Bihar's Pride: Who Is Sapna Sinha? From Muzaffarpur To MIT Woman Who Shines On Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List

In the heart of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, where aspirations often face formidable challenges, a young woman’s journey has illuminated a path of inspiration and achievement. A 29-year-old Sapna Sinha has etched her name in the annals of history by securing a coveted spot on the ‘Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list for her groundbreaking research in brain and cognitive sciences. This remarkable achievement not only celebrates her individual brilliance but also marks a significant milestone for her home state.?

Who is Sapna Sinha?

Born in 1995 to academically inclined parents, Sapna was destined for greatness. Her father, Sanjay Kumar, heads the electronics department, and her mother, Sangita Sinha, is a physics professor at?Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU). Growing up in a household that valued education, Sapna’s intellectual curiosity was nurtured from a young age. She excelled in her schooling in Muzaffarpur and Patna before earning a BTech in chemical engineering from Nagoya University in Japan.

Sapna Sinha's Education

Sapna's academic journey didn't stop there. She pursued a PhD from Oxford University, where her pioneering research on nanomaterials garnered international recognition. Her career then took her to Japan as an assistant professor at Osaka University, where she was named a Schmidt Science Fellow in 2021. In 2022, she joined the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where her innovative work focuses on optogenetics—a cutting-edge field that uses light to stimulate cells, offering new hope for treating brain and spinal cord injuries.

Vision

In an exclusive conversation with TOI, Sapna shared her vision: “I am working on an interdisciplinary and novel approach that can help integrate opsins with the body, and therefore be used as a therapeutic for spinal cord injury in the future.” Her groundbreaking research not only has the potential to revolutionise medical treatments but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring scientists, particularly women from underrepresented regions.

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Sapna's inclusion in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list is a testament to her relentless pursuit of knowledge and her commitment to making a significant impact on the world. She stands among 300 young visionaries from diverse fields such as arts, entertainment, finance, and technology, underscoring the diverse talents that shape our future. Sapna Sinha’s story is a powerful reminder that with determination and support, extraordinary achievements are within reach, regardless of one’s origin.

List of young Indian entrepreneurs in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia

The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list also celebrates the achievements of other young Indian entrepreneurs and innovators. This year's list includes talents like Mukul Anand, Gaurav Piyush, Mayank Varshney, Yash Sharma, Archit Chauhan, Shaifali Jain, Sunny Garg, Aditya Dadia, Aryan Sharma, Ayush Pathak, Aditi Sinha, Rishabh Jain, Harshit Mittal, Esha Manideep Dinne, Varun Vummadi, Ankit Bansal, Ishan Rakshit, Priy Ranjan, and Smarthveer Sidana. These individuals are making significant strides in their respective fields, further highlighting the diverse and dynamic contributions of young Indians to the global stage.

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