BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� After being honored with three previous Fulbright awards, Illinois Wesleyan University Professor of Chemistry Ram Mohan has been chosen to serve as a Fulbright Specialist through a workshop in India. 

Managed through the U.S. Department of State and World Learning, the allows previous Fulbright grantees to apply to be added to a specialist roster. Any college or university in the world can then apply to request a specialist from the list to conduct a workshop on their area of expertise.

Professor of Chemistry Ram Mohan in classroom in India
Mohan, center second row, during a visit to Patan, Gujarat, India in March 2024.

Mohan was appointed to the Fulbright roster in November 2024 as a green chemistry expert for a three-year period. Green chemistry, an essential component of sustainable chemistry, is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous substances. 

This is Mohan's second assignment as a Fulbright Specialist, a recognition he said left him 鈥渄eeply honored and humbled.鈥� 

For his first university pairing, Mohan will travel to Sacred Heart College in the seaside town of Kochi in India. Past Fulbright awards have also taken him to India, including a trip in spring of 2024 to St. Joseph鈥檚 University in Bangalore as well as many other colleges in rural areas across India. 

鈥淏eing able to see big and small universities in India was insightful and gave me better insight into the booming growth of higher education in India. I typically travel to rural areas in India as they do not always get access to speakers and workshops. It is always humbling to see the desire to learn and grow among students there, and the care for the environment, especially amongst the younger generation,鈥� he said. 

Projects through regular Fulbright grants can last 6-12 months, said Mohan, while a Fulbright Specialist workshop typically lasts 20-40 days. Each Fulbright trip supplies Mohan with new experiences to bring back to 91黑料专区 students.

Professor of Chemistry Ram Mohan with IWU research students
Mohan, far right of second row, with a current group of IWU chemistry research students.

鈥淲hile I am invited as an expert, with each trip I realize how much more there is to know, and I end up learning as much knowledge as I impart. At IWU, I teach an upper level green chemistry course. Based on these new experiences, I am continuously revising that class,鈥� he said. 

Mohan added that 91黑料专区 students should be encouraged more actively to , which are devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and citizens of other countries.

鈥淲hat better way to promote world peace and understanding,鈥� he said. 

Mohan, IWU's Wendell and Loretta Hess Endowed Professor of Chemistry, earned a bachelor鈥檚 in chemistry from Hansraj College in Delhi, India; a master鈥檚 in organic chemistry from the University of Delhi, India; and a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He completed postdoctoral work at The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Professor Mohan has been a member of IWU鈥檚 faculty since 1996. He primarily teaches sophomore and advanced level organic chemistry as well as green chemistry to both non majors and science majors.