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Duke alumni Shreyas Hallur and Kashyap Sreeram named Samvid Scholars
The two were among 20 selected from over 1,000 applicants for the graduate scholarship program.
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Pranavi Sharma - Fri, 10, Oct 2025
- 23:09 EDT
- 23
Shreyas Hallur and Kashyap Sreeram. / Duke Today
Indian-origin Duke University alumni Shreyas Hallur and Kashyap Sreeram have been named recipients of the Samvid Scholarship, Duke announced this week. The two are among 20 scholars chosen nationwide from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants. The program offers up to $100,000 toward tuition and fees for two years of graduate study.
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Hallur graduated from Duke in 2023 with a degree in Statistics and Public Policy. His academic work and community initiatives have centered on improving access and inclusion for autistic individuals. In Phoenix, he formed a partnership of non-profits to make museums more accessible to autistic visitors and their families—an initiative that received over $3 million in funding from the National Science Foundation.
ALSO READ: Benjamin Lalani named first Samvid Scholar from Johns Hopkins
At Duke, Hallur conducted research at the Center for Autism and Brain Development, helping develop an inclusive autism screening tool. He was recognized as an A.B. Duke Scholar, Nakayama Scholar, and Margolis Scholar in Health Policy. In 2023, he was also named a Rhodes Scholar, completing two years of sociology and policy studies at the University of Oxford. Hallur is currently pursuing an MD at Harvard Medical School, with a focus on community health and long-term care for autistic people.
Sreeram, originally from Orlando, Florida, graduated in 2024 with a self-designed Program II major titled Computational Neurogenetics in Practice. He is now an MD-PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, where his research explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases.
A Phi Beta Kappa honoree, Sreeram has published research identifying biological pathways involved in neurodegeneration. During his time in Kalangala, Uganda, he worked on Sickle Cell Disease education, combining culturally rooted practices with pedagogy to reduce stigma. At Duke, he served as a data engineer at KORA, a startup using AI to improve operating room efficiency.
The Samvid Scholars program, established in 2021 by Samvid Ventures, supports graduate students pursuing leadership roles in STEM and social sciences. In addition to financial support, the program offers mentorship, networking opportunities, and annual leadership retreats aimed at fostering social impact.
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