Ludhiana Scientists Stanford University List: In a proud moment for Punjab and India, four scientists from Ludhiana have been featured in the list of the top 2 percent of the world's best scientists prepared by the prestigious Stanford University. As per reports, Stanford University has recognised a record-breaking 5,352 Indian scientists among the top 2% of researchers worldwide in its 2024 list. This reflects a significant rise from 4,635 in 2023, denoting India’s ever-growing influence in global research and innovation. Stanford University's top 2 percent list is released in collaboration with Elsevier. The scientists have been chosen based on over 40 research parameters, including citations, H-index, research papers published in high-impact journals, and strategic technologies accumulated over 30 years. Now, the question arises who are the four Ludhiana scientists who made it into Stanford University's top 2 percent list? Below is everything you need to know-
Ludhiana scientists in Stanford University's top 2 percent list
As per Indian Express, the four scientists are- Dr. Milkha Singh Aulakh who is ranked 1,60,484, Dr. DK Bembi who is ranked1,79,339, Dr. S.S. Guraya who is ranked 2,20,129, and Dr. VP Sethi – 3,58,246.
The report further suggests that Dr VP Sethi is a professor and the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PAU. He is the only active faculty member. The other three scientists are retired from university service but continued to be recognised for their national and international contributions.
Dr. Sethi, who has been with PAU since 1993, has developed several innovative technologies in greenhouse engineering, solar energy, biomass, and hydroponics, earning national patents and commercialisation at national and international levels. Dr. Sethi's research is reportedly published widely in top-tier journals including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies. Additionally, he has served as a visiting faculty member at North Dakota State University in the US, and the University of Guelph in Canada.
Talking about Dr. DK Bembi, the researchgate report suggests that he is now retired from Punjab Agricultural University where he handled the Department of Soil Science. On the other hand, Dr. Milkha Singh Aulakh, born in Amritsar, Punjab was also in the Department of Soils, PAU, Ludhiana from 1973-95. As per naasorg, Dr. Aulakh research areas are- Soil biochemistry, soil fertility & plant nutrition, integrated nutrient management, leaching of nutrients, cycling/transformations of nutrients in soils, greenhouse gases flux, agriculture-induced environmental pollution.
Dr. S.S. Guraya aka Sardul Singh Guraya was born in Kot Majlas village in Gurdaspur district of Punjab in British India. Guraya was known to have done pioneering research on genetical divergence of crops with different breeding systems which inaugurated a new school of thought on the subject.