Tag: Electrical Engineering

Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF) offers Overseas Research Internships for Summer Scholarship 2023 

In collaboration with IIT Kharagpur Foundation, USA (IITKGPF), the Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF) Scholarship was awarded to 11 students of IIT Kharagpur this year. This is the 2nd year that the GKF Scholarship will support the IIT KGP students to carry out their research internship in foreign universities. 10 students were selected by the IIT KGP selection committee for a total scholarship award of $45,000. Each conferred scholarship depends upon the funding received by the student from their host institutions. The GKF scholars are pursuing their summer research internship at premier universities in the USA, UK, Belgium, Canada, and Germany.

Dr. Mukund Padmanabhan
Founder of Guru
Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur 

Mukund Padmanabhan received a BS in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1997, and a MS (1989) and PhD (1992) in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. After UCLA, he worked in the area of speech recognition at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Lab where he managed the Advanced Telephony Speech Algorithms group.

Dr. Mukund Padmanabhan, Founder of Guru Krupa Foundation & Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, the man behind this noble initiative who stated that, “These summer programs definitely add value to IIT KGP academia and it is my pleasure, as an Alumnus, to be able to provide these internships to the current students that will further contribute to their holistic development.” The funds are donated by the KGPian through his Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF) www.gurukrupa.org 

Mr. Manav Nitin Kapadnis
Department of Electrical Engineering
IIT Kharagpur

Manav Nitin Kapadnis, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur and one of the recipient of this prestigious scholarship remarked, “Receiving the scholarship from GKF was truly a life-changing moment for me. As a student pursuing my passion for advancing the field of artificial intelligence and natural language processing, I was granted the remarkable opportunity to work on improving ChatGPT during my internship at Inria Paris. This invaluable experience has not only broadened my academic horizons but has also provided me with practical knowledge and exposure to cutting-edge research in my field. The financial support provided by GKF has been instrumental in making this transformative journey a reality. The scholarship enabled me to cover the expenses associated with my visit to Paris, including travel, accommodation, and living costs. During my internship at Inria Paris, I had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed researchers and professionals in the field. The opportunity to work alongside experts in the area of natural language processing has been both humbling and inspiring. The guidance and mentorship I received have contributed significantly to my growth as a researcher and have fuelled my passion for advancing the boundaries of AI technologies. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the Guru Krupa Foundation for their unwavering commitment to promoting educational and research opportunities for students like me. Your vision and dedication to empowering deserving individuals have had a profound impact on my academic and professional journey. The scholarship has opened doors to new possibilities and has played an instrumental role in shaping my future career trajectory. I am committed to utilizing the knowledge and experiences gained during this internship to make meaningful contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and drive positive change in society.”

After IBM, he pivoted to Wall Street and is currently a partner and researcher at hedge fund Renaissance Technologies in New York. He is the founder and president of the US-based private charitable foundation, the Guru Krupa Foundation that supports the scholarships for research internships for IIT Kharagpur students. Dr. Padmanabhan is the recipient of the Professional Achievement Award from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering in the year 2019 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2021 from IIT Kharagpur.

Shrey Gogia
Department of Physics
IIT Kharagpur

Shrey Gogia, Department of Physics, IIT Kharagpur and another recipient of this prestigious scholarship said, “I am truly grateful to be a recipient of the IIT Kharagpur Foundation Scholarship 2023, conferred by the IITKGP Foundation USA. This scholarship has enabled me to pursue a research internship at one of the leading scientific organisations in Europe: l’Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, France. My experience here would be essential for my development towards becoming a well rounded physicist by providing exposure to frontier research. I thank the selection committee for this honor. I am also grateful for the generosity of our alumni for establishing this scholarship.”

Apart from the above scholarship, 15 students from departments of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Biotechnology, Aerospace Engineering and Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur have also been awarded the IIT Kharagpur Foundation Scholarship 2023 funded by IITKGP Foundation USA.

Anirban Chatterjee, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur and another recipient of this prestigious scholarship remarked, “I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to receive the esteemed Guru Krupa Scholarship, which has played a pivotal role in supporting my foreign internship. This scholarship provided me with the financial assistance I needed to pursue an international internship in my field of study. As an engineering student, I have always been passionate about gaining hands-on experience in a global setting, and the Guru Krupa Scholarship made this dream a reality. Thanks to the generous support provided by the scholarship, I was able to secure an internship with WMG, University of Warwick in the UK. This opportunity allowed me to immerse myself in a diverse and dynamic work environment, where I was able to learn from industry professionals and gain valuable insights into global research practices. Knowing that an esteemed organization such as yours believed in my potential enough to invest in my future strengthened my resolve to make the most out of this internship opportunity. By providing me with the means to pursue an international internship, you have not only helped me expand my skill set and knowledge but have also empowered me to become a global citizen. The experiences and lessons learned during my internship will undoubtedly impact my future academic and career pursuits in immeasurable ways. Thank you for your continued support of aspiring students like myself. I hope that my success story serves as an inspiration for future scholarship recipients, encouraging them to pursue their dreams fearlessly and embrace the transformative power of education.

