‘I Feel Right at Home in Russia’

HSE’s Nizhny Novgorod campus has a new professor. Invited Professor Rajarshi Mitra teaches advanced microeconomics to master’s and Ph.D. students, as well as time series analysis and the academic seminar ‘Econometric Analysis and Modeling in Economics and Finance.’ Professor Mitra comes to the HSE from India, though he has many years of experience working and teaching in the West.

Rajarshi enrolled in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2004 and became a teaching assistant after just a year, meaning Professor Mitra has over 10 years’ teaching experience. After receiving his Ph.D. in the U.S., Rajarshi worked in Japan so he is no stranger to overcoming a language barrier. Professor Mitra is certain that he will find a common language with his Nizhny Novgorod students, especially since the students have a high level of English.

I have only been here for a week, and I’ve already received a lot of help from my new colleagues. I am surrounded by care, and this allows me to feel right at home.

The majority of Rajarshi’s research concentrates on trade issues. Over the last five years, Professor Mitra has published a number of articles that focus on raising investments in African countries. Aside from international trade, Rajarshi has dealt with financial marketing issues and has also taught a number of other courses.

Professor Mitra has come to Russia on a three-year contract with the Higher School of Economics. Rajarshi says he loves to travel and his trip to Russia is a new opportunity to immerse himself in a new culture and learn a lot of new things. In addition, Professor Mitra hopes to become involved in research projects on Russian economics during his time at HSE Nizhny Novgorod.

Asked how he likes working at a Russia university, the professor said: ‘I have only been here for a week, and I’ve already received a lot of help from my new colleagues. I am surrounded by care, and this allows me to feel right at home.’