Dr. Ashutosh Saxena is an industry expert and academician with over two decades of experience, 100+ international publications, 30+ filed Patents out of which 26 are the US Granted Patents, and a book on PKI: Concept, Design and Deployment (Tata McGraw Hill 2004) to his credit. His research interest is in the areas of Information Security and Privacy. He worked at IUC-DAE facilities at Indore, IDRBT Hyderabad, and supervised two Ph.D. Scholars. He served as an Adjunct Faculty at NIT Warangal. He Joined Infosys in June 2006 and worked as Principal Research Scientist & AVP, at Infosys Labs, Hyderabad (till Sep. 2016). In 2014 he received an Award for maximum publishing in CSI-Communication from the Computer Society of India. He earned a Master of Science (1990), a Master of Technology (1992), and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Computer Science (1999) from DAVV, Indore, and has qualified CSIR-UGC examination. He also received the BOYSCAST Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2001 – 2002) from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, to conduct research at the Information Security Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. He is a Life Member of the Computer Society of India, a Life Member of the Cryptology Research Society of India, and a Senior Member of the IEEE Computer Society.

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Can you share a brief overview of your academic and professional journey that led you to your current role as the Dean (R&D) at CMR Technical Campus?

I began my career as a Lecturer and Computer Engineer in the university and IUC-DAE facilities at Indore. I have also worked as a faculty member (Associate Professor) at the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (established by the Reserve Bank of India), Hyderabad, for eight years, supervised 03 Ph.D. and many Master’s students. I have been a member of the review board for many international journals, conferences, and committees. 

Could you please provide an overview of your role as the Dean of Research and Development at CMR Technical Campus and highlight some of your key responsibilities in shaping the research and innovation landscape of the institution?

Key responsibilities in shaping the research and innovation landscape of the institution include suggesting measures for improvement of research and development activities in the institute, providing expert advice and guidance in motivating faculty members towards engaging in research and innovation activities, helping in outlining methods for improving the quality of research, and promoting inter-disciplinary research and development activities, and facilitating coordination with external members/ bodies.

How does the program ensure that students are being prepared for the future post-pandemic corporate culture?

The future of work is likely to be more volatile and unpredictable than ever before. Students need to be prepared to adapt to change and learn new skills quickly. Academic programs should foster a culture of flexibility and adaptability by offering courses that teach students how to learn and think critically. Therefore, our academic programs incorporate and use technology effectively and introduce problem-solving skills into the curriculum, through courses in data analytics, coding, and design thinking. In addition to technical skills, we also focus on strong soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. Our academic programs provide opportunities for students to develop these skills through experiential learning and dedicated programs. The future of work will also see an increase in self-employment and entrepreneurship. Accordingly, we encourage students to explore entrepreneurship by offering courses in business, marketing, and finance. By incorporating these elements into the curriculum, our academic programs can help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the future post-pandemic corporate culture. 

How do you plan to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and ensure that research efforts within CMR Technical Campus remain relevant and impactful?

Some ways to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and ensure that research efforts within the institute remain relevant and impactful include fostering a culture of innovation, embracing technology, and measuring impact. By taking these steps, the institute can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that its research efforts remain relevant and impactful. 

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With your experience at renowned institutions like IDRBT Hyderabad and NIT Warangal, how do you plan to leverage your network to establish partnerships, collaborations, and research exchanges that can benefit CMR Technical Campus?

As an industry expert and academician with over twenty-seven years of experience,100+ international publications, 31 US-filled patents out of which 27 are granted patents, and two books from a reputed publisher, I bring a rich and diversified experience that can be utilized in the growth phase of the institute. Also, as part of a school board member, I am closely associated with the various central universities and other important institutes. This experience and network are being utilized for the development of the institute. Additionally, I have handed several sponsored R&D and consultancy projects and will mentor faculties for the same.

How do you plan to encourage faculty members to integrate research into their teaching methodologies, ensuring that students benefit from the latest developments and insights in their respective fields?

The institution promotes professional development workshops (FDPs) on integrating research into teaching. These workshops are led by experts in the field. The institution has created a fund to support faculty members who want to integrate research into their teaching. This fund is used to purchase research materials, travel to conferences, or hire research assistants. The institution also provides faculty members with access to research journals, datasets, and software. This is done through subscriptions to online databases or by providing faculty members with laptops or tablets with access to these resources. The institution encourages students to ask questions and challenge the material that is being taught. This is done by creating a culture of open inquiry in the classroom and by providing students with opportunities to give feedback on their learning.

Innovation often requires risk-taking and experimentation. How do you foster an environment where faculty and students feel empowered to explore unconventional ideas and approaches in their research endeavors?

We follow a few points to foster an environment where faculty and students feel empowered to explore unconventional ideas and approaches in their research endeavors including creating a culture of trust and respect, encouraging diversity of thought, providing resources and support, and allowing for failure. The institution provides opportunities for faculty and students to collaborate with each other and with people from other disciplines. This can help to break down silos and generate new ideas The institution frequently hosts events and workshops that promote diversity of thought. Encourage faculty and students to attend conferences and workshops where they can meet other researchers and learn about new ideas. The institution provides funding for research projects that are considered to be risky or a bit unconventional. Provide access to research data and tools. This will make it easier for faculty and students to conduct research and experiment with new ideas. The institution has created a mentorship program that pairs faculty members with students who are interested in exploring unconventional ideas.

Lastly, what is your long-term vision for the research and development department at CMR Technical Campus, and how do you plan to measure the success of your initiatives in the coming years?

The long-term vision for the research and development (R&D) department at the campus is to create a culture of innovation and discovery that benefits society. This can be achieved by fostering a culture of creativity and risk-taking, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, providing access to resources and support, celebrating successes, and measuring the impact of research.

What valuable advice would you like to the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead?

I would like to suggest students develop strong problem-solving skills, be creative and innovative, be able to work independently and as part of a team, be up-to-date on the latest technologies, be willing to learn new things, be persistent and never give up, and be passionate about engineering.