Kerala’s Pride: Fathima Shahseena From Irngalakkuda Bags €2.5 Crore EU Marie Curie Fellowship

Fathima Shahseena, a brilliant researcher from Irngalakkuda, Thrissur, has been awarded the prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship worth €2.5 crore by the European Union.

This fully funded fellowship will support her three-year research program focused on pharmaceutical downstream processing and crystallisation technologies, aimed at regulating the cost of life-saving medicines.

The fellowship offers Fathima a unique opportunity to pursue her research at the University of Minho in Portugal, where she will collaborate with international experts and gain exposure to cutting-edge pharmaceutical technologies across multiple countries. The recognition not only highlights her academic excellence but also positions her as a rising scientific talent from Kerala on the global stage.

Fathima, daughter of Siddique Punnilath and Shabeena from Karuvannur, Irngalakkuda, has an impressive academic background. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the deemed Science University in Thanjavur and a Master’s degree from the University of Leeds, UK.

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During her time at Leeds, she received the Best Overall Performer Award and secured first place for the Best Project, showcasing her exceptional capabilities in research and innovation.

Her early education was completed at St. Mary’s Lourdes School, followed by Little Flower Convent Higher Secondary School, Irngalakkuda, where she consistently demonstrated academic brilliance.

Fathima also comes from a family committed to education; her younger brother, Behasad Rushaid, is a student at Christ Vidyaniketan, Irngalakkuda, while her father works abroad in Kuwait.

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The fellowship award has drawn praise from several quarters, including R. Bindu, Kerala’s Higher Education Minister, who congratulated Fathima on her remarkable achievement.

The Marie Curie Fellowship, recognised globally for nurturing scientific talent, will allow her to contribute to meaningful research aimed at improving healthcare accessibility and the affordability of life-saving drugs.