UK's Royal Society appoints Tata University research fellows

The Royal Society of UK today appointed the first of nine Tata University Research Fellows(URFs) to its prestigious research scheme.
The three appointments today come as part of a joint partnership between Tata companies, includingTata Sons, Jaguar Land RoverandTata Consultancy Services (TCS), andthe Royal Societyto fund the establishment of nine Tata University Research Fellowsin the areas ofPhysical SciencesandEngineeringover a period of 10 years.
The partnership will support the selected candidates in their respective area of research for a period of five years, with the option to apply for a further three years of funding.
"It is the Tata group's vision to touch the lives of 25 per cent of the world's population. To accomplish this vision, we are engaging with the best research institutions around the world to enable sustainable market development in the regions we work and live," said Gopichand Katragadda, Group Chief Technology Officer, Tata Sons.

"Our partnership with the Royal Society is part of this strategic outreach to academia, and through this collaboration, we aim to empower these young talented Tata University Research Fellows to achieve their full potential," he said.
The newly appointed research fellows who will be working on a wide range of research areas include Dr Alistair Boyer, a Ramsay Memorial Research Fellow at theUniversity of Glasgow; Dr Simon Horsley, a Research Fellow at theUniversity of Exeter; and Dr Samuel Stranks, a Marie Curie IOF Fellow based jointly at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)and theUniversity of Cambridge.

The partnership with the Royal Society is part of a global university collaboration programme of Tata companies aimed at supporting university faculty and students through funded research programmes, sabbaticals, fellowships, and engagements with university leadership, as well as studying long-term research outcomes related to key market needs.

Other leading academic institutions with which Tata companies have entered into a collaboration areHarvard University(in the areas of soft robotics, advanced materials, and sensor technologies),Yale University(in the areas of network sciences, consumer behaviour and microbiome) and theIndian Institute of Technology Madras(in the area of advanced materials).
The participating Tata companies, namely Tata Sons, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tata Chemicals, Tata Communications, Tata Steel and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), have extended financial support of overUSD 25 millionacross these four partnerships.
According to the Royal Society, the spirit of innovation is strongly embedded in the Tata ethos. The group has to its credit many firsts with respect to visionary and pioneering initiatives from the time of its inception, and continues to engage in various programs and activities to promote a culture of innovation.