A Journey from Muchipara to MIT

A Journey from Muchipara to MIT
Manas Dey, 1995 Metallurgical Engineering

In the quaint town of Barrackpore, Arijit embarked on a road trip to Kharagpur for his admission into Masters’ program after completing his Bachelors’ degree from IIEST, Shibpur. Little did he know that this journey would be more convoluted than anything else. As the wheels of his car turned, Arijit reveled in the prospect of a straightforward drive. But, as fate would have it, a phone call intervened, half-way down the road. It was a cosmic awakening, a revelation that had Arijit questioning his academic GPS. The voice on the other end of the line whispered into Arijit’s ears, hinting at a better choice – a shimmering oasis called IISc Bangalore. Suddenly, the road to Kharagpur seemed less appealing. Arijit took a majestic U-turn in Kolaghat. But, oh, the plot thickened! Arijit, after a night of contemplation, found himself back at the gates of IIT Kharagpur the very next day.

Arijit, a PhD from MIT, USA, and now an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, humorously and philosophically narrated this part of his life story. His words resonated with the audience as he painted a vivid picture of how he sailed from Muchipara to MIT, navigating through the unpredictable seas of life.

Setting the tone for the session was Kalpana Majumdar, 1987, CST, injecting humor with an anecdote about her early days in college. The mood was reminiscent of an IIESTian adda, an informal chat between Abhijit Das, the moderator, and his departmental senior, Arijit. Abhijit, a graduate of 2006, an employee of LinkedIn, proudly introduced Arijit, a graduate of 2005, who had gone on to achieve remarkable success. Having earned numerous accolades, including the US National Science Foundation Career award and the Grainger College of Engineering Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, he boasts an impressive array of achievements. Furthermore, he takes pride in securing eighteen patents under his belt.

Similar to many of us, Arijit harbored doubts about his abilities and was pleasantly surprised to find his name in the Joint Entrance Merit List. Arijit’s connection to IIEST ran deep, echoing through generations which helped him to take a decision between Shibpur and Jadavpur. His father, an alum of the 1967 batch, EE, had set a legacy that Arijit proudly followed. IIEST, according to him, was an awe-inspiring and utopian place, akin to his experience at MIT, surrounded only by brilliant minds.

Reflecting on his IIEST days, Arijit acknowledged the profound impact the institution had on his career. Fond memories of professors, world-class labs, and brilliant friends lingered in his recollections. His advice to current students was to embrace the present, utilize the opportunities at hand, and focus on building strong fundamentals. Arijit emphasized the importance of curiosity, encouraging students to ask questions and not fear making mistakes, for mistakes were the steppingstones to learning. He imparted valuable advice to current PhD students, emphasizing that they need not fret about the quantity of publications. Instead, their focus should be on tackling interesting problems. Building a robust professional network and cultivating the ability to ask questions independently are crucial in their career growth.

Arijit’s journey from IIEST to MIT was marked by unplanned turns. His entry into MIT was not a meticulously laid out plan. Unlike many, during early days he hadn’t even been aware of MIT’s existence. Dissatisfied with a managerial role at GE in Bangalore, Arijit sought a place where he could engage hands-on in the lab, leading him to the unexpected discovery of MIT.

The session continued with other alumni sharing their unique journeys. Shreya Sharma, a 2018 AE graduate, narrated her path to MIT, emphasizing the importance of a good project, a strong relationship with a supervisor, and maintaining high grades for admission. Rajyasri Roy, a 2022 CE graduate, discussed the crucial role of CGPA, GRE and TOEFL scores, recommendation letters, and a well-crafted statement of purpose in securing admission. Shubechha Paul, a 2021 ME graduate, discussed her Ph.D. journey at Stanford and debunked the misconception that Ph. Ds are exclusively for academia. She supported her point by citing examples of CEOs with Ph.D. credentials and individuals who ventured into entrepreneurship post their Ph.D. studies. She believes that her international exposure through a DAAD internship played a pivotal role in her Stanford admission. The session concluded with Prabir Niyogi, a 1962 CE graduate, echoing wisdom for budding PhD students. He emphasized the doors that a PhD opens in various career opportunities, urging students to overcome the dilemma of choosing a path.

In Arijit’s closing remarks, he advised current IIEST students to overcome imposter syndrome, believe in their capabilities, foster a logical and inquisitive mindset, and understand that success has no shortcuts. Kalpana Majumdar concluded the session by thanking the executive and core team members formed by Swapan Saha, 1988, EE. She announced the upcoming mentorship programs and SIG initiatives in the next three months in computer/data science, technical consulting, and general leadership areas.

