4 days ago
IIT-K programme promotes women pursuing careers in computing
Kanpur: The 7th edition of Association for Computing Machinery India Council on Women in Computing (ACM-W) Grad Cohort for Women in Research, a flagship mentoring initiative, was held in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur between 6–7 July.
This event was dedicated to supporting, empowering women graduate students across India pursuing careers in computing and related disciplines. Modeled after the CRA-WP Grad Cohort in the USA, the Indian edition was launched in 2018 to offer a platform for mentorship, guidance, and professional growth. The 2025 edition featured inspiring talks, mentoring sessions, and workshops to foster a nurturing environment for aspiring researchers.
Prof Maya Ramanath from IIT Delhi gave valuable insights into navigating a career in research — from starting a doctoral programme to progressing into postdoctoral research and eventually becoming a faculty member. Dr Renuka Sindhgatta from IBM IRL and Prof Urbi Chatterjee from IIT Kanpur spoke on how to conduct systematic research, drawing distinctions between research in industry and academia. Dr Vini Kanvar from IBM IRL and Prof Priyanka Bagade from IIT Kanpur presented their perspectives on opportunities after a PhD for women in industry and academia.
The attendees also got a wonderful opportunity to hear about quantum computing from eminent researchers who have been working in this field for quite some time.
