New Delhi

Professor Sushant Ghosh and Dr. Misbah Afreen, from Jamia Millia Islamia’s Centre for Theoretical Physics (CTP), have been awarded the “Highly Cited Paper Award (India) 2025 ” by IOP Publishing (UK) in recognition of their exceptional research contributions in the field of astrophysics and physics.

The award is given only to papers that have been cited the most in the international scientific community. Only three awards were given in this category across India, and two were bagged by the Jamia Millia Islamia researchers.

This award has been given in recognition of their two papers published in the Astrophysical Journal  -Test of Loop Quantum Gravity from the Event Horizon Telescope Results of Sgr A, andTesting Horndeski Gravity from EHT Observational Results for Rotating Black Holes

These articles were used extensively by scientists around the world in their writings on research into black holes and the fundamental theory of gravity.

Professor Ghosh is one of the world's leading experts in black hole physics, general relativity and astrophysics. He has been associated with several international research projects and was a Fulbright Fellow in 2018. He has also served as Director (Research) at the university and the founding director of the Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies (MCARS). He has received several national and international awards, including the Research Award from the President of India.

Dr. Afreen completed his PhD under the supervision of Professor Ghosh and is currently a National Postdoctoral Fellow at Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata. He received a Gold Medal in MSc from Jamia Millia Islamia . His research includes probing gravity through observational studies of black hole shadows, gravitational lensing, and the Event Horizon Telescope.

This award is another milestone in the continuous achievements of Jamia's Centre for Theoretical Physics. Since 2022 alone, Professor Ghosh and his colleagues have received a total of seven IOP Indian Awards.

On this occasion, Professor Ghosh said, "This is a proud moment for the Black Hole Research Group. Dr. Misbah Afrin is one of the brightest researchers who have worked under my supervision. It is heartening to see her contributions being recognized globally at such an early stage in her career. "

Congratulating the two researchers, Jamia Vice Chancellors Professor Mazhar Asif and Professor Muhammad Mehtab Alam Rizvi said that this achievement is a testament to Jamia Millia Islamia's scientific excellence, innovation, and global impact.

IOP Publishing is a leading scientific society based in the UK dedicated to the advancement of physics. Its "Highly Cited Paper Award" is given to research works that have had the greatest impact worldwide and have left a deep impression on the global scientific community.

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This award not only stimulates new research but also marks a milestone in recognising Jamia Millia Islamia as a leading centre of scientific research on a global scale.