New Assistant Professor Dr. Akshay Ramachandran brings theory to computer science
UBC Department of Computer Science Assistant Professor Akshay Ramachandran, Ph.D., to lead new research group on mathematical optimization
For Akshay Ramachandran, going into the computer science field was a natural choice. Growing up, his parents, both computer scientists, had textbooks lying around the house. On family road trips, they would do Martin Gardner math puzzles together.
After completing a B.Sc. in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, he followed in his parents’ footsteps by going to graduate school to conduct research and discover new knowledge.
While the computer science field is vast, Dr. Ramachandran was most fascinated by the theory classes during university.
“You get to learn something new every week that you can use as a different way of thinking,” he says.
During his Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Waterloo, he studied the theory of optimization, which seeks to understand how close we are to finding the best choice or solution. For example, machine learning relies on algorithms to improve its performance. While these algorithms may function the way we intend, researchers in optimization theory try to find mathematical proof that they work in order to gain a rigorous understanding of why they work.
“The goal of theory is to enlighten — not just to solve a problem, but to understand it,” says Dr. Ramachandran. Having a deep understanding of these algorithms, for example, would help researchers apply them to other scientific areas and problems.
Dr. Ramachandran continued studying optimization theory as a postdoctoral researcher at École normale supérieure de Lyon in France and Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica in the Netherlands before joining UBC.
His decision to come to UBC was influenced by the congenial community in the computer science department and on campus, as well as the proximity to the ocean (which he has been swimming in regularly since landing in Vancouver).
As a new assistant professor within UBC’s Department of Computer Science, he will bring his expertise in theoretical computer science. He plans to further study the optimization of a type of function called convex functions, which are bowl-shaped functions with convenient mathematical properties.
“I hope computer science remains useful not just for doing things, but also learning why something works,” he says. “Theory at best does both of those things: explains why something works in practice but also gives insight to practitioners for doing new things.”
With the upcoming academic year on the horizon, Dr. Ramachandran is most looking forward to developing his research program, teaching classes in optimization and theoretical computer science, and collaborating with other faculty members in the field.
Dr. Ramachandran’s advice for computer science students is to focus on having a sustainable lifestyle — wisdom that was passed onto him when he was an undergraduate student.
“The first priority is to get enough sleep,” he says. “The second priority is to meet your friends often enough. And then the third priority is to do research.”
He adds, “Research can be hard, so it’s important to be happy and healthy in order to get good ideas.”