They will accompany Dr. Rajiv Gandhi
Sean Lowen, of Cherry Hill, and Elaine Zamora, of Sewell, will travel to India with Rajiv Gandhi, an associate professor of computer science at Rutgers–Camden, to do computer science research. Gandhi was awarded a prestigious Fulbright scholarship earlier this year to teach “Algorithms” and “Approximation Algorithms” at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) in Bombay.
A National Science Foundation grant is allowing the two students to travel with Gandhi and assist him in his research with students and faculty from VJTI and other colleges in India.
Also travelling with the group is Vijay Kothari, who attended Rutgers–Camden before graduating from Rutgers–New Brunswick in 2008. Kothari began doing research with Gandhi last year.
“The grant will expose the students to education, research, and culture in India,” Gandhi says. “I am very excited that the students at Rutgers–Camden will have this unique opportunity.”
Zamora, who is originally from San Diego, says she feels the trip to India will be an academically and culturally enriching experience.
“The opportunity to work closely with Dr. Gandhi will be invaluable in my effort to develop a more analytical and creative mind, necessary for research in graduate school,” Zamora says. “Dr. Gandhi devotes a great deal of time to his students, which has helped me tremendously. I hope to hone my ability to think beyond what is taught in the classroom, and ‘expand the boundaries of science,’ as Dr. Gandhi enthusiastically encourages.”
Lowen, a graduate of Cherry Hill High School East, says he also is grateful for the opportunity.
“While we are there, I will learn how to conduct research, advance my education in computer science, and experience a completely different way of life,” Lowen says.
In addition to the grant to support the research in India, Gandhi has also received $149,665 in funding from the National Science Foundation to continue a computer science research program for high school students and undergraduates at Rutgers–Camden.
He started a study and research group for high school students last year on the Rutgers–Camden campus and continued it throughout the summer. The group is studying discrete mathematics, algorithm design, and combinatorial optimization.
“It’s not important whether they pursue a career in computer science or not, but I do want them to learn how to think and to develop their problem solving skills,” Gandhi says. “That’s what I hope to achieve here.”
A Haddonfield resident, Gandhi is teaching “Data Structures” and “Combinatorial Optimization” this semester at Rutgers–Camden. Before joining the Rutgers–Camden faculty in 2003, he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from VJTI, his master’s degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, and his doctorate in computer science from the University of Maryland.
Gandhi received Rutgers–Camden’s Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006.
Media Contact: Ed Moorhouse
856-225-6759
E-mail: ejmoor@camden.rutgers.edu