Indian-born mathematician Sukhada Fadnavis has decided to start a scholarship in the name of her parents at her alma mater, Caltech, the Shubhangi and Sharad Fadnavis Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. The scholarship will support undergraduate research through the institute’s signature programs.“The most important thing my parents did for me was let me explore. They didn’t try to change me or force me to follow a path,” Suhada said. “Caltech is also a place where I can be myself. It allows you to keep your inner child and come out of your shell. Caltech makes me feel like this is my place. I hope others can have the same opportunity to experience this environment.”“I love the idea that my daughters and nieces will remember my parents for things that are rooted in knowledge and research that ultimately benefit society,” Fadnavis said. “We look forward to learning about the SURF projects supported through this scholarship for many years to come.”
Bringing Caltech and parents together
Fadnavis said her parents never stopped her from achieving her big dreams, even though she was the first in her Pune family to travel by air and the first to study abroad for college. Caltech’s financial aid program helped her, and now it’s time for her to give back to her alma mater. “My dad made sure I knew they were always there for me,” Fadnavis said. “My mom is a very brave person. She said ‘We’ll figure it out. Jump!'”“I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to study at Caltech and benefit from unique programs like SURF. SURF is one of the most unique programs at Caltech, giving undergraduates the opportunity to spend a summer conducting original research and making a real contribution to their field. If you know an undergraduate who might enjoy a fun and intellectually challenging research experience, they should definitely check out SURF. So grateful to be able to honor my parents through this scholarship while supporting the curiosity of future generations! ” Suhada wrote.
Who is Suhada Fadnavis?
Fadnavis received his PhD from Stanford University in 2007 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Caltech. She wanted to stay in academia and taught mathematics at Harvard University for three years. She then spent a year helping a friend launch a startup promoting Indian artists, and ended up joining Google.
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