Bhattacharyya is senior professor, Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Calcutta. After obtaining his PhD from Calcutta University, Bhattacharyya worked at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, for his postdoctoral training. He returned to India and joined the Bose Institute in 1978. He is a recipient of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Biological Science, CSIR; PS Sharma Memorial Prize, Society of Biological Chemist (India); Foundation Day Award, Bose Institute; and BC Guha Memorial Award. He is a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi; Indian Academy of Science, Bangalore; and National Academy of Science, Allahabad.

Basu was educated at Presidency College and Univ College of Science, Kolkata. He obtained his MSc (1964) and PhD (1968) in biochemistry. He is currently JC Bose Chair Professor of the Natl Academy of Sciences India at the Natl Inst of Science Communication and Information Resources, New Delhi. His previous positions include: Faculty associate, Dept of Microbiology, Michael Reese Med Ctr, Chicago; instructor and asst professor, Southwestern Med School, Dallas; asst director, Indian Inst of Chem Biol, Kolkata; deputy director, acting director and director, Inst of Micro Technol, Chandigarh; professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Ctr for Adv Scientific Research, Bangalore; director and professor of eminence of the Natl Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. He is elected member of the Indian Natl Science Acad; Indian Acad of Sciences; Natl Acad of Sciences India; and Amer Soc of Biochem and Mol Biol.

Bambah obtained his MA (Panjab, Govt. Coll., Lahore) in 1945, PhD (Cantab, St. John's College) in 1950 and ScD (Cantab) in1970. He is professor emeritus of Panjab Univ., Chandigarh. His previous positions include: Fellow, St. John's College, Cambridge; member of the Inst. for Advanced Study, Princeton; professor and vice chancellor, Panjab Univ., Chandigarh; professor, Ohio State Univ.; president, Indian Mathematical Society; vice president, Indian Natl. Science Academy; and general president, Indian Science Congress Assn. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture Award (ISCA), the Aryabhatta Medal (INSA), Ramanujan Medal (INSA), Ramanujan Lecture Award (IMS), Ramanujan Medal (ISCA); and Meghnad Saha Award (UGC). He is a fellow of the Indian Natl. Science Academy, the Indian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, India.