Purdue University Northwest professor named Fulbright Specialist

Magesh Chandramouli, professor of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University Northwest, has been named a U.S. Fulbright Specialist. He will collaborate with faculty members at Politecnico di Torino in Turin, Italy on enhancing the university’s ability to train aerospace engineers in virtual reality.

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) faculty member, Magesh Chandramouli, professor of Computer Graphics Technology in the College of Technology, has been named a U.S. Fulbright Specialist. Chandramouli will spend three weeks in December at Politecnico di Torino (Polytechnic University of Turin) in Turin, Italy, collaborating with faculty on enhancing the university’s ability to train aerospace engineers.

While in Italy, Chandramouli will conduct faculty and student workshops and assist in the development of training programs integrating state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality-based (AR) digital twin (DT) simulation methodology. DT technology, a significant trend shaping modern aerospace practices, creates a virtual replica of a system, or real-world object, that enables real-time simulation. These simulations can be used for hands-on training, including predictive maintenance and system diagnostics.

“The opportunity to work with Politecnico di Torino reflects the power of shared research to develop advanced, accessible tools that transform both education and industry” says Chandramouli. “I am looking forward to contributing to the aerospace engineering curriculum through VR and AR technologies and bringing that knowledge back to PNW to benefit my students and my research.”

Chandramouli’s first collaboration at Politecnico di Torino was facilitated by a National Science Foundation-European Research Council grant where he worked alongside Alfonso Pagani, professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, at Politecnico.

I am looking forward to contributing to the aerospace engineering curriculum through VR and AR technologies and bringing that knowledge back to PNW to benefit my students and my research.

Magesh Chandramouli, professor of Computer Graphics Technology

In addition to Chandramouli’s visit to Turin in December, two students from Politecnico di Torino will spend two months in the fall with PNW’s College of Technology conducting research under the supervision of Pagani and Chandramouli.

“These are critical steps in building a mutually beneficial relationship between our institutions,” says Chandramouli. “It sets the stage for future collaboration in research, publications and possibly new funding opportunities.”

Chandramouli’s current areas of interest and research center on virtual reality computer graphics; visualization and animation; human computer interaction; genetic algorithms; and geographic information systems (GIS). He was previously awarded a fellowship by the Software Sustainability Institute that allowed him to collaborate with experts from various disciplines in VR applications.

The U.S. Fulbright Specialist program is part of the larger Fulbright program and aims to foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through international educational and cultural exchange. A program of the U.S. Department of State, the Specialist program is a unique opportunity for U.S. academics to engage in two to six week-long, project-based exchanges at host institutions throughout the world.