Dr. Mahesh Panchagnula |"An individual in their professional life gets paid in 2 currencies"| Ep. 22

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

April 25, 2025

Duration

1h 4m

Channel

Best Place To Build

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Join host Amrut in conversation with Professor Mahesh V. Panchagnula, one of IIT Madras's most popular professors. In this wide-ranging interview, Prof. Mahesh discusses the groundbreaking Sports Excellence Admissions program that's diversifying IIT's student body, his work leading the Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics, and his journey from IIT student to US academic to returning as faculty. Prof. Mahesh shares insights on:

• The Sports Excellence Admissions program bringing elite athletes to IIT
• His research spanning fluid mechanics, crowd flow management, and sports analytics
• Comparing academic careers in the US vs. India
• The unique respect and opportunities for IIT professors
• IIT Madras's culture of encouraging multidimensional faculty careers
• The successful IIT Madras incubation ecosystem for startups
• His role in alumni relations and fundraising initiatives
• Upcoming new undergraduate programs at IIT Madras

Discover why Prof. Mahesh believes IIT Madras is "the best place to build a faculty career" and how the institution continues to evolve while maintaining its core values of excellence and innovation. 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Meet Professor Mahesh Panchagnula 01:36 Sports Excellence Program at IIT Madras 02:59 Implementation and Impact of the Sports Quota 06:22 Challenges and Approval Process 10:20 Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics 13:56 Smart Stats and Fan Engagement 15:43 Aligning with Olympic Goals 18:16 Professor Mahesh's Research Interests 19:16 Fluid Mechanics and Crowd Dynamics 20:37 Aerosol Research and Lung Function 22:18 Decision to Return to India 23:47 Comparing Academia in India and the US 26:35 Respect and Rewards for Indian Professors 32:02 The Best Place to Build a Faculty Career 33:02 Choosing Your Axis of Excellence 34:21 Patents and Startups at IIT Madras 35:49 Historical Perspective: IIT Madras in the Late 80s and Early 90s 36:07 The DNA of Industry Consultancy 37:24 Pursuing Excellence Over the Years 38:08 Hostel Life and Nicknames 38:46 The Trend of Going Abroad 39:51 India's Growing Opportunities 40:31 The Rise of Entrepreneurship 41:37 Incubation Cell at IIT Madras 49:37 Alumni Contributions and Fundraising 53:59 ASK IITM Initiative 56:20 Informing Parents and Students 01:01:17 Future Directions and New Programs

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Dr. Mahesh V. Panchagnula

  guest

• Amrut

  host

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Best Place To Build, featuring Dr. Mahesh V. Panchagnula and Amrut, Dr. Mahesh Panchagnula |"An individual in their professional life gets paid in 2 currencies"| Ep. 22 explores iIT Madras’ builder-professor on sports, research, and institutional ecosystems IIT Madras’ Sports Excellence Admissions program admits JEE-Advanced-qualified athletes and uses sports excellence to decide branch allocation, aiming to diversify the student body and improve campus health culture.

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