Manojit Pramanik new professor for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) that started in the Spring. Pramanik brings extensive experience and research to the department. The following Q and A is a chance to get to know Pramanik.
Background and history
“I was born and raised in West Bengal, India. I had done my undergraduate from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, and then masters from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India. I received my Ph.D. (2010) in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. My industry experiences include two years at General Electric Global Research (GRC) and one year at Philips Medical System. I was an Assistant Professor (2014-2019), and then Associate Professor (2019-2022) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. From spring 2023, I start as Associate Professor at Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE), Iowa State University (ISU).”
Choosing Iowa State
“Iowa State is expanding its footprint in Biomedical Engineering research areas. Being from Biomedical background I saw this as an opportunity for me to grow. ECpE at ISU is a well-established department with a long history. The college of Engineering has been ranked among the top engineering school in the country and one of the largest engineering school. These factors made me decide to join Iowa State.”
Research specialties
“My research interest is in Medical Imaging Systems, Photoacoustic and Thermoacoustic Imaging, Image Reconstruction, Machine Learning, Medical Image Processing, Contrast Agents, Molecular Imaging, Monte-Carlo Simulation for light-tissue interaction, Biomedical Optics, Biomedical Device Design, Healthcare Innovation, Clinical Application areas such as Breast Cancer Imaging, Brain Imaging, Pancreatic Cancer, Diabetes, Treatment Monitoring etc.”
Looking ahead
“A new start is always exciting. You start thinking about doing things all over again, starting from setting up your research lab, training new phd students, working with other researcher, finding new collaborators, teaching a new class. Last but not the least, meeting new people and making new friends. I am looking forward to start this new journey.”
What students can expect
“I am a professor who enjoys teaching, willing to learn new things, can adapt to new technology. I am gentle, kind, caring, have patience, friendly, and have good sense of humour. I make sure students feel comfortable in my presence. Students should be able to come to me with their problems or concerns or even to share a funny story. I am a good listener, there is a Turkish proverb: ‘if speaking is silver, then listening is gold.’”
Fun fact
“Outside my academic activities, I enjoy playing cricket, spending time with my two kids (10 yr old boy and a 3 yr old girl), and catching up with friends over a coffee/drink.”