Dr. Vijayakumar Bhagavatula

Professor

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Biography

Vijayakumar Bhagavatula is the U.A. & Helen Whitaker Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He received his B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1980. His research interests primarily lie in areas such as computer vision, pattern recognition algorithms, coding, signal processing, and data storage systems. Bhagavatula has significantly contributed to his field with over 410 conference papers, 210 journal papers, and 22 book chapters, including a notable book on correlation and pattern recognition. Throughout his career, he has held numerous prestigious roles, including Interim Dean of the College of Engineering and Director of Carnegie Mellon University Africa. He has received various accolades, including fellowships from SPIE, the Optical Society of America, and the IEEE, recognizing his contributions to optical engineering and pattern recognition. His mentorship and academic leadership have greatly impacted students and research initiatives within the engineering domain.

Research Interests

Experience

U.A. & Helen Whitaker Professor

1991-09-01 — Present

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, focusing on advanced research and education.

Interim Dean

2025-06-01 — 2025-12-31

College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Overseeing the academic and administrative functions of the College of Engineering.

Director

2018-01-01 — 2021-12-31

Carnegie Mellon University Africa • Kigali, Rwanda

Led educational initiatives and research collaborations in Africa.

Awards

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Fellow

1991-01-01
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Fellow

1993-01-01
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Fellow

2010-01-01

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.