As the session drew to a close, the anticipation for the future loomed large. Arijit’s journey from Muchipara to a successful academic career in the USA mirrored the unpredictability of life’s trajectory. The audience left with a sense of inspiration, armed with valuable insights from accomplished alumni who had navigated life’s dilemmas and emerged triumphant. The promise of a vibrant community building together hung in the air, echoing the spirit of IIEST.

Education
• Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016
• M. Tech., Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 2007
• B. E., Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, 2005

Patents
• 11,183,946, An Integrated Rectifier-Generator system for AC-to-DC Conversion, issued Nov 23, 2021
• 10,036,335, Systems and methods for diagnosing an engine, issued July 31, 2018
• 9,786,423, Method and apparatus for producing an asymmetric magnetic field, issued Oct. 10, 2017
• 9,606,022, Systems and methods for diagnosing engine components and auxiliary equipment associated with an engine, issued Mar. 28, 2017
• 9,255,969, Prognostics and life estimation of electrical machines, issued Feb. 9, 2016
• 9,109,517, Condition monitoring of mechanical drive train coupled with electrical machines, issued Aug. 18, 2015
• 9,050,894, System and method for predicting mechanical failure of a motor, issued Jun. 9, 2015
• 8,803,461, System and method for synchronous machine health monitoring, issued Aug. 12, 2014
• 8,635,034, Method and system for monitoring transformer health, issued Jan. 21, 2014
• 8,626,372, Systems and methods for diagnosing an engine, issued Jan. 7, 2014
• 8,626,371, Systems and methods for diagnosing auxiliary equipment associated with an engine, issued Jan. 7, 2014
• 8,538,626, Systems and methods for diagnosing an engine, issued Sept. 17, 2013
• 8,473,228, Detection of rotor side anomaly in an induction machine, issued Jun. 25, 2013
• 8,264,246, Electrical network representation of a distributed system, issued Sept. 11, 2012
• 8,140,291, Stator turn fault detection apparatus and method for induction machines, issued Mar. 20, 2012
• 8,135,551, Robust on line stator turn fault identification system, issued Mar. 13, 2012
• 8,121,804, Electrical network analysis of a multiphase system, issued Feb. 21, 2012

Research Honors
• 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2021)
• NSF CAREER Award (2020)
• Outstanding Presentation Award – Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) (2013)
• Best Poster Presentation Award – International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM) (2012)
• Emanuel E Landsman Fellowship, MIT (2011)
• GE Global Research: Power Conversion Systems – Innovation Award (2010)
• GE Global Research: Power Conversion Systems – New Technology Award: Motor Monitoring and Diagnostics (2010)
• GE Global Research: Power Conversion Systems – Rookie of the Year (2009)
• GE Global Research: Power Conversion Systems – New Technology Award: Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy using rotating field (2009)
• Institute Silver Medal, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (2007)
• DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) IIT Scholarship, German Academic Exchange Program (2006)
• University Medal, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur (2005)

Teaching Honors
• George Anner Excellence in Undergrad Teaching Award (2024)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students: Power Electronics (ECE 464) and Power Electronics Laboratory (ECE 469) (Fall 2023)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with the distinction of ‘outstanding’): Power Electronics (ECE 464) and Power Electronics Laboratory (ECE 469) and Solar Car (ECE 298) (Fall 2021)
• Engineering Council Outstanding Advisor Award (2020)
• Grainger College of Engineering Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence (2020)
• ECE Ronald W. Pratt Outstanding Teaching Award for Faculty (2019)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students: Modeling and Control of Electromechanical Systems (ECE 568) (Spring 2021)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students: Power Circuits and Electromechanics (ECE 330) (Fall 2020)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with the distinction of ‘outstanding’): Power Circuits and Electromechanics (ECE 330), Solar Car (ECE298) (Spring 2020)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students: Power Electronics (ECE 464), Power Electronics Laboratory (ECE469), Solar Car (ECE298) (Fall 2019)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with the distinction of ‘outstanding’): Power Electronic Converter and Control (ECE 598) and Solar Car (ECE 298) (Spring 2019)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (with the distinction of ‘outstanding’): Power Electronics (ECE 464) and Power Electronics Laboratory (ECE 469) (Fall 2018)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students: Power Electronics (ECE 464) (Fall 2017)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students: Power Circuits and Electromechanics (ECE 330) (Spring 2017)

Source: https://ece.illinois.edu/about/directory/faculty/arijit