Abstract:

This talk will contextualize several new and exciting initiatives currently being implemented in Indian higher education. It will focus specifically on developments at IIT Gandhinagar, one of India’s newest and fastest growing institutes of higher education. Started less than a decade ago, IIT Gandhinagar has sought to establish itself as a center of excellence in research, teaching, and community engagement. The talk will highlight some of the novel initiatives taken by the institute in its journey to revitalize and reimagine the scope and context of a modern engineering education.

The talk will also provide a good opportunity for those interested in a teaching and research career in India to gain a first-hand perspective on new opportunities and possibilities for professional growth. As a quickly growing institute, IIT Gandhinagar is actively looking for outstanding and enthusiastic young faculty members not just in Engineering, but also in the Sciences and the Liberal Arts. IIT Gandhinagar also welcomes academics and industry veterans for shorter durations through its vibrant Visiting Faculty program. The talk will provide a window into various such opportunities, and the following discussion session will serve as a platform to discover ways to get engaged with the institute and contribute to its bold vision.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Pratik Mutha is a faculty member in the Department of Biological Engineering and the Center for Cognitive Science at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, India. He received his Bachelors in Engineering from the University of Pune, India in 2002 and his Masters and PhD from Penn State University in 2009. After a postdoctoral stint at the New Mexico Veterans Affair’s Healthcare System in Albuquerque, NM, he joined IIT Gandhinagar in late 2013. At IIT Gandhinagar, Dr. Mutha has contributed significantly to institutional activities, particularly those related to faculty recruitment and faculty engagement. Among other accolades, Dr. Mutha is a recipient of the prestigious Ramanujan Fellowship of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

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