Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women in STEM at Ashoka 

India’s progress in STEM is steadily improving, but women remain significantly underrepresented in these fields. Many face challenges such as limited opportunities, societal discouragement and restrictions on making their own choices, making it harder for them to pursue their aspirations. At Ashoka, we are committed to changing this. Through our inclusive programmes, unique teaching approach and dedicated efforts to create new opportunities, we strive to support women, especially in the sciences.

From undergraduate to PhD programmes, more and more women at Ashoka are finding their footing in STEM, creating inspiring stories of perseverance and excellence along the way.

Take the story of Gurleen Kaur, a Young India Fellowship (YIF) alumna from the class of 2015. Having grown up in Amritsar, Gurleen had very few opportunities presented to her when it came to her undergraduate education. She pursued a traditional degree in Engineering, but happened to discover a passion for sustainability research through internships. Her year as a Fellow was transformative – it enabled her to explore the intersections between engineering, sustainability, art and social impact – eventually leading her to pursue a PhD at National University of SingaporeIF. Gurleen currently works at the International Solar Alliance, developing cutting-edge solar technologies.

There are many women like Gurleen who face limitations on what or where they can study, or whether they can continue their education at all. From dedicated scholarships to transformative opportunities offered by its interdisciplinary approach, Ashoka University has nurtured numerous young women scholars who have gone on to achieve remarkable success in their respective fields.

Another example of Ashoka’s dedication to empowering women in Sciences is Basabi Bagchi, who in 2024 became Ashoka’s first PhD graduate in the Sciences. A scholar from the Department of Biology, Basabi’s doctoral research focused on how infections influence genes. Driven by a deep interest in understanding the immune system and its evolution, Basabi chose Ashoka for its exceptional facilities. The Evolutionary Immunology Lab, one of the finest in the country, provided the perfect environment for her to explore her research interests. Basabi’s journey embodies the possibilities that open up when women have access to resources and a supportive academic environment. In fact, out of the 200 PhD scholars at Ashoka, more than 45 per cent are women – with many of them in the final stages of their thesis.

Ashoka not only nurtures academic growth, but also instills a deep sense of confidence in its students, equipping them to lead with conviction. Naina Praveen, an ASP alum, echoes this thought, while reflecting on the contrast between Ashoka’s empowering environment and the challenges women in STEM continue to face globally.

“The incredible Ashoka community helped me work through my self-doubt,” she shares, “but I’ve seen the same self-doubt persist among women in every other classroom, who already constitute less than half of most classes related to the Sciences.” Naina is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge. She adds, “I hope to see a day when women celebrate their achievements without diminishing themselves. Recognising women taking strides in Mathematics is crucial, and I hope to help shape a braver age for women in STEM.”

We are incredibly fortunate to have founders and donors who believe in our mission and share our passion for supporting women in the sciences. Thanks to their generosity, we’ve been able to provide scholarships that make a real difference in students’ academic and personal journeys. In 2020, the Thakur Foundation, led by Dinesh Thakur, introduced the Women in Science Scholarship at Ashoka University. This programme supports two undergraduate science students every year for a decade; So far, eight talented women have benefitted from it.

In 2022, Sona Comstar partnered with us to offer three-year scholarships to fourteen women studying Computer Science or Mathematics, focusing on bright students from economically weaker backgrounds. “Our partnership with Ashoka University promotes women’s representation in STEM education and the workforce,” says Mr. Kiran M Deshmukh, Group CTO, Sona Comstar. That same year, the Axis Bank Scholarship Programme stepped in to support 10 women undergraduates from low-income families pursuing STEM degrees, helping a total of 30 students.

We’re excited to see even more women in our programmes in the years to come.