Anurag Chatterje, Masters in Computer Engineering
Hello! My name is Anurag Chatterjee. I come from Singapore. Welcome to #ISSOstories.
Which Columbia program/department are you in?
I'm doing a Masters in Computer Engineering at Columbia.
I'm Anurag Chatterjee and I'm doing the masters in computer engineering at Columbia. I come from Singapore. Welcome to #ISSOstories. Yay!
First of all, I am doing research on matrix multiplication and convex optimization for semi-definitive programming from the Columbia's Motor Drives and Power Electronics Lab. So essentially, what I'm working on is Matlab Simulink embedded platforms simulating a complex optimization problem. It gives you a very good overview of how to optimize certain variables in power industry, in finance. So my research work essentially involves some of the basic groundwork and getting a very basic prototype done before it's actually out in the market. I'm a part of the Columbia Autonomous Racing team as well. I- I'm the first member of the team and we are the Columbia's first autonomous racing initiative.So the main purpose of this is to kind of pioneer the development of autonomous racing in vehicles, but at the same time get some exposure into some of the new algorithms being developed, so that we know exactly where to optimize in any vehicle dynamics. And we are collaborating with Delft, Netherlands to get the first prototype running. So this is one area of research which I'm very much looking forward to.
I mean, we're all- we're all our own- in our own driver's seat, right? I mean, we are all driving our own lives on our different paths, in our own vehicles.So as long as we are on the right track, you have the right intuition. You will be fine. If you cannot operate a vehicle, it's not the end of the world. What matters is you operate your- the vehicle of your life and the vehicle of your heart.
When I came to the States for the first time, I learned how to cook on my own, managed to solo travel a lot. If it weren't for Columbia, I don't know where I would be because I feel that it’s a very safe space to grow. Yeah, I was just flabbergasted and amazed by the diversity of the environment. And the best place about Columbia, which I'm personally proud of, is it's a home for everyone, I would say. Intellectual diversity, ideas, research, professors, friendships, that's what makes Columbia the place to be. New York City is a very, very diverse and a very beautiful city, to be honest, because I feel that I fit in this place. I feel that I fit here. People are so open and they're very open to listen to your stories. There has been a lot of times when I go to the subway, people have complimented me. I feel that I've adapted well to this environment.
And what actually I've learned is don't listen to external noise. Filter out those frequencies which are not very useful in your life. Solely take in those frequencies which resonate with your heart and your resonant internal frequency, and live your life to the fullest. That's the most important. New York has given me that vision and that clarity in me
Okay. Free time and hobbies. “What's something fun you do that helps you forget stress?” First of all, I read a lot of books. I read around 5 to 6 books a year. And most of my books are on personal development. Robert Kiyosaki books, Stephen Covey, Dale Carnegie's, all of the books I have read. I play a lot of chess. I also do a lot of Sudoku and logic puzzles on LinkedIn. So I'm very much of a geeky person. One thing which I do when I have to forget stress I- I solo travel a lot, so I- sometimes go to Brooklyn Bridge. I sometimes go on a train journey to Boston, or I go out and explore the countryside. This is one of most prominent activities that I do with my free time.
Tell us about your research or projects at Columbia.
I am currently working on research in matrix multiplication and convex optimization for semidefinite programming at Columbia’s Motor Drives and Power Electronics Lab. My work focuses on MATLAB Simulink embedded platforms to simulate complex optimization problems, providing insight into how key variables can be optimized in areas such as the power and finance industries. This research involves building foundational models and developing early-stage prototypes before real-world implementation.
In addition, I am part of the Columbia Autonomous Racing team, where I am proud to be the first member of this initiative. As Columbia’s first autonomous racing effort, our goal is to pioneer advancements in autonomous vehicle technology while gaining exposure to cutting-edge algorithms in vehicle dynamics and optimization. We are currently collaborating with a team in Delft, Netherlands, to develop our first working prototype. This is an area I am deeply excited to continue pursuing.
We are all in our own driver’s seat, navigating our individual paths. The same applies for independent research. As long as we stay on the right track and trust our intuition, we will be fine. Even if you cannot operate a vehicle, it is not the end of the world - what truly matters is learning to navigate the vehicle of your life and your
What I value most about Columbia is that it is a home for everyone.
What is something you wish you knew before coming here?
When I first came to the United States, I learned how to cook independently and began traveling solo extensively. Columbia has been a transformative experience for me—it has provided a safe and supportive environment for growth. I was truly amazed by the diversity here.
What I value most about Columbia is that it is a home for everyone. Its intellectual diversity—spanning ideas, research, professors, and friendships—is what makes it exceptional. New York City itself is incredibly diverse and vibrant, and I feel a strong sense of belonging here. People are open, curious, and genuinely interested in hearing your story. Over time, I feel I have adapted well to this environment.
One of the most important lessons I have learned is to filter out external noise—focusing only on what truly resonates with your inner values. New York has given me that clarity and perspective.
What's something fun you do that helps you forget stress?
First of all, I read a lot of books. I read around 5 to 6 books a year. Most of my books are on personal development. Some books I have read are by Robert Kiyosaki, Stephen Covey, and Dale Carnegie.
Also, I play a lot of chess and do many Sudoku and logic puzzles on LinkedIn – I'm a geeky person!
One other thing that helps me forget stress is solo travel. Sometimes I go to Brooklyn Bridge and other times I go on a train journey to Boston or the countryside. These are some of the most prominent activities that I do with my free time.
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