Faculty Feature: Jagadeesh Vasudevamurthy

With over three decades of experience in computer engineering, Jagadeesh Vasudevamurthy stands as a testament to the power of combining academic excellence with industry innovation. As an Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern University’s Silicon Valley Campus for Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineering Programs (College of Engineering) and a Fellow at Microchip Technology, he shapes the future of technology education while advancing the field of computer engineering.

His academic journey is impressive, featuring a BE in Electronics and Communication from the National Institute of Engineering, Mysore, an MTech in Computer Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, and a PhD in Computer Engineering from McGill University. His PhD thesis, “The Testability-Preserving Concurrent Decomposition and Factorization of Boolean Expressions,” received the prestigious IEEE Transactions on CAD Best Paper Award and continues to serve as a foundational influence on industry standards in logic synthesis.

“Bridging academia and industry is exciting because it keeps me on my toes and ensures I stay relevant in both fields,” Jagadeesh shares. His approach involves simplifying complex technical concepts to make them accessible to students while maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving field. “I focus on instilling critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in both academia and industry,” he explains.

His goal is to prepare students who can seamlessly integrate hardware and software, equipping them to build sophisticated tools necessary for designing trillion-gate chips—a vision strongly aligned with the USA CHIPS Act of 2024.

Jagadeesh was drawn to Northeastern University for its strong focus on experiential learning and innovation. “The opportunity to work with a diverse and passionate student body, alongside the university’s commitment to bridging theory with practice, made it an easy decision,” he explains.

Beyond academia, Jagadeesh has made significant contributions to the tech world through roles at Xilinx, AMD, Synplicity, and Microchip Technology. His work on developing and advancing cutting-edge hardware and software systems has had a global impact, and he takes pride in mentoring students on algorithm design and real-world software projects. “Seeing students succeed in transforming theoretical concepts into practical applications is incredibly rewarding,” he reflects.

As both an educator and an engineer, Jagadeesh brings a unique combination of technical expertise and mentorship to the table. His ability to distill complex topics into actionable insights helps students and colleagues alike. “I focus on instilling critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in both academia and industry,” he explains.

“Artificial intelligence and machine learning are areas that excite me,” Jagadeesh says. His current focus lies in exploring how these technologies can be integrated with hardware systems to achieve new levels of efficiency. This forward-thinking approach exemplifies his dedication to staying at the cutting edge of technological advancement.

Outside of work, Jagadeesh enjoys reading, writing, and mentoring aspiring engineers, while valuing time with his family. One book that has influenced Jagadeesh’s career is “Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey” by G. R. Gopinath. It tells the story of a boy from a remote village who rose from humble beginnings to own an airline. The book highlights Gopinath’s remarkable journey—from leaving the Indian Army with just Rs. 6,500 to launch an airline worth $1.1 billion in under four years. It also emphasizes the power of continuous learning across different areas to achieve success.

As advice to students and professionals alike, Jagadeesh emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning. “Never stop learning,” he says. “Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, staying curious and adaptable is the key to success. Challenges are opportunities in disguise, so embrace them.”

With his extensive experience, profound knowledge base, and dedication to nurturing the next generation of engineers, Jagadeesh Vasudevamurthy continues to inspire and lead in the fields of computer engineering and education. His contributions to both academia and industry make him a true asset to the Northeastern University community.