CareerEducationEducation News

IIT-Madras Launches ‘Young Research Fellow’ programme for UG students

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched the ‘IITM Young Research Fellow’ (YRF) program for undergraduate (UG) students. The program is launched with an initiative to motivate students towards a career path in the field of Research and application of deeper learning in other career tracks.

The YRF program is inspired by the highly successful ‘Super-UROP’ program at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is open to Dual Degree Students and Third Year Undergraduate of IIT Madras.

The program provides students with one-on-one interaction with the IIT faculty members, to participate in an interactive lecture series on research skills. The students will also benefit personally, as the program is curated by expert professional coaches and offer a ‘career and life coaching’ (CLIC) program delivered by the 1979 alumni.

IIT-Madras said in an official a statement that students selected into the programme will get a monthly honorarium and can also avail of mentorship by the alumni batch of 1979.

Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras thanks to the Alumni Class of 1979 who is supporting the current batch of students through this YRF programme has said that the class of ’79 has championed a unique programme that is both innovative and timely. When India is talking of self-reliance, this YRF programme aims to create an interest in deep tech research in India.

Alumni Batch of 1979 conceptualised the IITM YRF. The 79ers, with a team spanning nearly 30 members and is spread across 10 teams, has successfully handled various elements including program structure, financial strategy planning, fund-raising, and marketing for the program. Their contribution as mentors and founders has been invaluable and their continuous personal involvement in the program will be the lynchpin of the program’s success.

The statement also added that The Young Research Fellows will be strongly encouraged to publish their research findings in international journals (reputed peer-reviewed) and to present their work at high-profile quality international conferences for which travel support will be provided. Also includes inter-disciplinary projects.

The institute claims that The IIT-M YRF programme has already received a lot of support and encouragement with industry and academic partners expressing keen interest.

YRF is a year-long programme and up to 20 fellowships are being planned to be awarded in the first year. Being a highly selective program, the applications will be examined by a senior faculty committee.

Dean of Engineering, MIT, Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan, who founded the ‘Super-UROP’ program at MIT, has wished all success for the YRF program. This initiative will foster an appreciation for deeper learning and innovation and enabling undergraduate’s success in a wide array of career paths.

Click here for more Education News

Back to top button