Itanagar, Apr 28: In a significant academic achievement, Taba Jirpu, a PhD research scholar at the Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship for the academic year 2026–27.
Jirpu, who specialises in cancer biology, has also secured offers from two reputed universities in the United States of America. She is expected to begin her fully funded nine-month research stay in the US by the end of August this year. Her research focuses on developing improved therapeutics for Pancreatic Cancer using Extracellular Vesicles.
Congratulating her on the achievement, RGU Vice-Chancellor (i/c) Prof SK Nayak said the selection reflects the university’s commitment to academic excellence and research advancement. Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Prof Hui Tag, noted that Jirpu, a native of Arunachal Pradesh from the Nyishi community, hails from Potin circle and was brought up in Nirjuli, Papum Pare district, exemplifying that dedication can overcome all barriers.
Jirpu completed her graduation from Gargi College, New Delhi, and her master’s degree from Rajiv Gandhi University. She is currently a senior research scholar at the Molecular Biology and Biomarker Discovery Laboratory in the Department of Zoology, pursuing her PhD under the supervision of Dr Arnab Ghosh.
Dr Ghosh remarked that her achievement was well deserved, citing her consistency in research, multiple publications, and presentations at international conferences. He added that research on extracellular vesicles is an emerging and promising area in cancer therapeutics.
Expressing her views, Jirpu said that the fellowship offers a unique platform to gain global exposure, collaborate with leading scientists, and expand her research perspective. She highlighted that, coming from a tribal background, opportunities in global academia often remain limited due to lack of exposure and awareness. She described her selection as not just a personal milestone but also an opportunity to represent her community on a global stage and inspire others.
She further stated that with rising cancer cases in tribal communities, her long-term goal is to contribute to cancer research, particularly in biomarker discovery and drug development, and to uplift her community through education and knowledge sharing.
Notably, Jirpu is the first student from Rajiv Gandhi University and Arunachal Pradesh to receive the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship. Earlier, Liyi Marli Noshi (2024) and Mamu Hage (2026) from the state were selected for the Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship under the Fulbright programme for young and mid-career professionals.