Vikram Deshpande, an IIT-Bombay alumnus is all set to join the league of the eminent professors at the Cambridge University. What sets him apart in the prestigious professors group is his age. At 38, this Mumbai lad is set to be one of the youngest professors at Cambridge when he joins the university on October 1, reports Anahita Mukherji of Times News Network.

Vikram Deshpande, youngest prof in Cambridge

Deshpande will also be one among the few Indian professors in the university. Deshpande said, "It's important to pursue a career in a field that you are passionate about. Only then can you work hard at it." He is presently posted as a reader in the engineering faculty at Cambridge.

Deshpande did his schooling in Bombay Scottish School, Mahim. His father, Sudhir Deshpande, shares Deshpande's childhood and says he was very mischievous as a kid. He said, "Vikram was very bright but everyone thought his elder brother was cleverer at studies than he was."

Even Deshpande's guide at IIT-Bombay, MSC Bose vouches for his credibility when he says, "Over the past 25 years, at IIT-Bombay I have had more than 50 BTech project students. It is safe to say that Mr Deshpande is the star of this group.... (he) is a gifted student, has expertise in computer analysis and optimal design of automobile systems. There is no doubt in my mind that he will become an outstanding teacher and researcher."

Deshpande rose to new heights seven years ago when he was awarded the Philip Leverhulme prize worth 50,000 pounds. The prize is awarded to scholars in UK institutions for outstanding research achievements.

Deshpande earned his PhD from Cambridge University and a research fellowship at Brown University in the U.S. He was then appointed as an assistant lecturer at Cambridge in October 1999. In the last ten years, Deshpande also had a brief stint as associate professor at the University of California.