Dr. Minerva Mukhopadhyay is an Assistant professor in the department of Mathematics and Statistics at IIT Kanpur. Her research interests include high dimensional asymptotics, variable selection and prediction, density estimation, Bayesian modelling.
I was born and brought up in a close-knit nuclear family in Kolkata. I studied in a missionary school under the Sarada Mission. During that time, there weren’t many extracurricular activities in my school, but I still used to engage in fun activities like trekking in addition to diligently pursuing my academics.
My interest in mathematics sparked during high school, largely due to an inspiring teacher who delved into the depth of concepts, beyond mere formulas and arithmetic statements. His name was Bhasker Bose. He could actually show me that there is randomness in whatever we see. That is, everything is random and everything comes with a chance. This got me quite motivated to work in statistics and also academics attracted me. I decided that I would pursue a Phd in statistics and then subsequently pursue a job in statistics. By the time I finished my Phd, I was all set to become an academician. I also had wonderful teachers in my undergraduate and graduate schools like Arnab Chakraborty and Anup Goswami.
So, if I talk about my academic trajectory, I pursued a Bachelors in Mathematics from St. Xavier’s college, Masters in statistics from Calcutta University, Phd from ISI and lastly Post Doc. from Duke University in North Carolina, USA.
One of the major challenges that I faced was that until my Ph.D., I had studied in Bengali medium and did not know English. I struggled heavily during my postdoctoral research in the USA on account of language issues. It was my resilience that allowed me to sail through.
I have faced multiple challenges in various spheres of life, whether related to my family, academia, or as a student. I recall advice given to me by one of my Ph.D. guides at ISI, Mr. C.M. Mukti, who used to say, 'Do your job and everything will follow.' I have followed his advice ever since and would suggest it to others as well. If you know what your goal is, you can arrive at that goal in a different way if one path or another does not work out for you.
A big change is underway. With AI, I believe not only students, but also professors must evolve. We must be updated everyday. We must know the latest technologies, whether we like it or not. We must harness these technologies to our advantage.
As an individual navigating through academia or any field, it's imperative to delve deep into the subjects or areas of interest. It's not merely about skimming the surface but rather about immersing oneself in the intricacies, nuances, and complexities that lie beneath. By diving deep, one can uncover layers of understanding, perspectives, and insights that might otherwise remain undiscovered.
Expressing gratitude for my academic journey, I acknowledge the role of my students in my own learning process. Teaching has provided me with opportunities to delve deeper into subjects and gain insights from my students' inquiries. I express gratitude towards the institutions I've been a part of, particularly highlighting the enriching experience at IIT.