Prateekee Chatterjee — India
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ph.D.
Graduation: December 2028
In today's modern era of battery centered clean energy initiatives, power electronic devices such as converters and inverters play a major role. However the same devices introduce a lot of noise called "common mode" currents in a system which can flow through arbitrary paths and cause trouble. I work in designing components- chokes and resistors- that mitigate such common mode noise in various systems.
Q
What do you hope to do after graduation?
A
As I get closer to graduation, I aim to study the real world lacunae and need of my research so that I can fully comprehend where and how to make an impact. Being someone who enjoys research and lab and working on hardware prototypes, I wish to work in R&D labs of companies, or national labs where cutting edge research is pushing the boundaries for what is to come in the next 20 years.
Q
What was the most valuable advice you received before or during graduate school?
A
After I started graduate school, one December I traveled home to India. When I met one of my old undergraduate professors, Dr Aniruddha Bhattacharya, he gave me the most important advice I needed for the entire duration of my graduate studies. "Don't look left and right, don't count anybody's annual papers published, and don't compete. Put your head down, and keep working on what you believe in. After all, most of the time, we work to conclude that, this strategy will not work. That too is success."
Q
Why did you choose Purdue Engineering for your graduate studies?
A
For the very reason so many students don't choose Purdue- Because West Lafayette is no LA, or NYC. A small town for someone who comes from a small town in India and loves the quiet of the nights and the freshness of crisp winter mornings. Perfect for research, perfect for thinking, and above all perfect for a good run now and then.
Q
If you could describe Purdue Engineering Graduate Programs in 3 words, which would you choose?
A
Challenging. Fulfilling. Exploration.
Q
What is the coolest thing you have encountered at Purdue?
A
Students are allowed upto 80 gms of 3D printing material every month (with some constraints on certain materials) that they can use to make the coolest stuff- for personal and research purposes! Love it.
Q
What do you do for fun at Purdue or nearby?
A
Coming from the culturally rich state of West Bengal, India, I love participating in events organized by the Purdue University Tagore Society (PUTS). As the Vice President of the organization, I thoroughly enjoy bringing a piece of my homeland to Purdue and giving other students the opportunity to experience our vibrant culture. Whether it's celebrating Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary or welcoming the Bengali New Year, our events feature dance, theater, music, musicals, and poetry recitations. These gatherings provide me with a refreshing break from research, helping to rejuvenate my mind and spirit.
Q
If you could talk with any person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
A
I suppose Nikola Tesla. His visionary ideas about electricity, wireless energy, and futuristic technology were way ahead of his time. I'd love to ask him what his thoughts were on the transverse flux machine, I worked on for my Master's here at Purdue. Would like to discuss with him how to make the motor better performance wise. Plus, I'd want to ask him what he really thought about Edison!
Q
What's something unique about you, or something most people don't know?
A
I love to read books. Fantasy, Young Adult, Biographies, Horror, Crime, Psychology, Science and AstroPhysics books. I suppose I have read more or less every genre out there at least once.
Q
Favorite quote and why?
A
"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don't just give up." From a young age I got interested in science because of Stephen Hawking. The man embodied resilience throughout his life. And every time I read another of his book, I was stunned at his wit, his sense of humour, and his sharp mind. This quote is my all time favourite.
Q
Favorite food and why?
A
My favourite food is what I always have for my birthdays: 1. The staple rice part specially cooked in spices and ghee- Pulao (Poo-lah-ow) 2. Chicken cooked in spices with potatoes added in- Chicken Kosha (Koh-shah) 3. Dessert, a special kind of rice cooked in milk- Payesh (Pah-yesh)
Q
Favorite vacation spot and why?
A
Puri, Odisha, India Because the sea is nowhere as amazing as here. And yes I have waded in the waters of the Pacific and the Atlantic. And yet, the Bay of Bengal wins.
