Best Place To BuildProf. Raghunathan, Dean, Global Engagement | “Everyone successful wears multiple hats”| Ep. 11
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 0:27
Cold open: pressure of publishing and a playful ‘catalyst’ callback
The video begins mid-conversation with a quick exchange about the pressure of being accurate in writing and a humorous callback to ‘forcing function’ vs ‘catalyst.’ This acts as a brief cold open before the formal show intro.
- •Writing/publishing carries high stakes because errors persist
- •Host jokes about ‘forcing function’; professor reframes as ‘catalyst’
- •Quick rapport-building before the episode properly starts
- 0:27 – 1:27
Meet Prof. Raghu: dual departments, author, dean, IITM alumnus
The host introduces Professor Raghu’s many roles—faculty in Chemical Engineering and Data Science & AI, author of two books, and Dean of Global Engagement. The conversation sets up the episode’s theme: building impact through multiple hats.
- •Faculty across Chemical Engineering and Data Science & AI
- •Well-published researcher and engineering textbook author
- •Dean of Global Engagement—what it covers teased for later
- •IIT Madras alumnus (1986–1990)
- 1:27 – 4:15
IIT Madras student life (1986–1990): hostels, sports, Mardi Gras
Professor Raghu reminisces about a low-pressure yet high-fun IITM student experience—late-night TT, cricket, and cultural events. He contrasts that era’s confidence about post-graduation outcomes with the higher pressure students feel today.
- •IITM years as ‘best times’—academics plus fun
- •Hostel Narmada pride; sports and inter-hostel competitions
- •Mardi Gras (now Saarang), poster campaigns, and campus events
- •Perceived increase in student pressure compared to earlier decades
- 4:15 – 6:14
Purdue PhD life: the IITM pipeline and smooth transition abroad
He describes how most of his batch went to the US for graduate studies, and how Purdue had a strong IITM network that made relocation seamless. The chapter highlights graduate school freedom, sports, and the creative side of research.
- •Large fraction of batch pursued US PhDs
- •Strong IITM alumni support system at Purdue (housing, pickup, guidance)
- •Grad school: research creativity after coursework
- •Sports/community as a key part of student life abroad
- 6:14 – 11:22
Chemical engineering explained: scaling reactions, safety, and ‘everywhere’ impact
The discussion clarifies how chemical engineering differs from chemistry: scaling lab reactions to industrial production while managing transport, mixing, heat, and safety. Examples span everyday products to semiconductors and fermentation.
- •Chemists discover reactions; chemical engineers scale them to bulk manufacture
- •Core principles: mass/energy/momentum balances with reactions
- •Scaling effects (mixing/heat transfer) and safety at large volumes
- •Chemical engineering in clothing, fuels, semiconductors (CMP), and more
- •Everyday analogy: idli batter fermentation and dosa heat transfer
- 11:22 – 14:27
Early AI in chemical engineering: expert systems, rules, and a ‘full circle’ floppy disk
Professor Raghu explains how a bachelor’s project on an ‘expert system’ sparked his AI interest and influenced his choice of Purdue. A serendipitous connection reveals the floppy disk tool originated from his future PhD advisor, completing the circle.
- •Bachelor’s project: knowledge-based/expert system for VLE model selection
- •Rule-based AI (150–200 rules), conflict resolution, decision trees
- •Sought rare programs combining AI + chemical engineering; Purdue stood out
- •Prof. Ananth’s recommendation helped admission
- •Floppy disk tool traced back to Prof. Venkat (future advisor)
- 14:27 – 16:04
Learning from Prof. Ananth: teaching mastery, grading style, and campus lore
The host and professor reflect on Professor Ananth’s classroom brilliance—teaching thermodynamics without notes—and his unconventional negative-marking scheme. They share memorable quotes and stories illustrating rigor and the long arc of building institutions.
- •Teaching without notes; board filled with equations from memory
- •Negative-marking-only grading approach and student tactics
- •Anecdotes/quotes (including ‘40 out of what?—pity’)
- •Reflection on building big projects: messy before completion, then clarity
- 16:04 – 22:58
Academic career across IITB and the US: impact, funding, climate, and returning to IITM
Professor Raghu recounts early faculty success at IIT Bombay, then the decision to move to the US for greater impact in systems/AI research. He details an unusually smooth transition to Clarkson with his PhD students, a later move to Texas Tech, and the catalyst moment that brought him back to IIT Madras.
- •IIT Bombay (1996–2000): supportive department and fast PhD advising momentum
- •Moved to US for perceived higher research impact and ecosystem advantages
- •Clarkson: negotiated funding and transfer of 4 PhD students (rare at the time)
- •Left Clarkson largely due to harsh winters; brief stint at Texas Tech
- •Return trigger: conference encounter + Prof. Ananth’s nudge + spouse’s strong preference
- 22:58 – 27:00
Why write engineering books: simplifying process control and making data science accessible
He explains the teaching-driven motivation behind two books: one on process control built around a unifying mathematical principle, and another on data science for engineers that connects abstract foundations to practical applications. The emphasis is on rigor plus accessibility for students and industry learners.
