Microsoft announces PhD fellowship prog awards

Bangalore, July 17: Microsoft Research India today announced five Ph D Fellowship programme awards for 2007.

The Awardees were Shanmuganathan R. (Indian Institute of Technology [IIT] Bombay ), B.V.N. Silpa (IIT Delhi), Arnab Sarkar (IIT Kharagpur), Arpita Patra (IIT Madras) and Rama Suri Narayanam (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore).

The Ph.D. Fellowship Programme aimed to encourage students to take up doctoral education in computer science and help the growth of the research community in India. Instituted by Microsoft Research's External Research and Programmes group, the students were selected after a rigorous selection process that included nomination by their faculty and selection by a panel of leading researchers.

Through the Ph.D. Fellowship Programme, Microsoft Research India offered the recipients funding of US Dollars 20,000 over four years and a travel allowance of US Dollars 5,000 to attend international conferences and seminars. As part of the Ph.D. Fellowship Programme, the selected students would also be given a laptop computer and an internship opportunity of three to six months at Microsoft Research India during the first two years of their fellowship.

''Research is critical to innovation, which leads to technological leadership'', said P. Anandan, Managing Director of Microsoft Research India. ''India has a large pool of bright young students who would make great researchers, but unfortunately very few of them go on to pursue advanced studies. These Ph.D. fellowships are meant to encourage talented students to pursue a doctorate degree and go on to a career in research'' he added.

''Microsoft Research India is committed to increasing the Ph.D.

pipeline and advancing the growth of research in India'' said Vidya Natampally, Director of Strategy at Microsoft Research India adding that the programme identified and provided support to some of the best research talent in the country.

The fellowships are granted to candidates studying in a department oriented toward research in electrical engineering, computer science and engineering from renowned Indian Technical Institutes.

UNI