Doing Research in image and signal processing by M.Tech and PhD students

Doing research in signal and image processing is having a fight with time domain and frequency domain methods. The algorithm and complexity theory put a hard delay to complete his/her M.Tech/PhD thesis within the allotted time (2 year for M.Tech and 3-4 year for PhD). The student is subjected to do his/her practical implementation in real system by using MATLAB or other DSP tools.