India does not produce a large number of PhD level researchers, says Dr P Anandan, managing director of Microsoft Research India in an exclusive interview with contributing managing editor Shobha Warrier.
Before becoming a senior researcher at Microsoft Research HQ in Redmond, USA and later on taking charge as the MD of Microsoft Research India, Dr Anandan was an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Yale University.
He did his B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and Masters from the University of Nebraska, and holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts.
The Microsoft Research lab began operating in 2005 in Bangalore. Excerpts:
Why did Microsoft decide to open its Indian research arm in Bangalore, instead of Hyderabd, where its development centre is located?
As far as science research institutions in India are concerned, Bangalore has a long history and rich culture, Indian Institute of Science being the oldest PhD granting science institution in India. We chose Bangalore mainly for this reason.
India often draws flak for not producing enough research oriented students. When you started recruiting, did you have the same feeling?
It's true that India does not produce a large number of PhD level researchers. In computer science, it is around 50 students a year compared to more than 1500 in the US. It is a real problem.
Image: Dr P Anandan, managing director, Microsoft Research Lab, India. | Photograph, courtesy: Microsoft Research Lab, India
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