Chennai-Born engineer Prof. Chandrakasan appointed Provost of MIT
Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan has been named Massachusetts Institute of Technology's new provost. The Consulate General of India in New York congratulated Prof. Chandrakasan, noting that he is the first Indian-American to have achieved this feat. Chennai-born Prof. Chandrakasan, who is MIT's chief innovation and strategy officer and Dean of Engineering, will begin his new role on July 1.
The MIT provost is the institute's chief academic and budget officer, with a wide-ranging portfolio that encompasses everything related to faculty, oversight of the educational enterprise, and prime responsibility for MIT's strategic planning. In a statement from MIT, Prof. Chandrakasan said he is 'deeply honoured' to take on the role of provost. 'Looking ahead, I see myself as a key facilitator, enabling faculty, students, postdocs, and staff to continue making extraordinary contributions to the nation and the world,' he said.
At a 'perilous' time for MIT
MIT President Sally Kornbluth, in making the announcement, said that Prof. Chandrakasan was chosen from a group of outstanding internal candidates and brings to this post an exceptional record of shaping and leading important innovations for the Institute.
Ms. Kornbluth noted that Prof. Chandrakasan steps into the provost's role at a 'perilous' time for MIT when some of its most basic operating assumptions – including MIT's ability to count on extensive federal support for its mission of research, education and innovation, and to attract and retain superb talent from around the world – are now uncertain. 'In a time of such intense pressure and potentially historic change, I am particularly grateful that we will be able to draw on Anantha's depth and breadth of experience; his nimbleness, entrepreneurial spirit and boundless energy; his remarkable record in raising funds from outside sources for important ideas; and his profound commitment to MIT's mission,' she said.
The Consulate General of India said, 'A distinguished academic and leader, Prof. Chandrakasan has remained a strong advocate of India-USA technological and R&D collaboration; has been working with various Indian government and private sector stakeholders towards this objective. We wish him all success in this important responsibility'.
Prof. Chandrakasan has served as the dean of the School of Engineering since 2017 and as MIT's inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer since 2024. Prior to becoming dean, he headed the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), MIT's largest academic department, for six years.
Ms. Kornbluth said she had chosen him as MIT's inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer (CISO) because of his 'can-do attitude, creativity, enthusiasm, strategic insight, fluency across a wide range of subject areas, and gift for engaging industry allies and donors.' Prof. Chandrakasan succeeds Cynthia Barnhart, who announced her decision to step down from the role in February.
Road ahead
As MIT's chief academic officer, Prof. Chandrakasan will focus on three overarching priorities: understanding institutional needs and strategic financial planning, attracting and retaining top talent, and supporting cross-cutting research, education, and entrepreneurship programming, the MIT statement said. 'Recognising that each school and other academic units operate within a unique context, I plan to engage deeply with their leaders to understand their challenges and aspirations. This will help me refine and set the priorities for the Office of the Provost,' Prof. Chandrakasan said.
Prof. Chandrakasan also plans to establish a provost faculty advisory group to hear on an ongoing basis from faculty across the five schools and the college, as well as student/postdoc advisory groups and an external provost advisory council, he said adding that his goal is to continue to facilitate excellence at MIT at all levels, it said.
"We need students who can do more than just code or design or build. We really need students who understand the human perspective and human insights. This is why collaborations between STEM fields and the humanities, arts and social sciences, such as through the new MIT Human Insights Collaborative, are so important,' Prof. Chandrakasan said.
