Experience

  1. Research Assistant

    Empathic Computing Lab, University of Auckland

    Responsibilities include:

    • Enhancing remote collaborations in Extended Reality using Human-AI teams.
    • Developing and integrating a real-time Facilitator Digital Agent using LLMs and Unity into video conferencing.
    • Researching cognitive and affective-aware AI systems for collaborative tasks.
  2. Researcher (Contract)

    DETERM, New Zealand

    Responsibilities include:

    • Conducted research on 3D point cloud Instance Semantic Segmentation.
    • Developed deep learning models for interactive, spatially aware systems.
    • Optimized real-time segmentation, reducing latency by 10.08 seconds.
  3. Researcher (Contract)

    OvrcOme, New Zealand

    Responsibilities include:

    • Developed machine-learning models predicting anxiety from wearable bio-signals.
    • Designed an adaptive Virtual Reality environment for rehabilitation.
    • Conducted research in Affective Computing to counter phobias.
  4. Visiting Lecturer

    Keio University
    • Taught Machine Learning concepts for designers in Perception Computing.
  5. Teaching Assistant

    University of Auckland
    • Course: Advanced Human-Computer Interactions.
    • Mentored students on research projects.

Education

  1. PhD in Human Computer Interaction

    The University of Auckland
    Thesis on AI-Augmented Collaborative Cognition in Virtual Meetings.
    Read First Year Provisional Thesis
  2. MEng in Human Computer Interaction

    The University of Auckland
    Thesis on Designing Body-Centric Interactions with Radar Sensing. Presented papers at ACM CHI 2021 , 2022 and UIST 2024 conferences with the contributions being published in 1 Journal and 2 Conferences.
    Read Thesis
  3. B.Tech in Electronics and communication Engineering

    Vellore Institute of Technology
    GPA: 3.9/4.0
Skills & Hobbies
Programming Languages
Python
JavaScript
R
C++
SQL
Research & Prototyping
Machine Learning (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn)
Extended Reality (Unity, OpenXR)
Human-AI Collaboration Research
Data Visualization (Matplotlib, Scikit, Three.js, P5.js, Tableau, Power BI)
Hobbies
Gym
Bouldering
Swimming
Photography
Awards
Doctoral Research Fellowship
University of Auckland ∙ September 2024
Awarded full scholarship for PhD in AI-Augmented Collaborative Cognition.
Winner, XR Workshop
University of Canterbury ∙ February 2023
Won 1st prize for developing collaborative AI-yoga in Virtual Reality.
Graduate Research Fellowship
Google ATAP - University of Auckland ∙ December 2020
Awarded full scholarship for Master’s Program in Bioengineering.
Best Paper Presentation Award
IRCE, NUS, Singapore ∙ August 2019
Presented research on Electronic Component Sorting Robot in E-Waste Management.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Award
National Innovation Foundation, India ∙ February 2014
Awarded Young Scientist of the Year for the invention of an Automated Crutch to Wheelchair Conversion System.
Languages
100%
English
100%
Tamil
25%
Chinese
25%
German