Budhendra Bhaduri is a corporate research fellow and director of science, programmes and partnerships for national security sciences at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a science research and development lab of the US Department of Energy.
Why Did He Leave
Bhaduri moved to the US in 1992 after finishing a master’s in science (MSc) degree from Presidency College (now University) in Kolkata. By then he had developed a keen interest in environmental geology, partly inspired by National Geographic TV programming.
He was excited about studying the intersection of dolomite mining, tea plantations and their impact on wildlife and local communities.
“But I couldn’t identify any programme in India where I could be involved in research in applied geology or environmental science,” he says.
30 June 2025
Get the latest issue of Outlook Business
He found several universities in the US with faculty members involved in research that were well-aligned to his interests, so he applied and got an opportunity.
Life in the US
At work, Bhaduri now guides scientific and programmatic endeavours spanning geospatial science, AI and machine learning, and high-performance computing. He has been with ORNL for 27 years, 23 of which were spent leading an R&D division focused on geospatial science and technology.
Would He Come Back?
Bhaduri says, “With my expertise and experience, there may be a time in the future when I can be useful in developing R&D organisations in India that can develop a vibrant R&D infrastructure and human capital.”
He adds that he could see himself in a team that fosters a productive and symbiotic relationship between academic, government research and the private sector, through meaningful global partnerships.
Bhaduri further says that in the past three decades, he has witnessed the gap in the quality of life between India and the US shrink. “Perhaps with the exception of the road system, air quality and a good hamburger, overall amenities in India parallel the West today. From Frito Lays potato chips to Honda cars to dazzling shopping malls, it’s hard to miss much.”
But he says that he is at an age which would put him close to retirement in India. “So, I guess it’s too late for me to pursue professional opportunities in India now.” He adds, however, that if one was finishing their PhD in India today, it would be extremely appealing to look at available job options in India.
Just one email a week