Indian student wins the changing entrepreneurship and outstanding teaching awards

Updated on: Monday, May 06, 2013

An Indian student studying in the US has been awarded for co-founding a company that creates cheap sensors for purifying water of harmful bacteria.

Nisarg Patel of the Arizona State University (ASU) won the changing entrepreneurship and outstanding teaching awards at the annual Pitchfork Awards ceremony, for co-founding HyrdoGene Biotechnologies, the College Times reported.

The group reprogrammes bacteria to produce a protein bio-sensor that then purifies water from the bacteria.

The idea came when one of Patel's lab partners came back from a research trip in Guatemala, where she noticed children looking at their water and drinking it if it seemed relatively clear.

"They don't realise it's contaminated with bacteria that they can't see, so that's one of the issues we're trying to solve," Patel said.

"Even if your idea is small, the fact that there are so many of you means one small impact after another can really make a difference," he added.

Patel is a research fellow of ASU iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine). Patel visits India every few years with his family to see his grandparents.

Indian student wins the changing entrepreneurship and outstanding teaching awards

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