Best Place To BuildProf. Raghunathan, Dean, Global Engagement | “Everyone successful wears multiple hats”| Ep. 11
CHAPTERS
Welcome to ‘Best Place to Build’: Prof. Raghu’s many roles at IIT Madras
The host introduces Prof. Raghunathan (Prof. Raghu) and sets the context: a professor spanning Chemical Engineering and Data Science & AI, author of two books, and Dean of Global Engagement. The conversation is framed around what makes IIT Madras a unique place to learn, build, and engage globally.
Life as an IITM student (1986–1990): hostels, sports, and campus culture
Prof. Raghu reflects on his IIT Madras student years, emphasizing the balance of academics with a low-pressure, high-fun environment. He recounts hostel life, late-night games, sports competitions, and cultural festivals as formative experiences.
Studying abroad at Purdue: community networks and research freedom
He describes how common it was for his cohort to pursue graduate studies in the US and how Purdue offered a smooth transition due to a strong IITM network. Graduate school is portrayed as a time of exploration—sports, coursework, and the creativity of research.
What chemical engineering really is: scaling, safety, and “making things in bulk”
Prof. Raghu explains chemical engineering in lay terms by contrasting it with chemistry: chemists discover reactions, chemical engineers scale them safely and efficiently. He illustrates how chemical engineering appears everywhere—from clothing to semiconductors—and why scaling changes everything.
Early AI in chemical engineering: expert systems and a “full-circle” origin story
He recounts how an undergraduate project on building an expert system sparked his interest in AI. That interest guided his choice of Purdue, where faculty were working on AI in chemical engineering—revealing that the original floppy disk for his project traced back to his future PhD advisor.
Mentorship and Prof. Ananth stories: teaching brilliance and lasting influence
The conversation turns to Prof. Ananth’s impact—his note-free thermodynamics teaching and unusual grading style. Humorous anecdotes highlight both rigor and culture, reinforcing how mentorship can shape careers and decisions.
Academic journey across IIT Bombay and US universities—and the decision to return
Prof. Raghu outlines his faculty journey: IIT Bombay, Clarkson University, Texas Tech, and the eventual return to IIT Madras. He explains differences in context and impact, the practical challenges of moving research groups, and the personal/family factors that triggered his return.
From teaching to authorship: why he wrote books on process control and data science
He explains how repeated teaching pushed him to simplify concepts and develop coherent frameworks—eventually turning into textbooks. The process required balancing theoretical accuracy with accessibility, especially for industry learners in data science.
The hidden grind of writing technical books: accuracy pressure and COVID/jetlag hacks
Prof. Raghu details the intense effort behind producing error-free engineering books, where mistakes persist permanently. He shares how COVID enabled focused collaboration for final checks, and how jetlag time was repurposed for last-mile edits amid dean responsibilities.
Defining Global Engagement at IITM: from INAR split to a structured office
He explains how the earlier International & Alumni Relations deanship became too broad and was split into Alumni/Corporate Relations and Global Engagement. Global Engagement was then organized into clear verticals spanning programs, research, conferences, and Institute of Eminence administration.
Academic matchmaking and strategic collaborations: beyond rankings
Prof. Raghu describes how the office supports visas, logistics, outreach, and course/research matching for international visitors and IITM students abroad. Strategically, he emphasizes intent and pockets of excellence over university rankings, and highlights collaborations in emerging national-priority areas like semiconductors.
Conferences and Institute of Eminence (IoE): bringing global research to campus
He explains why hosting international conferences at IITM matters—students gain direct access to top researchers and networks without leaving campus. He also outlines how IITM used IoE funding largely for research projects via a bottom-up proposal process rather than a top-down directive.
Taking IIT Madras global: the Zanzibar campus vision and operating model
The discussion moves from ‘bringing the world to IITM’ toward building IITM’s presence abroad, starting with IIT Madras Zanzibar—designed as a microcosm of IITM rather than a degree-only outpost. He outlines programs, admissions, student mix, faculty strategy, and the broader educational rationale for an international campus.
Challenges, culture, and leadership in Zanzibar + IITM Global for research/innovation export
He credits Prof. Preeti (campus director) for handling complex multi-hat leadership—building infrastructure, navigating finances/approvals, and adapting culturally. The conversation then distinguishes the heavy process of an offshore campus from a newer, lighter model: IITM Global—physical outposts to take IITM research, IP, and startups to other countries.
Startups, centers, and the ‘multiple hats’ thesis: managing success, failure, and time
Prof. Raghu details three startups (GAN Data, Geetha, Elysius) and explains how modern faculty work extends far beyond teaching and research into management, administration, and product/innovation delivery. He shares a philosophy of equanimity and pacing—accepting that not everything will go right, while staying steady through successes and failures.
Relaxation, personal interests, and the Walmart Center for Tech Excellence (MSME AI enablement)
He shares how he relaxes—watching shows with his wife, past tennis, learning Carnatic flute, and aspirations to write more broadly. The episode closes with the Walmart Center’s mission: making AI/ML/IoT adoption feasible for MSMEs that can’t retain expensive talent, and building a clearer multi-year roadmap from early experimentation.
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