UC honours pioneer in computer graphics and medical imaging

Emeritus Professor Ramakrishnan Mukundan joined Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering in 2002, where he went on to establish and lead the Computer Graphics and Medical Image Analysis Research Group. Under his leadership, the group advanced practical applications of image processing and machine classification in healthcare, by developing novel algorithms for various imaging modalities such as ultrasound, digital mammograms, MRIs and whole slide images. 

Emeritus Professor Mukundan says, “I have always been passionate about guiding students through engaging learning opportunities and motivating them to excel in their academic endeavours.” The computer graphics courses which he independently developed and taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of the computer science programme were highly popular among students.

An internationally recognised researcher in computer graphics, image analysis and pattern recognition, Emeritus Professor Mukundan has authored four books and more than 140 research papers, with his work cited over 5,700 times. One of his most influential papers, published in IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, has been cited more than 1,100 times, underlining his global impact on the field. 

Over his 23 years at UC, he has also been a dedicated teacher and mentor, supervising 22 master’s and 23 PhD students, and delivering courses in algorithms and computer graphics. In addition to his research and teaching, Emeritus Professor Mukundan has made significant administrative contributions, serving as undergraduate coordinator for many years, and guiding and supporting hundreds of computer science students through their academic pathways. In recent years, he has also served as an Academic Integrity Officer in the department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. 

Promoted to Associate Professor in 2009 and to full Professor in 2020, he has also played key roles in interdisciplinary research projects, particularly in biomedical image analysis and digital pathology. His work has contributed to projects funded by organisations including the Health Research Council, Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand, and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation.

Before joining UC, Emeritus Professor Mukundan had an accomplished international career, including senior academic positions at Multimedia University in Malaysia and 15 years as a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He holds a PhD in Computer Vision from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Acknowledging his achievements, Andrew Bainbridge-Smith, Senior Lecturer Above the Bar, UC Computer Science and Software Engineering says, “Emeritus Professor Mukundan’s distinguished academic career, global research reputation and long-standing service to students and colleagues make him truly deserving of this honour. The title of Professor Emeritus is a fitting recognition of his legacy.”