Each week we're featuring a Q&A with a member of our faculty in the School of Computing. Get to know some of our professors! This week we're featuring Associate Professor Rahul Purandare.
What are your research areas or areas of specialty/interest?
My primary research area is program analysis. I develop program analysis techniques to improve software quality and developer productivity.
What courses are you teaching this year?
I am teaching automata theory (CSCE 428) and programming language concepts (CSCE 322) this year.
How did you first become interested in computing or your specific area of computing?
When I was working in the software industry, I led a C cross-compiler design and development project. This introduced me to the intricacies of C and the complexities in the specification and implementation of a language. That developed my interest in programming languages and language processing in general. Eventually, I decided to do a Ph.D. in program analysis, which is a closely related area.
What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of computing? What do you enjoy most about those?
I'm an avid birdwatcher and love hiking and exploring nature. What I like most about birdwatching is the quiet time and space it offers to me to connect with nature and also myself. In addition, encountering a new bird or witnessing a previously unseen behavior fills me with the thrill of discovery.
What is your favorite weekend activity?
I like walking, biking, swimming, and birdwatching, but above all, I love spending time with my family on the weekends. These days enjoying a cup of coffee with my wife, Swapna, at The Mill at Telegraph is my favorite weekend activity.
Where is your favorite place you've traveled?
Undoubtedly, the Himalayas! The natural beauty and scale of the Himalayas are unparalleled. Even though I am not a religious or spiritual person, I often feel a deep spiritual connection when wandering through the Himalayas.
What is your favorite food?
I am not a good cook, but any dish eaten with or made by Swapna is my favorite. It’s not the food itself that matters but rather that it’s cooked with love!
What is a fun fact or something other members of the school may not know about you?
I have spotted more than 1200 species and subspecies of birds so far. While I was an undergrad, I studied waterbirds at a lake in India for two years and published a checklist, which was one of the early important works on the birds of that region.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the School of Computing?
No doubt, it's teaching and advising students. There is nothing more satisfying and exciting than working with students and being a part of the team at the School of Computing that is helping shape the next generation.