IITKGP USA Foundation connects KGP Alumni with their alma mater in the US and Canada with the purpose to facilitate and enhance connection and devotion to their alma mater. Their participation takes place by aiding in the development and improvement of IITKGP by the endowment of funds and extending support towards institutional development, student welfare and community development around the KGP campus.

Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur congratulated the recipients saying, “The scholarship has opened doors to new possibilities and played an instrumental role in shaping the future trajectory of meritorious students. This kind of scholarship inspires the students to pursue their passion and gives them a practical notion about research development and implementation of ideas in terms of global industry expertise. I am thankful to Dr. Mukund Padmanabhan and IIT KGP Foundation USA for their such a thoughtful action of generosity that transcended into such inclusive student welfare activity. All the best for all future endeavours.”

Media Coverage:

PTI Economic Times Indian Express
News 18 Dainik Jagran Careers 360
Telegraph  Ananda Bazar Patrika  

Dainik Jagran

Inputs from : IIT KGP Foundation and Office of International Relations, IIT Kharagpur
Email : meenakshi@iitkgpfoundation.org and shruti@adm.iitkgp.ac.in

Edited By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/ 

A Compassionate Patron

You were the beautiful melody in the rhythm of life where the music of your life lives on
To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die…

IIT Kharagpur mourns the loss of our beloved alumni, Mr. Gulab Bhavnani. Though our words can do a little, we hope our prayers will comfort his family and friends in his absence. A man of honour and compassion, Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, encourages all of us in so many ways to be kind and generous. Your Alma Mater will always remember you.

Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, is one of the most eminent alumni of IIT Kharagpur, who left for his heavenly abode on Monday, March 13, 2023. He completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1966 and further proceed with his studies at Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.

Being an entrepreneur, Mr. Bhavnani was the Program Director of WHEELS which is a partnership program initiated by Capital IIT Association, designed to stimulate social entrepreneurship and encourage skilled professionals to create job opportunities for the improvement of lives of US and Indian citizens.  Mr. Bhavnani was also a Managing Partner of Anchor Systems Corporation, and was the Director of IT Delivery for the American Red Cross.

On the humanitarian ground, Mr. Bhavani always came forward to give his half, be it for any charitable or societal cause or any other initiatives and programs held in his Alma Mater.

In the memory of Late Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, his batchmate Mr. Suresh Shenoy  wrote:
“It is with deepest regret that I report the passing away of our friend and colleague, Gulab Bhavnani.. May his soul Rest in Peace. Gulab was a founding member of WHEELS, and I considered him a solid rock of a supporter and among the most reliable ‘go to’ persons. I don’t remember any time when he said “No” to a request! Gulab was always on call for anything related to IIT – our events, gala, charitable endeavours and each time, he gave it all! 
Gulab will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, my friend.
In sadness, but left with fond and lasting memories of a great friend.”

In the remembrance of Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, IIT KGP fraternity mourns in sadness after hearing the news of his demise. Our sincere condolences to his bereaved family. May almighty give enough strength to his family to bear this irreplaceable loss. We pray for eternal peace of his departed soul. He will always be remembered in our thoughts, prayers and action. IIT Kharagpur will forever carry forward his legacy and acknowledge his contributions to the Institute. 

Inputs by: Ms. Namrata Sharma, Office of Outreach & Alumni Affairs, IIT Kharagpur
Email: namrata.iit02@gmail.com

Edited by : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/ 

IIT Kharagpur ranked 1st in Agriculture & Civil Engineering in India in the 13th QS World University Ranking by Subject 2023

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP) ranked 1st in Agriculture Forestry and Civil & Structural Engineering in India, according to the latest edition of the world’s highest QS World University Ranking by Subject for the year 2023. The Institution’s strongest field Engineering & Technology ranked at 82nd with an overall score of 76.7 among all the universities globally and 4th in India, as per the 13th QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023 announced on 23rd March 2023.

In India, IIT KGP ranked 1st in Agriculture & Forestry along with Civil & Structural Engineering. Domestically, the Institute overall ranked 2nd in Architecture & Built Environment, Material Science, Environmental Sciences, Accounting & Finance, Economics & Ergonomics. Core areas of the premier institute including Computer Science & Information Systems, Mineral & Mining Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical & Electronics, Earth & Marine Science and Statistical & Operational Research held 3rd position in all over India.

