Numerical Linear Algebra Group

In this blog post, we asked one of our alumni, Ramaseshan Kannan, a few questions about his time with the Numerical Linear Algebra Group.

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your experience before attending University of Manchester?

I studied an Undergraduate and a Master’s in Civil and Structural Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai. Upon graduation I started working for Arup in India, developing finite element-based structural engineering software. In due course I became very interested in the “solver” stack of the code, which is the linear algebra layer. I asked if my employer would support my PhD in this area and, to my surprise, they agreed. However the funding I was being offered only covered a fraction of my tuition and expenses as I was a non-EU candidate. At this point the School of Maths and in particular my supervisors helped out and I was offered a school scholarship to do a collaborative PhD in the NLA group. That’s how I landed up in sunny Manchester.

What was your PhD thesis on?

I worked on a range of sparse linear algebra problems that originated in the software I was developing. The mainstay of my research was a new eigenvector clustering algorithm that allowed engineers to debug errors in their mathematical models. Other parts concerned the execution performance of matrix algorithms on parallel computers.

During the PhD I continued working for Arup as a technology translator implementing my own research back into commercial software. As a result I was able to see most parts of my PhD being used on real world problems, which was very satisfying.

Why did you choose to study your PhD in Manchester?

Having secured my employer’s funding we started scouting for research groups and centres of expertise around the world in the area of eigenvalue problems. Very soon it became clear that Manchester was a leader in both theory and numerical software so it was an obvious choice. In addition, my supervisors Nick Higham and Francoise Tisseur were open to making my rather bespoke arrangement work, all of which contributed to the decision.

How did you find Manchester?

I liked it so much that I haven’t left! I find it a great mix of practicality and opportunity. We have some of the best schools in the country. Plus we have the Peak District, the Lake District, and Yorkshire Dales all within a day-trip’s distance.

Can you tell us about your career since leaving Manchester?

After finishing my PhD I have continued to work for Arup in our Manchester office. Over the years I have been involved in a gamut of activities such as internal and external research including sponsored MSc and PhDs, writing numerical software, publishing and peer reviewing and consulting with engineers to understand their technical problems, to name a few.

What is your current role?

As above, I don multiple hats although my primary role is centred around developing numerical software with the eventual aim of making simulations faster, more accurate, or more productive for the end-user. I am also tasked with blue sky activities so, as an example, I’m looking at ways in which machine learning can be symbiotically used with traditional numerical analysis/engineering simulation to help engineers.