Two researchers from India have received grants for a research stay at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń as part of the Ulam NAWA 2025 programme. The young researchers will receive a total of over PLN 650,000 for their research.
The Ulam Programme of the National Agency for Academic Exchange enables outstanding individuals with a PhD degree to come to Poland to develop scientific projects, conduct research and pursue postdoctoral studies in any discipline in cooperation with national universities or research institutions. Depending on the project, the stay in Poland can last from 6 to 24 months. This year’s edition is the seventh instalment of one of NAWA’s largest flagship programmes, which supports the internationalisation of Polish scientific institutions.
One of the scholarship holders is Dr Avinash Prabhakarrao Ingle from Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth Agricultural University in the Akoli district of India. His project, entitled ‘Development of nanomaterials for the enhanced production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass,’ will be carried out over 24 months and will start in June 2026. The research, supervised by Prof. Patrycja Golińska from the Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, will focus on the use of nanotechnology for more efficient production of biofuels from plant waste. The total value of the grant is PLN 328,500.
Dr Selvam Mathi, who obtained his PhD from Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu, India, will also be conducting his research at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. His project, entitled ‘Engineering Advanced Bi-HCF Electrocatalysts for Efficient Solar-Driven Hydrogen Production from Diverse Water Sources’, aims to respond to the urgent need for sustainable and decentralised hydrogen production by developing low-cost, high-performance electrocatalysts. The research focuses on the development of an adaptive catalytic system that will be efficient in pure electrolytes while maintaining structural and functional integrity in complex solutions rich in impurities. Dr Mathi will conduct his research in Poland under the supervision of Dr Anna Ilnicka, Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University. The scholarship will last 24 months and will start on 1 July 2026. The total value of the grant is PLN 328,500.
In this year’s call for applications for the Ulam NAWA programme, 324 applications were submitted, with scientists from 52 countries applying for the opportunity to conduct research in Poland. After the evaluation process, 71 projects were selected to receive support. The most represented countries are India, Italy, Iran, Poland, China, Brazil, Pakistan and Australia. For the first time, scientists from Georgia, Malaysia, Ghana, South Korea and Switzerland will also participate in the programme.
Source: NCU Information Portal