Name: Shriram Raja

Pronouns: He/Him/His

What is your hometown? Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Program at BU? Ph.D. in Computer Science

Please briefly introduce yourself, what’s your background, and where are you from?

I am Shriram and I come from the South Indian city of Coimbatore. I did my Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at PSG College of Technology in India. Then, I completed my Master’s in Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech where I worked on Real-Time System Scheduling. My interest in Real-Time Systems was piqued by an excellent professor during my undergraduate years and that combined with my lifelong interest in teaching led me to pursue a Ph.D. 

Why did you choose to come to BU GRS for your graduate degree?

My primary reason for joining BU is my advisor, who I feel is a great fit for me both in terms of research interests and in helping me achieve my goals. On joining BU, I was also pleasantly surprised by the sense of community among the graduate students. This is particularly important to me as I spend a significant amount of time working with them. 

What are your favorite spots on the BU Campus?

My favorite spots on campus are my office and basically any other spot in the CDS building. When the weather is sunny I love to hang out in BU Beach. 

What is your favorite part about attending BU and studying in the US?

It is interesting to observe the similarities and differences between the teaching philosophies of the various professors that I have studied from/worked with, especially considering the diversity in US academia. These observations have helped me refine my ideas of teaching and research. BU is also the first university that I have been a student of that has a wide range of established majors from engineering to arts and sciences. 

How is life in Boston? 

Even though my hometown is larger than Boston in terms of population, I have never lived in a more happening metropolis. As an international grad student living on a modest stipend, I also appreciate the walkability and the public transit options which I understand are not that common in other parts of the US. 

What do you hope to do after you graduate?

I have always wanted to pursue teaching as a career and hence I would like to join academia after graduation.