Rizia Bardhan has a large picture of Mahatma Gandhi in her office.
“Gandhi has always been very special to me,” she said. “We share the same birthday. He exemplifies the power of perseverance.”
Perseverance has carried the new assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering to Nashville from Kolkatta, India, where she was born.
Early in life, Bardhan was exposed to engineering principles through her father and several uncles who are engineers. She showed an aptitude for math and science as a child and won a national award in the 10th grade for the highest mathematics score on a national exam that all Indian students are required to take.