Manoj Thulasidas
I'm a Teacher
About
I am an educator and a thinker with a deep passion for physics and writing. Now a professor at SMU, I have pursued previous careers in experimental physics at CERN, applied research at A*STAR, quantitative finance at OCBC and SCB. My diverse pursuits have led to significant accomplishments, including publishing "The Unreal Universe," a book exploring the philosophy of physics, which I consider my raison d’être. My thoughts have regularly appeared in publications like Wilmott Magazine and the Singaporean newspaper Today.
Thinker, Writer, Scientist & Technologist
Born in Munnar, India, I earned my undergraduate degree at IIT Madras before pursuing my passion for physics at Syracuse University. My research in high-energy physics at Cornell and with the ALEPH collaboration at CERN led to numerous publications. Later, my work on human body-based measurements and neuroinformatics at Singapore's Kent Ridge Digital Labs (now part of A*STAR) reignited my curiosity about the mind-matter interplay, culminating in my first book, The Unreal Universe.
-
Websites: Unreal
Blog
The Unreal Universe
LA4CS -
Passions: Curiosity and Irreverence
Thinking and Writing
Teaching and Inspiring
- Employer: SMU, SCIS [Faculty Page]
-
Degrees: PhD,
Syracuse University
BTech, IIT, Madras - Interests: Badminton, Travel off the Beaten Path
In 2005, I transitioned to the field of quantitative finance, leading risk management efforts at OCBC and SCB in Singapore. This role broadened my understanding of pricing models and the complexities of financial risk. After a short sabbatical, in 2016, I embarked on what I consider my final career: teaching mathematics for computer science, web programming, business modeling and data analytics as a professor at Singapore Management University. This academic role aligns with my scientific, research and finance background, bringing my professional journey full circle.
Happy Students and counting in Computer Science, Data Analytics, Web Apps, and more.
Publications
Peer-reviewed
Articles, Newspaper and
Magazine
Columns...
Books and counting
The Unreal
Universe
Linear Algebra for
CS
Quantitative
Development
Legacy
My parting gift to humanity, in a
ten-minute video,
one peer-reviewed article, and
one full-length book
Skills
Skills aren't particularly relevant since I'm not currently seeking a new job. Here's a high-level summary:
Resume
- Physics, mathematics and computer science education and pedagogy.
- Data analytics and automation techniques for SMEs, and knowledge-systems.
- Foundational topics in physics, role of perception and cognition in physics.
- Quantitative finance, management of information technology in the finance industry.
- Find a more detailed CV on my Faculty Page at SMU or a video version on YouTube.
Summary
Manoj Thulasidas
Dedicated and innovative Educator, lifelong Physicist, published Writer and inspired Developer.
Education
PhD in Experimental Particle Physics
1987 - 1993
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
I completed my PhD in Experimental Particle Physics at Syracuse University, where I conducted advanced research as part of the CLEO II experiment at Cornell University. My work focused on analyzing data from high-energy electron-positron collisions, contributing to the understanding of quark dynamics and rare particle decays. This experience allowed me to develop expertise in data analysis, detector calibration, and collaboration within a large international research team, ultimately enhancing our understanding of fundamental particles and their interactions.
Bachelor of Technology
1983 - 1987
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India
I earned my BTech in Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, where I developed a strong foundation in electronic circuits, signal processing, and embedded systems. My coursework and projects focused on the design and analysis of advanced electronic systems, which equipped me with practical skills in hardware design, software integration, and system optimization. This rigorous program honed my problem-solving abilities and provided me with a solid technical background, preparing me for complex challenges in engineering and technology.
Honors and Awards
- Dec 2024, Auckland, New Zealand. Best paper award at TALE2024.
- Sep 2004 Malta. Best paper award at MEDSIP’04, Malta.
- Summer 1983, India. Ranked 63rd (out of about 75,000) in India in JEE for IITs.
- Summer 1982 Trivandrum, India. Ranked 3rd in the state of Kerala, India in the Engineering Entrance Exam (out of about 10,000 students).
