“I use a machine to predict the working of another machine.”
Gowthaman is an I-Form researcher based at University College Dublin.
Growing up
Do you remember what you wanted to be (when you grew up) when you were 5 years old?
I don’t remember a lot from when I was 5, but my parents say I was keen on building things using LEGO, all the time.
At age 15?
At this point I was very interested in automobile engineering and wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer.
What were you like as a school student around age 15/16?
I was a bit studious and mischievous back in school. I have no idea how I balanced it right!
What hobbies did you have as a teenager?
I used to sketch and played a tonne of videogames.
College days
What did you study at college, and where?
I studied Mechanical Engineering in Chennai, India.
What is your fondest memory of college days?
For my undergraduate thesis, I designed exhaust mounting systems for trucks. I got to test drive trucks around the tracks in the R&D facility where I did my thesis - that was fun!
The present
How would your friends describe what you do?
He uses a computer to see how a 3D printer works.
What do you actually do?
I develop mathematical models that predict the 3D printing process, to understand the physics behind it.
If an alien came to Earth right now and demanded you describe what you do in one sentence, what would you say so that they would understand?
This is going to be so difficult! I’d have to first explain to them what a computer is and then all about a 3D printer. Let’s just say “I use a machine to predict the working of another machine”.
Tell me something cool about being a researcher.
It’s ‘casual Friday’ everyday :D
The future
What would you like to be doing in 10 years’ time?
Ideally, I would like to be a lecturer.
If we could time travel to 2050 and you had to choose a job to do right now (real or imagined), what would it be?
By 2050, 3D printing would hopefully be the major manufacturing technology. I can ease into the future as a manufacturing engineer with my current knowledge ;)