In the sweeping landscape of modern computing, few leaders have left as profound and multidimensional an impact as Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish. A luminary in database systems, Big Data, and data science ethics, Dr. Jagadish stands among the rare scholars whose work not only transforms technology but also shapes how societies think about information, fairness, and discovery.
Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish: A Scholar Whose Foundations Were Built on Excellence
Raised with a passion for inquiry and a naturally analytical mind, Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish embarked on his academic path at two of the world’s most prestigious institutions. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, graduating in 1985. These formative years refined not just his technical skills but also his sense of purpose—understanding that data would one day become one of humanity’s most powerful assets.
His early career at AT&T Bell Laboratories placed him at the epicenter of computing breakthroughs. Here, he rose to head the Database Research Department, contributing to technologies that helped define the digital era.
Building a Legacy at Michigan: The Architect of Data Science Leadership
When Dr. Jagadish joined the University of Michigan in 1999, he brought with him a vision of what the future of data could be—a vision that he would spend the next decades shaping and advancing.
Today, he serves as:
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Bernard A. Galler Collegiate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
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Director of the Michigan Institute for Data Science (MIDAS)
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Senior Scientific Director of the NIH-established National Center for Integrative Biomedical Informatics
Through these roles, he has mentored thousands, guided transformational research, and positioned Michigan as a world leader in data science innovation.
Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish: Honors and Awards: A Global Recognition of Excellence
Few scholars achieve recognition as wide and diverse as Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish. His honors include:
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Fellow of ACM (2003)
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Fellow of IEEE
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Fellow of AAAS (2018)
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ACM SIGMOD Contributions Award (2013)
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Distinguished Faculty Award, University of Michigan (2019)
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Founding Editor-in-Chief, Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment (PVLDB)
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Board member of the Computing Research Association (2009–2018)
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Trustee of the VLDB Endowment (2004–2010)
His scholarly influence is equally remarkable:
With an h-index of 106 and more VLDB publications than any researcher in history, his research footprint spans decades of innovation.
The Research Vision of Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish: Making Data Truly Usable
At the heart of Dr. Jagadish’s research lies a powerful question:
How can we build database systems that are truly usable by real people, not just experts?
This question has guided his pioneering work on:
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Data modeling and schema design
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Schema summarization and form generation
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Natural language querying
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Big Data usability
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Heterogeneous data integration
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Analytics with missing or imprecise data
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Fairness, diversity, transparency, and validity in algorithmic systems
His philosophy is simple yet profound:
Usability is not an interface problem—it is a systems problem.
To create technology that empowers society, usability must be built into the very foundations of data systems, not patched on as an afterthought. In an age drowning in complex data, Dr. Jagadish’s insights offer clarity, direction, and purpose.
His groundbreaking keynote at ACM SIGMOD on database usability influenced researchers around the world, pushing the field toward a more human-centric future.
Pioneering Big Data Ethics and Equity
As automated decision-making and AI systems increasingly shape access to jobs, healthcare, credit, and justice, Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish has emerged as one of the most influential voices in data ethics.
His research—supported by NSF grants such as 1741022, 1934565, 2106176, and 2312931—focuses on:
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Representation
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Fairness
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Diversity
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Transparency
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Data Equity Systems
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Valid AI-driven decision processes
For Dr. Jagadish, the moral responsibility of a data scientist is clear:
Technology must uplift humanity, not introduce new forms of bias or inequality.
A Leader in National and International Scientific Dialogue
His influence extends beyond academia. He has:
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Coordinated major white papers on Big Data challenges
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Participated in National Academies panels and presentations
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Served on the Committee on National Statistics (since 2024)
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Chaired the Governing Board of the Academic Data Science Alliance (since 2021)
These contributions reflect his enduring commitment to guiding the future of data-driven policy, science, and governance.
Teaching, Mentoring, and Sharing Knowledge with the World
Dr. Jagadish’s impact is not confined to his research. He is deeply committed to education and public engagement.
He teaches:
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Database management
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Data structures and algorithms
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Web systems
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Data analysis
His popular MOOC on Data Science Ethics, available freely on Coursera and EdX, has influenced learners worldwide, making ethical data literacy accessible to everyone.
A Lifelong Commitment to Scholarly Integrity
Beyond research and teaching, Hosagrahar Visvesvaraya Jagadish has transformed how the field evaluates, reviews, and shares knowledge. He:
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Founded ACM SIGMOD Digital Review
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Served as editor for the database section of CoRR
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Led the creation of PVLDB, reinventing peer review for modern research
His work ensures scholarship remains rigorous, accessible, and globally relevant.