Chennai Scientist Samathmika Ravi Awarded Prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship

Chennai-born scientist Samathmika Ravi has been awarded the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Global Postdoctoral Fellowship to advance research on climate-resilient crops.

An alumna of Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Ms. Ravi has been recognised for her innovative research project titled “Bytes4Beets.”

Focus on Climate-Resilient Crops

The “Bytes4Beets” project aims to identify valuable traits in wild relatives of sugar beet that can help cultivated crops tolerate environmental stresses such as rising temperatures. By leveraging bioinformatics and advanced biotechnology tools, her research seeks to strengthen global food security and support climate adaptation efforts.

With climate change increasingly threatening agricultural productivity, identifying stress-tolerant crop varieties has become critical to ensuring sustainable food systems worldwide.

International Research Collaboration

As part of the MSCA Global Fellowship, Ms. Ravi will conduct research at the University of Western Australia and later at the University of Padova, fostering international collaboration in agricultural and climate science.

She holds a Master’s degree in Bioinformatics and Biotechnology and earned her Ph.D. in Animal and Food Science. Her interdisciplinary background positions her at the forefront of research aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges in global agriculture.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Postdoctoral Fellowship is among the most competitive and prestigious research grants in Europe, supporting exceptional researchers undertaking international mobility and high-impact scientific projects.