Professional Experience
Education and Pedagogical Research
2016 - Present
Associate Professor of Computer Science
(Education)
Singapore Management University, Singapore
- Teaching mathematics for computer science, data analytics and business modeling at the School of Computing and Information Systems
- Research in the field of data analytics and management, and their applications in pedagogy, health and wellness
- Pedagogical and Education research
- Taught over 2500 undergraduate and masters students
Banking and Quantitative Finance
2005 - 2013
Associate Director and Vice
President
Standard Chartered Bank and OCBC, Singapore
- Team lead for quantitative library development and pricing model integration
- Quantitative finance: stochastic calculus, simulation, multi-layer software design
- Head of Analytics for Market Risk Management: pricing model analysis and validation
- Applied mathematics: Stochastic calculus, partial differential equations and Monte Carlo simulations, implemented in C/C++ and Excel/VBA
Applied Research
1998 - 2005
Associate Lead Scientist
Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), Singapore
- Team lead for the New Initiative research group. Expertise in bio-signal processing, sensors, actuators and embedded programming
- Research and development on Brain-Computer Interface for locked-in patients
Scientific Research
1993 - 1998
Research Engineer
CERN, Switzerland and CNRS, France
- Research and development of the precision tracking Vertex Detector for CERN
- Measurement of b quark production fraction in Z0 decays at ALEPH
Portfolio
Here are some of the recent projects I have worked on, both professionally and for fun.
- All
- Web Apps
- Books
- Pedagogical Tools
- For WAD1 Students
Services
I don't offer any services other than my professional engagement with SMU. But I am capable of providing the following, although I may be far too expensive for most. Honestly, it may not be worth it...
Consultancy
Advisory services for starting a new business in Singapore, including assistance with legal and financial requirements, international hiring, and more.
Software Architecture
Consultation and support for the design and development of large-scale software packages, with a focus on web-based workflow automation.
Student Motivation
Inspiring young learners to love their STEM subjects is my passion. Although I don't do private tutoring, you can try talking me into it.
Writing Engagements
Columns or essays for newspapers, magazines, and books on a wide range of topics—from physics and philosophy to pedagogy, life, death, and everything in between.
Philosophizing
Alright, this one's on the cheap side. Take me out for dinner and good wine, and I'll talk at length about life, the universe, and everything. Don't you want to know why the answer is 42?
Anything Else?
Some people are born with the unshakable (and often mistaken) belief that they can do anything. I'm one of them. So, what do you need?
Testimonials
Testimonials are mainly sourced from my student feedback (anonymous) and the student images are AI-generated.
★★★★★ A
must-read!
Reviewed in the United States on March 19,
2014
Verified
Purchase
An excellent read, shifting things inside of the human
psyche. Recommended to all and sundry. Skip the maths if you
like, but read it. This is the kind of book that grows human
intelligence with the passing of time. Let it impact upon
you
too...
"Axiomena"
Amazon Review: The Unreal Universe
I love the way Prof Manoj teaches! He is very engaging and shows genuine interest and passion for the topic he's lecturing about. Even as someone who does not appreciate math that much, hearing him talk about the beauty of the consistency of linear algebra inspires me to look deeper and appreciate linear algebra for its amazing properties and applications.
Anonymous UG Student
Feedback on my Linear Algebra Course
Honestly one of the better Prof across all the modules I
have taken. He scaffolds the learning appropriately and is
able to break down challenging topics into bite sized pieces
for better understanding. Clearly very passionate about what
he does.
Very knowledgeable, especially when it comes to the
technical underpinnings of the theory
Anonymous PG Students
Feedback on my Text Analytics Course
He was very clear in everything, even made an effort to tell us if we missed something (even if it was our fault) we could still clarify with him. His consult was very good, he is one of the few profs that actually bothered to try to understand what my group was talking about for the group discussion unlike some profs that just brush you aside and assume they understand what you're saying. Thank you prof, you are really amazing!
Anonymous UG Student
Feedback on "Spreadsheet Modeling and Analytics"
Prof Manoj is very clear and patient in teaching, he would always provide us with examples so that we can relate the things taught in class to real-life applications. He makes sure that no one is left out in the class by frequently asking if there are any questions thus far in between lessons. He has made analytics foundation class very much enjoyable and fun.
Anonymous UG Student
Feedback on "Analytics Foundation"
Prof is super nice, funny and charismatic. He has a deep
understanding of the lesson content and able to explain
concepts so well. I am so thankful to be in his
class.
Prof Manoj is so enthusiastic in class and he always
explains the chunky slides into minimal ideas that he draws
on his iPad or demonstrate to us. He really helped me be
wowed by the world of coding. He also constantly checks on
me when I look lost which I really appreciate it so much.
Anonymous UG Students
Feedback on my Web App Dev Course
Contact
If you don't know me by now, you will never, never, never know me. But you can still give it a shot.
Address
School of Computing and Information Systems,
Singapore Management University,
80 Stamford Road, Singapore 178902
Call Me
+65 6828 9625
Email Me
If you can!