S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Madras has launched ‘Young Research Fellow (YRF)’ programme for the students to motivate them to pursue a career path in research and application of deeper learning in other career tracks.
IIT Madras has introduced this programme drawing inspiration from Super-UROP programme at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This is open to third year undergraduate and dual degree students of IIT Madras.
IIT Madras 2020
This programme by IIT Madras provides one-on-one interaction with the high calibre IIT faculty members, to participate in cutting edge research.
The students will also benefit personally, through a ‘career and life coaching’ (CLIC) program concurrently being delivered by the 1979 alumni, closely curated by expert professional coaches.
The Project is being funded by the alumni class of 1979. The MoU was signed on 10 July by Professor Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras and twenty-four alumni of the 1979 batch across the world, on behalf of the entire alumni class of 1979.
IIT Madras director Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi said IIT Madras has long been known for producing world-class undergraduate students.
Today, IIT Madras is very much a research-intensive university where world-class research is a daily pursuit.
This program blends these two strengths by giving select undergraduate students an opportunity to discover the excitement of research early, he said.
This is a year-long program and up to twenty fellowships are being planned to be awarded in the first year.
This is a highly selective program and applications will be examined by a senior faculty committee. The program will encourage multi-disciplinary projects.
Professor Anantha Chandrakasan, Dean of Engineering, MIT, who founded the ‘Super-UROP’ program said he wished all success for the YRF program.
Involving undergraduates in research will foster an appreciation for deeper learning and innovation, enabling their success in a wide array of career paths, including graduate studies, he said.
The IIT Madras YRF program has already received a lot of encouragement and shows of support, with industry and academic partners expressing keen interest.
The year-long unique program is designed to provide immersive and intense scientific exploration opportunities to the students, with the participants executing research projects in any academic department or across departments for inter-disciplinary projects.
Professor Mahesh Panchagnula the class of ’79 has championed a unique program that is both timely and innovative.
At a time when India is talking of self-reliance, this program aims to create an interest in deep tech research among some of the best and brightest students in India.
The IIT Madras YRF was conceptualised by the Alumni Batch of 1979. The 79ers, with a team spanning nearly 30 members spread across 10 teams, have handled various elements including program structure, fund-raising, financial strategy planning, and marketing for the program.
Their contribution as founders and mentors has been invaluable and their continued personal involvement will be the lynchpin of the program’s success.
Subrahmanyam Dravida from the Class of 1979 of IIT Madras they wanted to give back to IIT Madras by designing a program that will deepen the undergraduate experience through immersion in research.
We hope this program also enhances the overall research environment at IIT. YRF will also allow students from other colleges to participate.
We are grateful to Professor Anantha Chandrakasan who guided us on the framework for YRF. We thank the class of 1979 for their time, ideas and generosity.
In time we hope YRF becomes a model worthy of emulation in all Indian colleges, he said.
Another student of IIT Madras from 1979 batch Naru Sarath said his program goes to the core of how an individual becomes ‘competitive’ and excels, in whatever career track one chooses, not only in research – being a deep tech entrepreneur, or being one of the best minds in engineering, consulting or investment banking, or product management, etc.
We are fortunate to have some of the best faculty in the world available at IITM, that are motivated to shape these young minds, he said.
Speaking about the benefits of the programme for IIT Madras students Professor Preeti Aghalayam, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, and Coordinator of the program, said they want students to truly immerse themselves in research and share in the joy of discovery.
The students selected into the program will be paid a monthly honorarium, provided research guidance by IIT Madras faculty and will participate in an interactive lecture series on research skills.
They can also avail of mentorship by the alumni batch of 1979. The Young Research Fellows will be strongly encouraged to publish their findings in reputed peer-reviewed international journals and to present their work at high quality international conferences for which they will receive travel support.