Two Indian-Americans among 15 selected for prestigious 2024-2025 White House fellowship

Two Indian-origin Americans have been appointed to the distinguished 2024-2025 class of White House Fellows.
Padmini Pillai from Boston and Nalini Tata from New York are part of a select group of 15 exceptional individuals from across the United States, according to the news agency PTI.
The White House praised the new fellows for their remarkable skills and passion who were selected through a rigorous process from various sectors including medicine, academia, and the armed forces.
Pillai is an immunoengineer based in Newton, Massachusetts and has been placed at the Social Security Administration. She is known for her innovative work at MIT, where she led a team in developing a tumour-selective nanotherapy aimed at treating hard-to-cure cancers.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, she gained recognition in outlets like CNBC and The New York Times for her insights on vaccination, immunity, and the virus’s impact on vulnerable populations. Pillai holds a PhD in immunobiology from Yale University and a BA in biochemistry from Regis College.
Nalini will serve in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs. She is currently a neurosurgery resident at the New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Her professional responsibilities cover emergency and planned neurosurgical treatment, and she is dedicated to promoting fairness in healthcare availability. Tata has pursued her education at Brown University, the University of Cambridge, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Harvard Kennedy School.
What is the White House Fellowship?
The White House Fellowship is one of the most prestigious leadership programmes in the United States, designed to nurture the next generation of American leaders. It was established in 1964 by President Lyndon B Johnson.
The fellowship offers highly qualified individuals from across the nation a unique opportunity to work at the highest levels of the federal government.
Each year, a small group of fellows are selected through a rigorous and competitive process, where their professional achievements, leadership potential, and commitment to public service are closely evaluated.
What do White House Fellows do?
The fellowship program allows participants to work with senior White House staff and top government officials for a year.
They actively contribute to policy discussions and gain valuable insight into the inner workings of the executive branch.
The program aims to enhance the fellows' professional capabilities and develop their sense of civic responsibility and leadership, preparing them to make a positive impact in their communities.