A postgraduate student from Bengaluru has won national recognition for a scientific proposal that could help researchers study how microorganisms respond to the conditions of space. Sanskriti Sanvi, a student at Chanakya University’s School of Biosciences, has been named among the Top 10 winners in Category 2 of the D.E.S.I.G.N for BioE3 Challenge, September 2026 cycle.Her proposal, called STELLA (Space, Thermal, Electromagnetic, and Light Lab Apparatus), outlines an indigenous multi-stress simulation chamber designed to support research in microbial space biology. Sanvi will receive a cash prize of ₹1 lakh for the idea.The results were announced by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. The challenge encourages innovators to develop ideas that support the country’s BioE3 vision of a sustainable and innovation-driven bioeconomy.
What is STELLA and how could it help researchers?
STELLA is proposed as a laboratory apparatus that can simulate multiple environmental stresses relevant to research on microorganisms in space. Its name refers to four factors: space, thermal conditions, electromagnetic influences and light.Microorganisms can respond differently to environmental conditions, including changes in temperature, radiation-related factors and light exposure. Studying these responses can help researchers understand microbial behaviour under challenging conditions.Sanvi’s proposal brings these factors together in a single simulation chamber. However, the announcement describes STELLA as a design proposal. It does not establish that a working prototype has been built or tested, or that the apparatus is already being used in research.
₹25 lakh grant opportunity for the winners
Along with the ₹1 lakh prize, the Top 10 winners in Category 2 have been encouraged to submit detailed proposals to the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) within three months.These proposals may be considered for a Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) grant of up to ₹25 lakh to help take selected ideas from the design stage towards proof of concept. The additional funding is an opportunity for further development, not an automatic award to every winner.
Bengaluru student wins ₹1 lakh for STELLA, a proposed lab to study how microorganisms respond to space conditions
Ten innovators recognised in the September cycle
The September 2026 Category 2 results feature winners from universities, research institutions and startups across India. They include Aswini Kumar Samantaray from Manipal Institute of Technology, Aftab Raza from IIT Palakkad, Thirumoorthy S from NIFTEM-T and Shiv Dixit from HBTU, Kanpur. Sanvi was listed as a postgraduate student representing Chanakya University’s School of Biosciences.The D.E.S.I.G.N for BioE3 Challenge is part of a wider effort to encourage scientific thinking and innovation in areas linked to biotechnology, sustainability and India’s bioeconomy. For Sanvi, the recognition gives her STELLA concept an opportunity to move towards further research and development.
