Guwahati: Cotton University has received the prestigious PAIR grant from the National Research Foundation for Research. The grant, shared among six institutions, has made JNU the hub institution, while Cotton University, Tezpur University, Central University of Punjab, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University and Berhampur University have been given the status of spoke institutions.
Cotton University has been allocated around Rs 14 crore under the five-year PAIR programme. The funding includes three sophisticated research instruments - a 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer, photoluminescence spectrophotometer and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).
According to Cotton University, these advanced instruments will enhance their research capabilities, especially in material science and chemical/biological analysis. Through this collaboration, the university will also benefit from access to advanced research infrastructure and specialist expertise at JNU and other partner institutions.
A release from Cotton University on Thursday said, "The PAIR grants, aimed at promoting collaborative and high-impact research in India's leading institutions, were awarded following a rigorous multi-stage selection process held at the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru, and overseen by ANRF on March 7-8, 2025. Out of the 30 hub institutions shortlisted for presentations based on their excellent NIRF rankings, only seven were finally selected, judged on the merit of their presentations and demonstrated research excellence." This grant represents a significant achievement for Cotton University, its first major national research grant since receiving 'A' grade NAAC accreditation in September 2024. The university submitted a successful proposal involving 11 major research projects in three interdisciplinary areas - advanced materials, molecular and synthetic biology, and environmental sustainability. These projects involve 22 faculty members from seven science departments. Dr. Abdul Wahab led the proposal and collaborative structure as the Principal Investigator from Cotton University, and Professor Ramesh Choudhary Deka, Vice Chancellor of Cotton University provided strategic direction and support.