- •Process control book: simplifying course around a central idea (partial fractions/structure)
- •Data Science for Engineers: connecting linear algebra, optimization, statistics to real DS work
- •Industry teaching (early days) drove need for coherent materials
- •Goal: theoretically accurate yet accessible explanations
- 27:00 – 31:41
The hidden grind of authorship: accuracy pressure, COVID finishing sprint, and dean-time constraints
The professor describes the sleepless, high-pressure nature of textbook writing where mistakes persist indefinitely. He shares how COVID enabled final verification for one book, while jet lag during a US trip created a rare window to finish corrections for the other amid deanship demands.
- •Books require exhaustive checking; reputation and permanence raise stakes
- •Process control text finalized with co-author during COVID work sessions
- •Data science book finished using 2:30am–9:00am jet-lag work blocks
- •Deanship responsibilities can crowd out deep work—requires creative time windows
- 31:41 – 36:14
Dean of Global Engagement: why it split from INAR and how the office is structured
Global Engagement emerged when International & Alumni Relations became too broad and was split into two deanships. Professor Raghu outlines the office’s verticals and the practical work of enabling global academic mobility, partnerships, conferences, and major grant administration.
- •INAR split into Alumni & Corporate Relations and Global Engagement
- •Four verticals: academic programs, academic research, conferences, IoE administration
- •Student mobility: inbound/outbound exchanges, structured joint programs
- •Operational support: visas/FRRO, outreach, credit/course matchmaking with departments
- 36:14 – 39:43
Strategic collaborations and capacity building: moving beyond rankings + conferences + IoE funding model
He explains how IITM now selects collaborations based on intent and pockets of excellence rather than rankings. The office uses conferences to bring global experts to campus, and administers Institute of Eminence funding with a bottom-up approach to identify high-potential research groups.
- •Shift in demand: many universities now seek IITM partnerships
- •Partnership philosophy: value intent and domain excellence over rank
- •Capacity-building via global links in strategic areas (e.g., semiconductors)
- •International conferences on campus to benefit student exposure and networking
- •IoE: major funding, largely allocated to research via bottom-up proposal selection
- 39:43 – 43:55
Taking IIT Madras global: IITM Zanzibar as a ‘microcosm’ campus with full-stack mission
The conversation transitions from bringing the world to IITM toward exporting IITM itself. IIT Madras Zanzibar is presented not as a degree-only outpost but as a smaller, full-function institute spanning teaching, research, skilling, consultancy, and innovation.
- •First offshore campus of IIT Madras (and among IITs)
- •Vision: full-stack university model—degrees, research, skilling, consultancy, incubation
- •Goal to scale into a leading East African institute over time
- •Initial programs: BS DS&AI, MTech DS&AI, MTech Ocean Structures
- 43:55 – 57:33
Zanzibar operations: admissions model, international student mix, faculty strategy, and leadership challenges
Professor Raghu details how admissions are conducted through IITM-designed tests and interviews open worldwide, producing a diverse cohort. He describes the faculty plan—permanent hires plus visiting faculty from IITM, other IITs, and global universities—and highlights the complexity of building culture-sensitive infrastructure under Director Prof. Preeti’s leadership.
- •Admissions: separate entrance test + interview; not JEE-based; open globally
- •Current cohort mix: significant Indian, Zanzibar, and other African/international students
- •Faculty model: 5 permanent faculty + rotating faculty from IITM/other IITs/global universities
- •Value proposition: international classroom + broader worldview and adaptability
- •Director Prof. Preeti’s role: multi-hat leadership amid finance/approvals/culture learning
- 57:33 – 1:13:33
IITM Global: a lighter model to export research, IP, and startups + closing reflections on multiple hats
Beyond a full campus, IITM Global is introduced as a platform with physical presences abroad to enable research contracts, IP translation, and innovation partnerships. The episode closes with his startup portfolio, thoughts on time management and equanimity, personal relaxation, the Walmart Center for Tech Excellence, and final sign-off.
- •IITM Global: extend IITM’s research, patents, and startup ecosystem internationally
- •Distinct from degree-focused international expansions; centered on research/innovation/IP
- •Three startups: GAN Data (industry AI services), Geetha (education + assessment product), Elysius (fuel cell architecture)
- •Academics must juggle teaching, research, management, administration, and innovation
- •Relaxation: OTT shows with spouse, past tennis, Carnatic flute, desire to write beyond technical work
- •Walmart Center: CSR effort to bring AI/ML/IoT to MSMEs; roadmap emerging after first year
