More than 50 PhD researchers have now graduated from the UQ–IITD Research Academy, marking a major milestone in the partnership between The University of Queensland (UQ) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD).
Twenty-nine students received joint PhD degrees from UQ and IITD at the IITD Convocation Ceremony in New Delhi on 8 August, bringing the Academy’s alumni community to 52 graduates. The Academy currently has 115 enrolled candidates, with more students expected to commence in the coming months.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony, describing graduates as key to tackling future challenges and advancing the Viksit Bharat vision for India to become a global innovation and research leader by 2047.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Deborah Terry AC joined UQ Graduate School Dean Professor Virginia Slaughter, India’s Minister of Education Shri Pralhad Joshi and IITD leaders to confer the joint PhD degrees. Professor Terry congratulated the graduates on joining a global research community committed to advancing knowledge and solving complex challenges.
Among the graduates was Dr Prakrithi Pavithra, whose research investigated previously understudied long non-coding RNAs and their role in cancer. Supervised by Dr Quan Nguyen at UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Assistant Professor Dr Ishaan Gupta at IITD, her work produced SPanC-Lnc, a publicly accessible resource that enables researchers to explore potential cancer biomarkers.
“The joint program taught me that good research is rarely confined to one laboratory or institution,” Dr Pavithra said. “Collaborations across countries and disciplines can bring together perspectives that make research much stronger.”
Dr Pavithra now works as a Postdoctoral Researcher at QIMR Berghofer’s National Centre for Spatial and AI Research (NCSTAR) in Brisbane, advancing biomedical solutions to improve patient outcomes and healthcare systems.
Fellow graduate, Dr Vineeth Sasikumar Kala, explored how next-generation batteries can be made safer without sacrificing performance. Supervised by Professor Yusuke Yamauchi from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and IITD Associate Professor Dr Vipin Kumar, he developed advanced polymer electrolytes for sodium metal batteries, demonstrating the potential for safer alternatives to conventional lithium-ion technologies.
“What makes this work particularly meaningful to me is that it brings together fundamental materials science and a real-world energy challenge,” he said.
“Ultimately, I hope the knowledge and materials developed through my PhD will contribute to the broader advancement of safer, more sustainable, and high-performance energy storage technologies, particularly for a future in which affordable and reliable energy storage will be increasingly important.
Dr Kala has joined the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany as a Postdoctoral Researcher, building on his work in next-generation energy storage. He credits the joint PhD program with providing access to complementary expertise, advanced facilities and global perspectives, which have strengthened the quality of his research.
“Working with researchers and colleagues from different backgrounds helped me become a more independent, adaptable, and confident researcher,” Dr Kala said.
Another graduate, Dr Gopika Gurudas, completed a comparative study of Indigenous Australian and Dalit Malayalam literatures, exploring themes of resistance, exclusion and social justice. Under the supervision of UQ School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry Professor Marguerite La Caze and IITD Professor Divya Dwivedi, she investigated how literature can offer powerful insights into social inequality and cultural identity.
Dr Gurudas – now an Assistant Professor at Stella Maris College – said the dual-degree experience opened new research opportunities and introduced her to a global network of academics.
“I’m most looking forward to applying the research skills, technical expertise and global perspective I’ve gained through this experience to make a meaningful impact,” she said.
The UQ–IITD Research Academy enables doctoral candidates to undertake joint PhD projects under the supervision of leading academics from both institutions. Since its establishment, researchers have produced more than 200 co-authored publications, secured a patent, and attracted more than AU$3 million in external research funding. The partnership has also strengthened collaboration between universities, industry and government across a range of fields, including engineering, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability. The Academy will host its annual Symposium at IITD from 28–30 September 2026, bringing together researchers, industry and policymakers to explore solutions to shared global challenges under the theme Global Challenges, Joint Solutions: Australia–India Multidisciplinary Pathways Forward.