Thirty individuals, including six Indian Americans, have been named winners of the 2024 for New Americans, a prestigious graduate school program for immigrants and children of immigrants. Chosen from a pool of 2,323 applicants, these Paul & Daisy Soros Fellows were selected for their outstanding achievements and potential to contribute significantly to the United States across various fields of study. Each fellow will receive up to $90,000 in funding to support their graduate studies at institutions nationwide.
In the 2024 class, the six distinguished new Americans of Indian American heritage are Ananya Agustin Malhotra, Aayush Karan, Akshay Swaminathan, Keerthana Hogirala, Malavika Kannan, and Shubhayu Bhattacharyay.
Established 26 years ago, the Fellowship program has provided over $80 million in funding, supporting recipients in diverse fields such as medicine, the arts, law, and business. Daisy Soros, the program’s co-founder, expressed pride and hope for the fellows’ future endeavors, emphasizing their immigrant identities as sources of strength and vitality.
The alumni network of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellows includes notable individuals such as US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who played a crucial role in leading the national response to major public health crises. The application for the 2025-26 academic year is currently open, with a deadline of October 31, 2024.
Each fellow’s background and aspirations reflect a commitment to excellence and service. Aayush Karan, for instance, is pursuing a PhD in quantum science and engineering at Harvard University, drawing inspiration from his parents’ dedication to impactful research. Ananya Agustin Malhotra, on the other hand, is pursuing a JD at Yale, driven by her passion for advocating for a more just and peaceful US foreign policy.
Similarly, Akshay Swaminathan, a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, is pursuing an MD/PhD in biomedical data science, aiming to combine data science and medicine to strengthen health systems in low-resource areas. Keerthana Hogirala, a Neubauer Civic Scholar at the University of Chicago, is pursuing an MBA/MPP dual degree to explore how technology and cross-sector collaboration can address critical public needs and advance social development.
Malavika Kannan, a senior at Stanford University, is pursuing an MFA in fiction to hone her literary craft and continue writing about identity, culture, and politics. Lastly, Shubhayu Bhattacharyay, an MD student at Harvard Medical School, aims to become a physician-engineer in neurocritical or neurosurgical care, focusing on enhancing the precision and accessibility of traumatic brain injury care with big data.
These accomplished individuals exemplify the spirit of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship, embodying the values of excellence, leadership, and service to their communities and the nation.