Prof. Chandrakasan earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley. After joining the MIT faculty, he was director of the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) from 2006 until he became the head of EECS in 2011.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
While the world hits brake, India sees a hiring surge: Here's what driving the job market momentum
AI Literacy In a global economy grappling under the mounting weight of hiring freezes, inflation anxieties, and softening demands, India's job market is charting a divergent path against all odds. As Western economies from Europe to the Pacific scale back recruitment, India is experiencing a tangible acceleration in job creation, defying global trends with a momentum that appears structural rather than personal. The latest data from global recruitment platform Indeed reveals that Indian job postings surged by 8.9% in May 2025, ending an eight-month downward streak. Although still 1.8% below last year's levels and approximately 16% off their pandemic-era peak, the broader picture is far more compelling: Job postings remain nearly 80% above pre-pandemic volumes, placing India at the top tier among global labour markets. What appears on the surface as a numerical rebound is in fact emblematic of deeper economic shifts stemming from policy, demography, digitisation, and a fundamental reordering of labour market. As other nations stall or retreat, India's job engine is not merely running; it is gathering speed. Formalisation : The silent force redefining Indian employment The most remarkable force behind India's hiring boom is its systemic transition from informal to formal work structures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Wrinkle Cream Is "Actually Worth It" The Skincare Magazine Undo What once operated in the shadows of the economy is now being accounted for, taxed, regulated, and empowered. Policy interventions, such as the GST rollout, digitised compliance frameworks, and unified labour codes, are bringing unprecedented transparency and legitimacy to millions of jobs. Callam Pickering, APAC Senior Economist at Indeed, explains: 'India is undergoing a formalisation that most economies are not. This transition is making formal job creation stronger than overall employment growth.' Formal jobs mean contracts, benefits, and visibility, an essential trifecta for sustainable workforce expansion. And as businesses embrace digital hiring and payroll systems, the pace of this formal shift is only accelerating. Post-pandemic demand: Not a rebound, but a redesign India's hiring spike is not a reflexive rebound from COVID-era job losses. It is a recalibration driven by recalculated needs. Pandemic disruptions forced businesses to rethink their structures, and individuals to reassess career paths. The result: Demand has shifted into new sectors, reflecting altered lifestyles and emerging national priorities. According to Indeed's latest data, hiring surged in: Childcare (+27%) Personal care & home health (+25%) Education (+24%) Manufacturing & production (+22%) These gains point to the country's shifting socio-economic compass: more families seeking domestic support, more students turning to remote and hybrid learning, and a manufacturing sector that is beginning to benefit from supply chain realignments and 'China-plus-one' strategies. The rise of Generative AI : A tech sector reborn With Artificial Intelligence known to disrupt its birthland, software engineering across the globe, India has a silver lining to offer. Though the conventional software programming roles have witnessed a significant decline of –4.2%, the graph for India's tech sector has demonstrated a modest inflation rather than erosion. Generative AI is breathing new life into recruitment patterns. According to the data revealed by Indeed, in May 2025, 1.5% of all job openings listed generative AI, which is double that of the previous year. 12.5% of data analytics roles now reference generative AI. Karnataka and Telangana are leading regional hubs for AI roles, with 2.4% and 2.3% of job postings, respectively, containing related keywords. Hence, the question now is not whether AI will disrupt the job market, rather it is that whether we have learnt to co-exist with the emerging technology. India is fast becoming an R&D command centre in the global AI revolution. These roles aren't limited to coders; they traverse through marketing, business intelligence, and scientific research. As demand for AI integration grows, so does India's strategic positioning as a workforce capital. Demographic advantage: Youth meets opportunity Well, on one hand, where most of the world is ageing, India is still cherishing its youth. With over 65% of its population below the age of 35, India continues to be one of the few nations where the labour force is still expanding. This demographic edge, coupled with lower wage expectations and rising skill levels, makes India a natural choice for multinational employers navigating global cost pressures. However, this is no longer just about the arbitrage. Increasingly, Indian talent is sought not for affordability but for adaptability, English fluency, and STEM proficiency. As Western labour markets shrink and labour costs balloon, India remains a deep, untapped reservoir of intellectual capital. Skill development and digital push: Laying the groundwork for long-term gains Government initiatives have played a key role in equipping India's workforce for emerging demands. Programmes like Skill India, Digital India, and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana have widened access to vocational training, especially in Tier II and Tier III cities. The impact is visible: Digitally literate candidates, job-ready graduates, and certified technicians are entering the formal economy at an accelerated pace. This groundwork is strengthening India's capacity to meet domestic needs and attract international hiring mandates. Still, one challenge looms large: The skill gap. While the quantity of labour is India's strength, quality remains a constraint in some advanced sectors. Solving this mismatch will be the difference between a temporary spike and a sustained employment miracle. A nation in transition, not just in recovery India's labour market is not simply recovering, it is being reshaped. What we're witnessing is not cyclical; it is epochal. Formalisation, digital transformation, sectoral diversification, and a generational demographic advantage are converging to create an employment environment unlike any in recent memory. The global slowdown is real, but India's defiance of that trend is equally real, and deeply consequential. If current momentum can be matched with policy foresight, educational reform, and infrastructure readiness, India may not just weather the global hiring storm, it could emerge as its antidote. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Indian airline breaks into world's top 3 low-cost carriers at aviation's Oscars 2025