Globally, the institute ranked 74th in 2023 compared to 80th rank in 2022 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering; 94th in 2023 compared to 109th in 2022 in Computer Science & Information Systems & 106th rank in 2023, improving its rank from 118th in 2022 in Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering.

Speaking on the QS Rankings by Subject 2023, Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “IIT Kharagpur stands out from other IITs with its multi-modal curriculum nurturing creativity, capacity building, affordable healthcare and rapid technological amalgamation. As an Institute of Eminence, we have to acquire the opportunity in digital economy space fostering skill development and encouraging entrepreneurship. The Institute is gearing up to establish bridges with ISRO and futuristic technologies with DRDO in unmanned & robotic technologies, cognitive technologies and secure systems, directed energy technologies, sensor systems and software, life support engineering and baseline technologies in materials. We are also planning to steer ahead in areas like precision agriculture, energy storage systems, hardware security, hydrogen storage, quantum communication, additive manufacturing, 3D printing & composite manufacturing.”

The institute also ranked #1 in Architecture & Regional Planning (ARP) in Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2022.

Media Coverage:

Times of India Telegraph Economic Times
Financial Express Republic World The Print
News 18 Career 360 Krishi Jagran
Free Press Journal Times Now Hindustan Times
Prabhat Khabar Aaj Tak Live Hindustan

Bartaman (Hindi)                                                                    Dainik Jagran                                       Anandabazar Patrika 

                                        


Edited by : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/ 

Prof. Debdeep Mukhopadhyay Awarded The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize For Science And Technology, 2021

Prof. Debdeep Mukhopadhyay of the Computer Science and Engineering Department was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize For Science And Technology 2021 in Engineering Sciences for notable and outstanding research in Cryptography, Information Security, System Security, CAD for VLSI & Embedded Systems, and Cyber-Physical Systems Security.

Prof. Mukhopadhyay completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur and continued with his Ph.D. at the Computer Science department. After a brief teaching stint at IIT Madras, he returned to Kharagpur and embarked on a stellar teaching career. His research involves implementing cryptographic engineering to identify and thwart attack surfaces and side-channel attacks and ensure end-to-end encryption in smartphones and laptops.

In his chat with The KGP Chronicle, he mentioned that he was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn and grow amongst brilliant minds and hardworking researchers during his formative years at the institute. Prof. Partha Pratim Chakrabarti found a special mention as an inspiring mentor who motivated his research endeavors.

Dedicating this award to his late father Mr. Niharendu Mukhopadhyay, Prof. Mukhopadhyay said that he was working in his lab when he got the news of the award. He thanked his family for their constant support. He also mentioned that the award resulted from a ‘baby-step-giant- step’ philosophy in conducting research; he accumulated simple, achievable research goals into a significant result.

He finds joy in breaking through research dead ends and is never shy of taking up new challenges. He is working on a problem considered the “holy grail of computing” in his latest research. In his Secure Embedded Architecture Lab, he develops techniques to ensure data encryption and simultaneously perform search and analytics functions.

As a message to students and young researchers, he asked them to keep faith in themselves and not always be swayed by market-based topics. He asked them to “never forget the fundamentals, concentrate on small, simple, doable goals, and accumulate them into great results.”

Contact: Paramita Dey, Junior Assistant

Do-It-Yourself

India Today

IIT Kharagpur is ready with the DIY Laboratory to inculcate innovation spirit among the first-year undergraduate students through the concept of Do-It-Yourself. The Lab which is located in J C Bose complex was inaugurated on October 22 by Prof. Sriman Kumar Bhattachayya, Officiating Director.

This lab will act as a playground for technical work where instruments and consumables can be accessed in domains of electrical, mechanical and electronics engineering. To begin with 350 first year students will be working on projects selected by students. Students will be supported by technical staff and senior students who will act as design mentors and guide them in their projects.

The initiative will be led by Prof. Vikranth Racherla of the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, who has recently launched the indigenous Make-in-India electric auto DESHLA.

We will start with first-year undergraduate students but moving on the lab will be accessible to all. There will be some fixed slots for 1st year undergraduate students and some open slots where anyone can walk in and work. Projects can be selected by the students – said Prof. Racherla.

Every semester some selected faculty members will be associated with the lab. In the upcoming semester around ten faculty members will join the lab from various disciplines.

The students will be working towards independent product innovations. They will have access to facilities and multidisciplinary guidance and technical assistance to reach their goals – added Prof. Racherla.

The activities were spearheaded by a Committee under the mentorship of the Deputy Director. The committee included Prof. Racherla from Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Debalay Chakrabarti, Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Prof. Nilanjan Mitra, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Prof. Santanu Kapat. Dept. of Electrical Engineering (former faculty member), Prof. Sandeep Saha, Dept of Aerospace Engineering, Prof. Chirag Kalelkar, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering among others. Several other faculty members will be part of this initiative.

