Microsoft Research India Podcast: Nurturing Future Researchers

Podcast: Helping Young Students Build a Career in Research through the MSR India Research Fellow Program

This podcast features a discussion with Shruti Rijhwani, a former Research Fellow at Microsoft Research India (MSR India) and current PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University, and Dr. Vivek Seshadri, a researcher at MSR India and head of the Research Fellow program. They discuss the MSR India Research Fellow program, its benefits for students, and the impact it has on their careers.

Introduction to the Research Fellow Program

Dr. Vivek Seshadri explains that the Research Fellow program, previously known as the Assistant Researcher or Research Assistant program, has been a cornerstone of MSR India since its inception. The core goal is to provide recent undergraduate and Master's students with a one to two-year immersive experience in computer science research within an industrial setting. The program has grown significantly in size, from an initial three fellows to over 50 currently, mirroring the growth of the lab itself. However, the fundamental objective remains the same: to give fellows a taste of research, help them build their profiles, and prepare them for careers in computer science research and engineering.

Shruti Rijhwani's Journey

Shruti Rijhwani shares her motivation for joining the program. After completing her undergraduate degree in computer science, she had internships focused on the engineering side of machine learning applications. However, she was keen to explore a career in machine learning research. Unsure if graduate school was the right path, the Research Fellow program offered an exploratory phase. It allowed her to gain research experience, observe established researchers, and understand the research process in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP).

Program Offerings and Impact

Dr. Seshadri highlights that MSR India focuses on research across various computer science domains, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Systems, and Security. A significant focus is on the Technology for Emerging Markets (TEM) Group, addressing challenges in developing countries like India. Research Fellows work with world-class researchers on all phases of research: ideation, solution building, prototyping, deployment, and testing with real-world data. This comprehensive experience provides a realistic preview of modern computer science research.

Many fellows, like Shruti, go on to pursue graduate studies at top universities worldwide. Others find that research isn't their ideal path and may join Microsoft in different roles or pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Notable alumni have founded or led successful companies, and some MSR India projects have spun off into startups.

Over 15 years, MSR India has hosted approximately 150 Research Fellows. In recent years, the program has accelerated, graduating around 30 fellows annually, with this number expected to increase. Dr. Seshadri emphasizes that fellows who pursue PhDs often