include mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, along with Richard Feynman and Enrico Fermi.
Praadhyumn Indaana and his AI model for nuclear safety
Praadhyumn Indaana from Montvale, New Jersey, leverages physics and computing to address a critical nuclear reactor safety problem. He received a $50,000 Davidson Fellows Scholarship for developing a physics-guided neural network that predicts critical heat flux – a hazardous threshold of heat transfer in nuclear reactors. He derived data from more than 10,000 experiments and infused it into his AI model for 8 months. His invention has cut the average prediction error from about 63% to 5.5%. This Standford Online High School student was once invited to the US Physics Team camp.
Rajarshi Mandal and his mathematical solution for malaria
At 16, Rajarshi Mandal from Lexington, Massachusetts, is the youngest of the six Indian American 2026 Davidson Fellows. His $50,000 award-winning project focuses on a global health problem: malaria prevention. Rajarshi developed a mathematical model to determine how insecticide-treated mosquito nets can be distributed more effectively.
Mathematics, computer science, biology and public health are among his main interests. Rajarshi is also active outside research. He plays piano and has performed twice at Carnegie Hall. He enjoys volleyball, skiing and mountain biking and also holds a black belt in karate.
Pavan Subramani and his AI approach to drug discovery
Can AI make drug discovery faster? Pavan Subramani, 17, from Morgantown, West Virginia, is exploring exactly that question. His research combines generative diffusion models with molecular dynamics simulations to make computer-based studies of drug and protein interactions faster without compromising accuracy. The work earned him the $25,000 Davidson Fellows Scholarship.
Pavan is interested in computational chemistry and biophysics and plans to pursue research that can advance human health through drug discovery. His work also earned a third-place Grand Award in Chemistry at the International Science and Engineering Fair, and he was a mentee in the MIT Research Science Institute. Outside research, he founded The Substance Safety Project, a nonprofit focused on substance abuse advocacy, and enjoys playing and performing the viola.