Another lab going to be launched soon where Bioscience activities will be taken up confirmed Prof. Sriman Bhattachayya.

The country is aiming to develop manufacturing hubs to pick up pace in the industrial sector. IIT Kharagpur has taken leadership role in eastern India to support MSMEs and industry leaders in advanced manufacturing and healthcare technology commercialization. We are creating an ecosystem towards this and this would also involve inspiring the next generation of innovators who would take off their flight from tinkering laboratories such as the IIT Kharagpur DIY Lab – opined Prof. Bhattachayya.

A Frenchman comes to town

Charlie Fevrier from Toulouse was in IIT Kharagpur recently on a short term internship

Mr Charlie Fevrier from the Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France was in IIT Kharagpur on a short term internship at the Electrical Engineering Department starting April, 2018. Foreign students doing their Masters Programs from any recognized institute/university, and interested in carrying out course work/research not leading to a degree may visit IIT Kharagpur for a short period not exceeding two consecutive semesters with the intervening summer/winter term. Such students are accepted as ‘visiting students’. Students also visit for joint programmes of short duration such as Practicum and Workshops which are organized by the partner universities. The interview with Mr Fevrier was taken during his stay at IIT Kharagpur.

 Tell us about yourself.

I am Charlie Fevrier. I am from France, Toulouse. I finished my MSc in renewable energy. I came for a six month internship in April. I am scheduled to go back in September, but I have some travelling to do. I will go back by the first week of October.

What made you choose IIT Kharagpur?

For a long time now I have wanted to visit Asia, especially India. I wanted my first destination to be India. One of my teachers knows IIT Kharagpur. I sent my mail and my internship was accepted. I did not know anything about IIT Kharagpur. But it has been a nice surprise here.

What did you discover about  IIT Kharagpur?

Everything was a discovery. I did not know that it was a small town like this. This was new for me. It is very different from France. Everything is within the campus. Everyone lives within the campus. You can do everything you want within the campus… go the Golebazar, eat what you like.

How were the facilities here?

My internship was under Prof. Karabi Biswas of the Electrical Engineering Department. My work was to make a prototype to measure voltage etc. I met all the lab personnel. It was very easy to introduce myself. Everyone was kind and helpful. I went to the library to read, and there was AC, which was an additional benefit. The Office of International Relations was very helpful. Every time I had problem, I went to them. In the lab, everybody helped me to find things. Everyone was. very helpful.

How does IIT Kharagpur compare with the laboratories and facilities in France?

In France, it is an open university, not closed like IIT Kharagpur, where everyone and everything is on one campus. There are no doors and walls like this. Most of the students cook their meals. There is not difference where the laboratories are compared. The only difference is that in France, there is too much security in the labs. However, I guess students here have to be careful also. In the Electrical Engineering lab, there is always a chance to get electrocuted.

What was your cultural experience?

I met a lot of people, visited temples. Principal difference was the food. I tried every dish in every canteen and everywhere in every restaurant. I met people and travelled with them. I visited the museum and also played sport. In the three months, I shared my passion with many friends in sports.

Will you encourage others to come here?

The good point is that IIT Kharagpur is very clean… the air is clean, there is little dust, and such a lot of trees. Compared to other cities, there is a lot of nature here. It is a pleasure to go around IIT Kharagpur. Yes, compared to IITs in the other cities, there might be less to do in the campus. But I would prefer to be in IIT Kharagpur than in IIT Delhi, where the air quality is very bad.

What is your feedback?

I am happy with my work. In five months, I have completed my prototype. I created a final prototype that is working. I have written a user manual, a calibration report. I am teaching others to use it correctly. My objective was to create something to help measure power efficiency. In the lab people are using sensors, but these are not energy efficient. I come from ‘renewable energy’ background. I wanted to make sensors autonomous by adding batteries, solar panel. My prototype is now measuring how much power has been consumed. So I made the prototype that measures power, voltage, AC/DC, frequency, fast drift so that I can measure the data.

What is your favourite place in IIT Kharagpur?

I like Vikramshila, where we were training, especially when there is nobody. I like the guest house. Up the staircase, there is a place from where you can view the sunrise and sunset. And Chedis’, where I have been many a time.

Following the conclusion of his internship at IIT Kharagpur, Mr Fevrier left for a month-long tour that started in North-eastern India. He began his journey from Shillong, and travelled to Darjeeling, Nepal, parts of Himachal Pradesh and finally Rajasthan. His only regret is that he did not have time to visit South India. His two-day stay at IIT Kharagpur following his trip was taken up with meeting and bidding goodbye to the friends he had made in the campus, and a few more visits to Chedis’. Mr Fevrier left for France on October 3, 2018.