IndiGo secured a spot among the world's top low-cost airlines in the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards announced on Tuesday. Malaysia-based AirAsia topped the global rankings, followed by Singapore's Scoot, with IndiGo taking third place. Notably, no Indian airline featured on the list of the world's best full-service carriers, which was topped by Qatar Airways . This marks the ninth time the airline has claimed the top spot in the 26-year history of the Skytrax Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of the aviation industry. Qatar was also named Best Airline in the Middle East, World's Best Business Class, and Best Business Class Airline Lounge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo ALSO READ: Several Air India, IndiGo flights cancelled today: Here's the full list (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The awards come after the airline, established in 1993, announced that it was purchasing up to 210 widebody jets, including 130 Dreamliners, and 30 777-9s from Boeing in a historic order last month. Live Events Singapore Airlines , which has previously won the title of World's Best Airline five times, ranked second this year. It also picked up honours for World's Best Cabin Crew, Best First Class, and Best Airline in Asia. ALSO READ: Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi makes emergency landing after bomb threat Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong secured third place, followed by Emirates from Dubai in fourth, and Japan's ANA All Nippon Airways in fifth. Turkish Airlines came in sixth, while South Korea's Korean Air and France's Air France took the seventh and eighth spots respectively. Japan Airlines ranked ninth, and China's Hainan Airlines completed the top 10. 'We welcomed back a large number of previous winners and were also delighted to see new faces and airlines represented here today,' said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. ALSO READ: World's least liveable cities in 2025 revealed 'As is indicated by so many former winning airlines being awarded again, quality consistency is clearly well recognized by customers when they vote for these airlines.' The 'wholly independent and impartial' awards, which began in 1999, saw votes gathered from surveys of around 22.3 million customers, with more than 325 airlines featured this year. Around 500 representatives from airlines around the world attended the gala event in the restored Art Deco terminal of the original Le Bourget Airport, based at the heart of the Paris Air Show, including presidents, CEOs and airline crew. World's Top 20 Airlines In 2025 1. Qatar Airways 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Cathay Pacific 4. Emirates 5. ANA All Nippon Airways 6. Turkish Airlines 7. Korean Air 8. Air France 9. Japan Airlines 10. Hainan Airlines World's Best Low-Cost Airlines 2025 1. AirAsia 2. Scoot 3. Indigo 4. Eurowings 5. Vueling Airlines 6. Volotea 7. Transavia 8. Iberia Express 9. Flynas 10. easyJet
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Chinese AI developers fly hard drives abroad to sidestep US chip curbs: WSJ report
Such moves challenge the limits of US export controls. The layers of intermediaries between US tech and their Chinese users make it difficult to ascertain if US laws are being broken. Meanwhile, Middle East could become another hub for Chinese AI developers looking to access US chips. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) companies are physically moving data outside the country as a workaround to the US curbs hindering access to advanced semiconductors , according to a Wall Street Journal 2022, the US has tightened restrictions on the sale of advanced AI chips and tech to China over national security concerns. While some use domestic chips as substitutes, others smuggle US-made hardware through third countries, though this has become harder due to increased US pressure. Chinese AI developers are now employing a new tactic of moving their data abroad to places like Southeast Asia and the Middle East, allowing them to access American AI chips outside strategies challenge the limits of US export controls. There exist layers of intermediaries between US tech and their Chinese users, making it difficult to ascertain if US laws are being its final days, the Biden administration proposed country-specific chip purchase caps to prevent countries like Malaysia from supplying China. These caps would have required overseas buyers to accept national security terms, potentially banning Chinese in May, the Trump administration dropped the plan, citing the regulatory burden on US firms like Nvidia . Instead, it warned companies to ensure their products aren't used to train Chinese AI a Chinese AI company, executing the "Malaysia plan" took months of preparation, people involved in the process told WSJ. Engineers physically fly hard drives containing massive data sets into Malaysia, as transferring the massive data sets over the internet could take months. Before the trip, they spent over eight weeks optimising the data and fine-tuning the AI training program, knowing updates would be difficult once the data left company had previously used the same Malaysian data centre in July, operating through a Singaporean subsidiary. But as Nvidia and its vendors increased scrutiny of AI chip end users, the Malaysian data centre asked the Chinese firm to switch to a local Malaysian entity to avoid company then registered a Malaysian business in Kuala Lumpur, listing three local citizens as directors and an offshore holding firm as the parent company, corporate records avoid drawing attention at customs, engineers split the hard drives across four suitcases, unlike the previous year when they packed everything into one. They recently returned to China with several hundred gigabytes of results, including model parameters from the AI training, WSJ cumbersome, this approach allowed them to avoid importing AI hardware into China, which has become increasingly risky due to tightening controls across Southeast Asia. In February, Singaporean authorities accused three individuals of falsely declaring the destination of Nvidia servers worth millions. While Singapore doesn't enforce foreign export laws, officials stated they won't tolerate misuse of the country to sidestep such centres are rapidly emerging across Southeast Asia. Real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle estimates that Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia collectively have nearly 2,000 megawatts of data centre capacity, comparable to the combined capacity of London and Frankfurt, the largest data centre hubs in Europe. In March and April alone, Malaysia imported $3.4 billion worth of AI chips and other processors from Taiwan—exceeding the country's total imports of such chips for all of 2024, according to Taiwan's International Trade facilities cater to both Western and Chinese clients. Earlier this year, a Beijing-based tech firm took over a lease for 200 AI servers that a data centre in Malaysia had originally earmarked for an American cloud-computing company, people familiar with the arrangement told as the Middle East becomes a hub of AI investments from the US , courtesy of agreements signed during President Donald Trump's visit to the region, it could become the hotbed of Chinese activity.
