Why did you choose graduate school at IU Indianapolis?
I chose Indiana University Indianapolis (previously IUPUI) for my graduate studies because of its strong research-focused program which provided the ideal blend of exposure and practical experience for developing the necessary skillset and achieving my academic and professional goals.
Research Excellence
The university's commitment to research excellence was a significant factor in my decision. IU Indianapolis boasts a robust research-driven environment, supported by substantial funding and numerous industry-leading and NSF-funded projects. The caliber of faculty at IU Indianapolis is exceptional, offering students the opportunity to work alongside and learn from leading experts in their respective fields.
Specialized Research Opportunities
What truly sealed my decision were the specialized research projects in accessibility domain. The ongoing work of Professor Erin Brady and Professor Aqueasha Martin-Hammond particularly resonated with my research interests. These projects not only align with my academic goals but also reflect IUPUI's commitment to addressing important societal issues through innovative research.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
My favorite academic accomplishment has been working on my capstone project with the Toyota Mobility Foundation. Our team's efforts to address food insecurity here in Indiana led to significant improvements in the operational efficiencies of the partnering food pantries. The project's impact was significant enough to be featured on local news, but the real accomplishment lies in witnessing the tangible impact of our work on the community. Seeing how our project made a positive difference in the lives of many was incredibly rewarding.
- WRTV News: IU Indianapolis students help food pantries streamline their work through research
- IU News: Helping local food banks and food suppliers through research
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
Despite it not being a bustling metropolis, there's something uniquely charming about Indy. It has a unique blend of big-city excitement with a laid-back vibe. Sure, it's not bustling with crowds every day, but when events like the US Olympic swimming trials or Colts and Pacers games roll into town, the energy is electric! Plus, there's scenic beauty all around, nearby adventure spots to explore and feed your inner hiker or art enthusiast etc., and plenty of great food options to satisfy any craving.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
During my graduate studies, I've been deeply involved in a few impactful projects and research initiatives. As previously mentioned, a significant experience was my capstone project with the Toyota Mobility Foundation, a multidisciplinary effort involving students from various domains (Informatics, Design, Engineering, and Business). I represented the Luddy (Informatics team) along with my teammates, Radhika Bhoj and Mansi Kasar. We aimed to enhance food distribution efficiency across Marion County by addressing bottlenecks in individual pantry operations. In collaboration with five food pantries and three major food banks in Indiana, we conducted exploratory research and employed human-centered design principles, utilizing service design and Lean Six Sigma methodologies. I worked specifically with two pantries: Westminster Neighborhood Services and Hawthorne Community Center. My responsibilities included conducting extensive user research, understanding business needs and constraints, facilitating collaboration across disciplines, ideate, design and test the solution/prototype. At Westminster, we addressed language barrier issues, resulting in a 26.24% increase in operational efficiency and a 39.6% reduction in check-in times. For Hawthorne, we redesigned their entire pantry workflow, introducing client choice, digitizing the check-in process, and creating a new mobile pantry setup with rolling shelves. These changes reduced staff labor and improved client satisfaction. I had the privilege of learning immensely from Professor Lou Lenzi, who provided invaluable guidance throughout our work with the Toyota Mobility Foundation. His mentorship was instrumental in navigating the complexities of the project and achieving meaningful outcomes.
Additionally, I've been working with IU RedLab (formerly CTIL) under Prof. Sonny Kirkley, researching incident reporting systems for firefighters. This project began in Professor Kirkley's spring 2023 Meaning and Form class (INFO-H 561), and I was given the opportunity to continue working on it as a summer intern at RedLab. During this internship, I delved deeper into understanding deep learning technologies specifically, generative AI (Gen AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and abstractive dialogue summarization to explore how they could be used to improve firefighters' incident documentation processes. Following that we collaborated with the data science SME’s and researchers to refine the concept and design an initial prototype that we're currently preparing to test with firefighters to evaluate the concept's effectiveness. This experience provided a valuable learning opportunity, allowing me to not only gain valuable exposure in the AI/ML domain but also collaborate directly with diverse teams, SME’s (Subject Matter Experts) and firefighters and learn from them.
These experiences have not only enhanced my technical abilities but also provided valuable insights into navigating outside of my comfort zone and applying design thinking to complex, real-world challenges. Beyond academics, I've been an active member of the Indian Student Organization here at IU Indianapolis. Our efforts focused on easing the transition for new students, ensuring they felt welcomed and comfortable. We also celebrated our vibrant culture through inclusive events throughout the year, fostering connections among students from diverse backgrounds.