About Us

Founded in the summer of 2024 by Professor Sandeep Juneja, the Centre was supported by Safexpress Pvt. Ltd. in September 2024. The Centre aspires to become a leading hub for research and education in data science and artificial intelligence. Our mission is to advance knowledge, develop talent, and enable more effective decision-making in response to the complex challenges facing society.

We pursue both theoretical and applied research, combining rigorous data analysis and mathematical modelling with advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The Centre draws upon Ashoka University’s strengths across computer science, mathematics, economics, statistics, the physical sciences, and the social sciences to foster interdisciplinary research. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we aim to develop new approaches to understanding and solving data-driven problems.

A key focus of the Centre is nurturing the next generation of researchers and practitioners. We provide students with a strong foundation in mathematics, computation, and statistics, enabling them to work with large and complex datasets and uncover insights that can inform meaningful decisions.

The Centre also plays an active role in strengthening the broader data science and AI ecosystem through a range of academic initiatives. These include exSPLOre — Explorations in Statistics, Probability, Learning and Optimization Research, a five-day flagship programme featuring lectures and tutorials by eminent researchers on contemporary topics in statistics, probability, machine learning, and optimisation. The event also includes an Industry Day, with industry showcases and panel discussions bringing together academic and industry perspectives.

In addition, the Centre organizes an annual two-day workshop on AI and machine-learning methods for weather and climate modelling, bringing together leading researchers from India and around the world to explore emerging approaches in this important area. Its colloquium series and short courses provide further opportunities for students and researchers to engage with experts working at the forefront of their fields.

The Centre’s current research spans several important application areas, including quantitative finance with a focus on Indian markets and weather, climate, and pollution modelling. Across these domains, we apply advanced quantitative techniques alongside modern AI and machine-learning methods to develop new insights and solutions.

On the conceptual front, our research focuses on generative AI, including diffusion models, and sequential learning algorithms. These foundational advances directly inform and strengthen our applied research, creating a continuous exchange between theory, methodology, and real-world impact.

Through research, education, and collaboration, the Centre seeks to advance the science of data-driven discovery and contribute to the responsible development of technologies that can create lasting impact.